Sony WH-1000XM4
Dual noise sensor microphones and the HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1 enable real-time adaptive noise cancellation, paired with 30-hour battery life and dynamic 40mm drivers that support LDAC and Hi-Res Audio. Multipoint Bluetooth 5.0 seamlessly switches between two devices, while a foldable 254g design and 10-minute quick charge for 5 hours playback add portability. These headphones are best for remote workers and frequent travelers who need clear call quality from the 5-microphone array, sustained ANC, and all-day comfort for extended use.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Sony WH-1000XM4 still crushes it with best-in-class sound and top-tier ANC that feels basically new. Our total score of 89.7 out of 100 reflects a headphone that's hard to beat for the price, especially now that it's often under $350. If you need a folding, all-day noise canceler with zero fuss, this is the one to buy, though the XM6 and TOZO HT3 are shaking up the rankings.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Some of the best wireless sound we've measured. 96th
- ANC that still qualifies as industry-leading even against newer flagships. 95th
- LDAC and multipoint connectivity are genuinely seamless. 93rd
- Battery life hits the claimed 30 hours consistently in our real-world tests. 90th
Cons
- Comfort is average; ear pads can get warm and a bit shallow.
- The bass-forward sound signature won't thrill neutral-tuning fans.
- IPX0 rating means zero water resistance, so rain is a gamble.
- Prices vary wildly online; you'll spot absurd listings if you're not careful.
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q3 202692/100
Buyers in Q3 2026 overwhelmingly praised the Sony WH-1000XM4 for excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, comfort, and long battery life. Many noted long-term durability, with some reporting minor issues like broken plastic parts or inconsistent sensors.
- Sound quality and noise cancellation are consistently praised as top-tier, with many calling them the best they've owned.
- Comfort and battery life are highlighted as standout features, with users wearing them for hours and charging infrequently.
- Durability is generally good, but some report broken plastic clips or hanger pieces after years of use; others have no issues.
- Microphone quality and call performance are criticized as average or poor, especially in noisy environments.
- Q2 202678/100
Buyers in Q2 2026 praised the XM4's noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort, and battery life, often calling them top-tier. However, recurring complaints about fragile hinges, finicky touch controls, and auto-switching features, plus a few defect reports, tempered the overall enthusiasm.
- ANC is exceptional, blocking out ambient noise effectively for travel, work, and sensory-sensitive users.
- Sound quality is rich and balanced, with deep bass and clear highs, praised for music and calls.
- Comfort is generally praised, but some find them too large or heavy, causing soreness after short wear.
- Hinges and swivels are a weak point, breaking within a year for some; also reports of charging failures and warranty denials.
- Q1 202672/100
Buyers praise sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort, but many report charging failures, Bluetooth connectivity issues, and hinge breakage. Touch controls and mic quality also draw criticism.
- Sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort are consistently praised, with many calling them the best headphones they've owned.
- Charging issues are frequent, with some units failing to charge or hold a charge after a few months, requiring resets or multiple attempts.
- Bluetooth connectivity problems include disconnections, difficulty pairing, and needing to reset before each connection.
- Hinge breakage is reported as a design flaw, with multiple users experiencing cracks or breaks in the same area.
- Q4 202572/100
Buyers in Q4 2025 praised the XM4's noise cancellation, comfort, and value, especially at sale prices. However, several reported defects like battery failure, charging issues, and build quality problems, plus some complaints about sound quality and fit.
- Noise cancellation is top-tier, effective in travel and noisy environments, often described as the best feature.
- Comfort and fit are praised for long listening sessions, though some find them tight or slipping during workouts.
- Reliability issues: battery failure, charging problems, and physical breakage within months, with warranty frustrations.
- Sound quality is generally praised, but a few find it muddy or inferior to cheaper models, especially for vocals.
- Q3 202591/100
Buyers in Q3 2025 praised the XM4's noise cancelling, sound quality, comfort, and battery life, often calling them top-tier. Some noted minor issues like touch controls being sensitive and lack of PS5 compatibility, but overall satisfaction was high.
- Noise cancelling is consistently described as excellent, top-notch, and effective in various environments like flights and offices.
- Sound quality is praised as clear, balanced, and immersive, with many saying it's among the best they've heard.
- Comfort is highlighted, with users wearing them for hours without discomfort, suitable for long flights or work sessions.
- Battery life is generally praised as long-lasting, but one user noted charging weekly, and another mentioned touch controls being overly sensitive.
- Q2 202584/100
Buyers in Q2 2025 praised the headphones for excellent noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort, and battery life. However, several reported issues with phone call quality, audio cutting out, and firmware updates resetting settings.
- Noise cancellation is consistently praised as amazing and effective in loud environments like flights and gyms.
- Sound quality is described as clear, crisp, and customizable, with strong bass and instrument separation.
- Comfort and fit are generally praised, but one reviewer noted the ear pads peeled off after extended use.
- Call quality issues: muffled or underwater sound, glitchy connections, and audio cutting out or delaying.
- Q1 202596/100
Buyers in Q1 2025 praise the headphones for exceptional sound quality (clean, balanced, crisp), strong noise cancelling, lightweight comfort, long battery life, and versatile Bluetooth features. A minor trade-off is the loss of smart features when using wired mode.
- Excellent sound quality: clean, tight bass, crisp mids and highs, well balanced.
- Lightweight comfort and long battery life (30-40 hours), auto on/off.
- Bluetooth/wired trade-off: smart features (ANC, mic, controls) work only wirelessly.
- Connectivity: reliable Bluetooth, seamless multipoint between phone and PC.
- Q2 202390/100
Buyers in Q2 2023 were highly satisfied, praising renewed headphones' like-new condition, superb sound, noise cancellation, and comfort. A few noted sensor sensitivity to moisture/dust causing auto power-off.
- Headphones perform like new, with great sound quality and noise cancellation.
- Comfortable fit, especially wider headband compared to newer models.
- Excellent value for money, equivalent to brand new at a lower cost.
- Wear-detection sensor sometimes triggers false auto power-off due to moisture or dust.
- Q1 202295/100
Buyers praise the excellent noise cancellation, comfort, and sound quality. One user reports intermittent Bluetooth pairing issues with a TV.
- Noise cancellation is exceptional, rivaling top competitors.
- Comfortable for long wear; ear cups and low weight praised.
- Sound quality is clear with good bass, mids, and highs out of the box.
- Bluetooth pairing sometimes drops with one user's TV; otherwise works great.
Based on 535 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The sound here is genuinely at the top of the charts. Our measurements put it ahead of almost every wireless over-ear we've tested, with a lively, bass-forward presentation that makes tracks slam without turning into mud. The LDAC support is clutch if you're on Android, and DSEE Extreme does a solid job rescuing compressed Spotify streams. The ANC sits in a standout 88th percentile, it's not quite the absolute best in 2025 but it's close enough that you won't notice unless you A/B test in a wind tunnel. Connectivity is excellent with rock-solid Bluetooth 5.0 and multipoint that just works. The microphone handles Zoom calls fine, but our pure music benchmark offers a reality check: a 77.4 out of 100. The bass-heavy tuning can step on some midrange detail, so critical listeners might want to EQ a bit.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed |
| Foldable | Yes |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.6 lbs |
| Ear Cushion | foamed urethane |
Audio
| Driver Type | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 40 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Freq Min | 4 |
| Freq Max | 40000 |
| Impedance | 16 |
| Sensitivity | 105 |
| Hi-Res Audio | Yes |
| Codecs | LDAC |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | industry-leading |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5 |
| Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm |
| Detachable Cable | Yes |
| Cable Length | 1.2 |
| Range | 10 |
Battery
| Battery Life | 30 |
| Charge Time | 3 |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 5 hours playback |
| Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 5 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
| Boom Mic | No |
| Detachable Mic | No |
Features
| Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | Sony | Headphones Connect |
| Gaming Mode | No |
| Water Resistance | IPX0 |
vs Competition
Against the Sennheiser Momentum 4, the Sony pulls ahead in ANC but loses on pure sound refinement and battery life. The Bose QC Ultra is the ANC king now, though the XM4's sound is more fun and engaging out of the box. If you care about premium materials, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 runs laps around the XM4's build, but it costs double and doesn't sound twice as good. The Technics EAH-A800 offers better comfort, and the JBL Live 770NC is a budget alternative that can't touch Sony's noise canceling or detail retrieval. Fresh competition from the Sony WH-1000XM6 means the XM4 now sits in a tricky middle-child spot, while the Sennheiser HDB 630 and JBL Tune 670NC are suddenly the value picks that budget shoppers need to check out.
| Spec | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Sennheiser HDB 630 | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | Nothing Headphone (1) B170 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra 890101-0100 | Bang & Olufsen 980 980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear |
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 42 | 40 | 40 | - | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | 16 | 480 | - | 32 | 32 | 24 |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | 30 | 60 | 30 | 80 | 30 | 23 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM4 | 90.3 | 81.5 | 75 | 93.4 | 77.7 | 50.4 | 12.8 | 95.6 | 95 | 8.6 |
| Sennheiser HDB 630 Compare | 98.5 | 79.9 | 75 | 97.7 | 91.4 | 43.3 | 88.3 | 98.2 | 95 | 4.4 |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Compare | 98.5 | 98.9 | 94.9 | 98.7 | 77.7 | 50.4 | 82.1 | 97.4 | 95 | 2.7 |
| Nothing Headphone (1) B170 Compare | 94.7 | 87.2 | 94.9 | 100 | 96.5 | 65.4 | 72.7 | 97.9 | 77.6 | 14.3 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra 890101-0100 Compare | 94.7 | 73.4 | 94.9 | 49.9 | 77.7 | 78.6 | 56 | 99.8 | 83.8 | 8.2 |
| Bang & Olufsen 980 980 Compare | 98.5 | 97.9 | 75 | 98.3 | 74.2 | 74.8 | 0 | 95.1 | 89.8 | 2.7 |
Price
Value & Pricing
The price situation is actually sketchy. Scanning vendors, we see listings from a reasonable $338 all the way up to a ridiculous $22,990, so definitely shop around. At the $300-350 level, this thing is a steal. You're getting sound and ANC that still smokes most headphones in its class, and the feature set ages like fine wine. The real value play is snagging it on sale, where it often dips below $250, and at that point it's almost an impulse buy.
Amazon 1 offer From CA$436
Best Buy 1 offer From CA$303
Price History
Read more
Overview
The Sony WH-1000XM4 landed back in 2020 and somehow still feels like a benchmark. It's the pair of headphones I keep coming back to when friends ask for a no-nonsense ANC recommendation, and our database confirms why: a ridiculous 97th percentile sound score and ANC that holds its own against things twice the price. Even three years later, Sony's tuning and noise-canceling tricks make most commutes way less terrible.
But hold up. The XM5 is out, the Bose QC Ultra is flexing, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is a real contender. So is the XM4 still a smart buy? After running the numbers and digging through what actual owners are saying, the answer is a very confident yes, especially with prices currently between $338 and some comically high markups (just grab it in the $300 ballpark and call it a day).
Common Questions
Q: Can these connect to two devices at the same time?
Yes, they support Bluetooth multipoint and handle switching between, say, your laptop and phone without manually disconnecting.
Q: Do they work with a wired connection?
Absolutely, there's a 3.5mm jack and a cable in the box. They'll work passively when powered off, but sound quality dips a bit without the active DSP.
Q: How's call quality in noisy environments?
It's good, sitting in the 87th percentile for mics. The five-microphone setup does decent noise suppression, though it can struggle with heavy wind.
Who Should Skip This
If you need all-day plush comfort and flat-out neutral tuning, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 fits better. And if you take calls in windy conditions constantly, the microphone just isn't the best out there. Also, anyone who wants strong water resistance should definitely walk away, because IPX0 won't survive a drizzle.
Verdict
Grab the XM4 if you want killer ANC, fantastic wireless sound, and a folding design that actually travels well. It's ideal for students, commuters, and anyone living in open offices or loud households. The multipoint and battery life mean you can walk into a coffee shop, connect to your laptop and phone, and just get stuff done. Just know the XM6 is here now, so the XM4's main flex is its lower price and that folding hinge the newer model ditched.
