Sony WF1000XM4/S

The Sony WF-1000XM4 still sounds fantastic, with sound quality in the 87th percentile and solid ANC. But battery life is among the worst we've seen, and renewed units add QC risk. Worth it only if you prioritize sound above all else and can live with charging anxiety.

The 6mm dynamic driver still delivers. Sound sits at the 87th percentile, so you're getting rich, detailed audio with LDAC support for hi-res streaming. ANC is strong at the 74th percentile, not class-leading anymore but still very good. The mic is middle of the pack at the 68th percentile, fine for calls but nothing special. Connectivity is where things start to wobble at the 40th percentile, with several owners reporting PC pairing issues. And then there's the battery. The 2nd percentile ranking matches what buyers are saying. Severe drain, charging inconsistencies, one bud dying way before the other. Sony claimed 8 hours with ANC on, but real-world reports suggest these renewed units often fall far short of that.

Against the Technics EAH-AZ100, the Sony holds its own on sound but loses badly on battery and build. The Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen will give you better connectivity and a more consistent experience, especially if you're in the Apple ecosystem. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra beats it on comfort and ANC consistency. Even the budget Soundcore P31i and EarFun Air Pro 4+ offer more reliable battery life for less money. The XM4's sound quality is the main reason to pick it over any of these, but you're trading away reliability to get it.

At $124 USD for a renewed unit, this is tempting. You're getting flagship-tier sound and ANC for less than half the original price. But the battery issues change the math. If you have to replace the buds or deal with constant charging anxiety, the savings evaporate fast. The renewed warranty helps, but it doesn't fix the underlying battery problem that plagues this model. For the sound alone, it's a decent deal. For a reliable daily driver, it's a coin flip.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 is a weird one in 2025. On paper, it's still a solid pair of true wireless earbuds with LDAC, solid ANC, and that classic Sony sound. But the data tells a messier story. Sound quality lands in the 87th percentile, which is genuinely great. Battery life? 2nd percentile. That's not a typo. Dead last territory.

This particular listing is for a renewed unit, which adds another layer of risk. Some buyers got units that looked brand new. Others found earwax. Yes, earwax. The 3.5-star average across 1,361 reviews says it all. Great earbuds when they work, but the battery gremlins and refurb roulette make this a gamble.

Skip these if you need reliable battery life for long flights, commutes, or all-day wear. The battery issues are too widespread to ignore. Also skip if you're buying for PC use, since connectivity there is flaky. And if you're squeamish about refurbished earbuds, the earwax reports alone should send you running.

If you're an audio nerd who wants the best sound per dollar and can tolerate battery roulette, the renewed XM4 is a calculated risk. If you need earbuds that just work every day, for calls, commutes, and workouts, look elsewhere. The battery issues are too widespread to ignore, and the refurb QC adds another variable you don't need.