Sony WH-1000XM4 Review: 8.8/10 - Industry-Leading Noise Canceling
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At a Glance
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is still a fantastic buy at its current $249 price point, especially if you value top-tier noise cancellation and a portable.
Prices last checked June 2026
Overview
The Sony WH-1000XM4 remains one of the best value noise-cancelling headphones you can buy in 2026, even years after its original 2020 release. Originally priced at $348, these headphones now regularly sell for around $249, undercutting newer flagships while still delivering class-leading active noise cancellation powered by the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 and Dual Noise Sensor technology. If you want top-tier ANC and a rich feature set without spending over $400 on the latest models, the XM4 is a compelling choice.
Design & Build
The WH-1000XM4 uses a familiar over-ear design with oval-shaped, plush leatherette earcups and a padded headband that provides excellent comfort for all-day wear. At roughly 250 grams, the headphones feel light on the head, though the clamping force is lighter than some competitors, which can make them feel loose during active movement. A standout design advantage over the newer XM5 is the foldable construction with swivel-flat earcups, making them much more portable and easy to store in the included hard-shell carrying case. The earcups use a soft-touch matte plastic that resists fingerprints but is a known scratch magnet over time.
Performance
The Sony WH-1000XM4 delivers a warm, bass-forward sound signature with 40mm Liquid Crystal Polymer drivers that produce satisfying thump in pop, hip-hop, and electronic tracks. LDAC support at up to 990kbps over Bluetooth 5.0 enables Hi-Res Audio wireless streaming, and the DSEE Extreme engine uses Edge-AI co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo to upscale compressed audio files in real time. That said, the upper bass can sound slightly muddy, the soundstage is intimate rather than expansive, and treble extension lacks sparkle and airiness compared to audiophile-grade wired headphones. Using LDAC with DSEE Extreme enabled also cuts battery life significantly from 30 hours to roughly 16 hours.
Features
The WH-1000XM4 is packed with smart features that were ahead of their time at launch. Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses your music when you start talking and resumes when conversation ends, Adaptive Sound Control learns your frequent locations and adjusts noise cancelling settings accordingly, and wear detection sensors pause playback when you remove the headphones. The touch panel on the right earcup handles volume, track skipping, and call controls via taps and swipes, though it can be unreliable in cold weather and the double-tap gesture does not always register. Multipoint Bluetooth lets you connect to two devices simultaneously, but switching between them is less seamless than on newer Sony models and can occasionally drop one connection.
Pros
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Legendary noise cancellation that remains competitive with the XM5 and Bose QuietComfort, reducing ambient sound by an average of 27 decibels across low and mid frequencies. The Dual Noise Sensor technology with two microphones per earcup feeds real-time data to the QN1 processor for outstanding ANC performance.
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30-hour battery life with ANC enabled (up to 38 hours with ANC off) and quick charging that gives you 5 hours of playback from just 10 minutes on the included USB-C cable. This is genuinely all-day battery life for commutes, flights, and work sessions.
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LDAC Hi-Res Audio support at up to 990kbps over Bluetooth 5.0, which delivers noticeably better detail and clarity than standard AAC or SBC codecs when paired with a compatible source device.
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Bluetooth multipoint connection for switching between your phone and laptop without re-pairing, plus Speak-to-Chat and Adaptive Sound Control that genuinely improve daily usability.
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Foldable design with an included hard-shell carrying case. Unlike the newer XM5 which does not fold flat, the XM4 collapses into a compact package that is easy to toss in a bag.
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Excellent all-day comfort thanks to plush earpads and a generously padded headband. Even users who wear glasses report being able to wear the XM4 for extended listening sessions without discomfort.
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DSEE Extreme upscaling uses AI to restore high-frequency detail lost in compressed audio files from streaming services, making low-bitrate tracks sound noticeably fuller.
Cons
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At roughly 250 grams, the XM4 is slightly heavier than the XM5 and some competitors, and the headband can create a hot spot on the crown of the head after four or more hours of continuous wear.
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Touch controls on the right earcup are finicky in cold weather and the double-tap gesture often fails to register. You may find yourself repeating gestures more often than you would like.
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Call quality is mediocre. The microphones pick up significant wind noise and background chatter, and callers report that your voice sounds hollow or distant in anything other than a quiet room. SoundGuys rates the microphone performance at just 5.9 out of 10.
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There is no IP rating for water or dust resistance, so rain, sweat, or gym use carries real risk of damage. These are strictly indoor or dry-weather headphones.
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Noise cancellation struggles with high-pitched sounds like crying babies, microwave beeps, and clattering dishes. Passive isolation handles these frequencies, but the ANC itself is most effective on low and mid-range rumbles like engines and HVAC systems.
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Multipoint Bluetooth can be unreliable, especially when switching between newer devices. The XM4 sometimes fails to swap audio streams automatically, requiring you to manually reconnect from your source device.
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The earcups are smaller than those on the XM5 and may press on larger ears during extended sessions. Some users report their ears touching the internal foam after a few hours of wear.
Verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is still a fantastic buy at its current $249 price point, especially if you value top-tier noise cancellation and a portable, foldable design over the latest refinements. It is not the best-sounding wireless headphone on the market and its call quality leaves much to be desired, but the combination of LDAC support, long battery life, reliable ANC, and smart features like Speak-to-Chat make it a strong all-rounder. If you can find it on sale for under $250, the XM4 offers exceptional value for anyone who wants premium noise cancelling without paying flagship prices.
Sources
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
📊 Comparison: Sony WH-1000XM4 vs. Competitors
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Bose QC Ultra | Bose QuietComfort Ultra | AirPods Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $429 | $429 | $249 |
| Release | 2020 | -- | -- | -- |
| Rating | 8.8/10 | -- | -- | -- |
| Price | $249 | -- | -- | -- |
| Category | headphones | -- | -- | -- |
| Status | Available | -- | -- | -- |
| ANC | -- | Custom Bose QuietComfort Ultra (adaptive, 10 mics) | Custom Bose QuietComfort Ultra (adaptive) | -- |
| Driver | -- | 35mm dynamic neodymium | 35mm dynamic neodymium | Custom high-excursion Apple driver |
| Battery | -- | 28 hours (ANC on), 40 hours (ANC off) | 28 hours (ANC on), 40 hours (ANC off) | 6 hours (ANC on), 30 hours with case |
| Weight | -- | 254g | 254g | 5.3g per earbud, 50.8g case |
| Connectivity | -- | Bluetooth 5.3, Snapdragon Sound, aptX Lossless | Bluetooth 5.3, Snapdragon Sound, aptX Lossless | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Codecs | -- | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | -- |
| Chip | -- | -- | -- | Apple H2 (earbuds) + U1 (case) |
| Water Resistance | -- | -- | -- | IP54 (earbuds and case) |
How We Rate Products
Every product on ComfyTechCheck is scored on a 1 to 10 scale based on a structured evaluation framework. We assess products across five core criteria:
- Performance (30% weight): Speed, responsiveness, and real-world capability in its category.
- Build & Design (20% weight): Material quality, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal.
- Features (20% weight): Breadth and usefulness of included functionality.
- Value (20% weight): Price-to-performance ratio relative to direct competitors.
- Battery Life or Reliability (10% weight): Endurance testing for portable devices, or long-term dependability for stationary gear.
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