Six years after the WH-1000XM4 became one of the most celebrated headphones in Sony's lineup, the company is bringing the model back in a refreshed form. Now called the WH-1000XM4C, the new headphones arrive after the original version was discontinued in 2025. With the same collapsible design and a familiar feature set, Sony is clearly hoping to recreate some of the magic that made the XM4 a long-standing favorite among commuters, travelers, and audio enthusiasts.
The XM4 first arrived in the fall of 2020, at the height of a fierce noise-canceling rivalry between Sony and Bose. Each generation of flagship headphones seemed to push the standard higher, with improved noise rejection, richer sound, and more useful smart features. When Sony released the WH-1000XM4, it did not radically change the formula of its predecessor, the XM3. Instead, it refined nearly every aspect of the experience. The result was a pair of headphones that many reviewers considered the best in their class for years. Its combination of performance, comfort, and portability helped it develop a loyal following and stay relevant long after newer models arrived.
By the time the XM5 appeared in 2022, Sony had moved away from the compact folding shape that defined the XM4. It was a deliberate effort to offer a different industrial design. The newer XM6, however, returned to a folding design, though not quite as compact as the one found on the XM4 and XM4C. With the XM4C, Sony appears to be leaning into nostalgia while also filling a gap for listeners who want a straightforward, portable pair of noise-canceling headphones.
A Familiar Look With a Few Small Updates
The XM4C look identical to the original XM4. They share the same hinge design, the same cushioned earcups, and the same ability to fold up into a compact shape that slips into a backpack or travel bag. The new model is available in the standard white and black finishes, plus a new lavender option that has never been offered on the XM4 series before. From a distance, almost no one will notice a difference between the 2020 model and the refreshed version.
Underneath, there are some changes. The XM4C use Sony's newer sound tuning, which brings the tonal balance in line with the current XM6 series. The Headphones Connect app now includes a 10-band equalizer instead of the older five-band equalizer found on the original. There is also a gaming preset, which adjusts the sound for in-game audio cues and may appeal to people who want one pair of headphones for both travel and casual gaming.
The biggest technological upgrade is Bluetooth 6, replacing the Bluetooth 5.0 standard used by the original XM4. This newer wireless version improves connection stability and may help with multipoint features, though Sony has not released specific details about latency or range improvements. In normal everyday use, the experience will likely feel similar to what XM4 owners remember, but with a slightly more modern wireless foundation.
Not everything has changed for the better. The XM4C still rely on the same QN1 processing chip and four microphones for active noise canceling that were inside the original model. That was a flagship setup in 2020, but Sony has moved forward in the years since. The XM5 kept the QN1 but used eight microphones for ANC. The XM6, which arrived with a new QN3 chip, uses 12 microphones. That means the XM4C will almost certainly lag behind the best ANC performance available today, especially when it comes to canceling voices and higher-frequency noises. The question is whether that matters to the target buyer, who may value the classic design and lower price more than the absolute quiet.
Aside from the equalizer, the physical experience should be familiar. The XM4C retains the same comfortable earcup shape, the same plush padding, and the same intuitive touch controls. For longtime fans of the XM4, this is part of the appeal. It was a headphone that did not try to reinvent the wheel. It simply delivered the fundamentals with polish, and many listeners have kept using their original XM4 units long after newer Sony flagships appeared.
Battery and Price Considerations
Battery life on the XM4C is rated at up to 27 hours with active noise canceling turned on. Curiously, that is slightly less than the original XM4, which offered up to 30 hours under the same conditions. The difference is not huge, and most listeners will still be able to fly across the country or wear the headphones through a full workweek before needing to recharge. Still, it is an unusual downgrade in an era when more efficient chips usually translate into better stamina.
The XM4C will be available later this fall for $300. That is $50 less than the original XM4 cost at launch and $100 less than the current XM6. But it is also higher than the deep discounts customers could find near the end of the XM4's original run, when the headphones often sold for around $250 or less. Sony's decision to price the reissue at $300 suggests that it sees the XM4C as a premium product rather than a budget special. It puts the new model in direct competition with the XM5, which is still on sale and currently has an asking price of $200, according to current listings. That price may simply be part of an effort to clear existing XM5 inventory before the arrival of the XM4C, though it makes the old flagship a tempting alternative.
For fans of the original, the XM4C is a way to get a near-identical pair of headphones with a handful of modern adjustments. For someone who already owns a working XM4, it is unlikely to be worth an upgrade. The XM4C will only make sense to new buyers who missed out on the XM4 the first time and want the same kind of comfortable, foldable design without paying the upper-tier price that Sony charges for its latest flagships.
New Midrange and Entry-Level Models
The XM4C is not the only news from Sony's headphone lineup. The company also introduced the next generation of two popular budget and midrange lines: the WH-CH730N and the WH-CH530. Both of these headphones receive the same equalizer updates as the XM4C, including the 10-band EQ and the gaming preset, so even budget buyers get access to the newest app features.
The WH-CH730N sit in the middle of Sony's lineup. They offer active noise canceling and now fold into a more compact shape, making them easier to carry than previous CH700-series models. Sony claims the CH730N can run for up to 50 hours with ANC enabled, which is an impressive figure for midrange headphones. They are priced at $180 and come in black, blue, oat, white, or pink.
The WH-CH530 are more basic. They do not have active noise canceling at all, but they offer battery life up to 55 hours on a single charge. Their entry-level price is $70, and they are available in six colors: black, cobalt, mint green, white, pink, and coral. Both the CH730N and CH530 are available now, which gives Sony's lower-priced lines a quick refresh while the XM4C waits for its autumn launch.
One notable addition to the Sony app is a new safe mode that lets users limit the maximum volume output of the headphones. It is a welcome feature for parents who want to protect their children's hearing when they use wireless headphones. However, there is no way to lock the limit once it has been set, so a determined child could simply go into the app and bypass it. The feature is still useful for casual households, but not a strict parental control.
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Source: The Verge News