In the world of noise-cancelling headphones, few names command as much respect as Sony’s WH-1000X series. They’re the cans you see on planes, trains, and in quiet offices everywhere. The WH-1000XM4, first released back in August 2020, was a king in its day. But this is 2025. We’ve seen newer, shinier models, including the XM5 and XM6.
So, the big question is: can this older-generation champ, now available at a serious discount, still compete? Is it the savvy tech buy of the year, or a classic that’s finally past its prime? We’ve sifted through the specs and, most importantly, the real-world experiences of over 30,000 users to find out if the legend lives on.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones – 30 hours battery life – Over Ear style – Optimised for Alexa and the Google Assistant – with built-in…
Industry-Leading Noise Cancellation: Powered by the dedicated HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, the headphones are designed to offer a top-tier, immersive listening experience by actively blocking out ambient sound.
Exceptional Sound Quality: The headphones support High-Resolution Audio via the LDAC codec. They also feature DSEE Extreme technology, which uses AI to upscale compressed digital music files (like MP3s or streams) in real-time, restoring high-range sound lost in compression.
30-Hour Battery Life with Quick Charge: A single charge provides up to 30 hours of music playback even with noise cancelling turned on. A quick-charge function provides 5 hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging.
Intelligent Smart Features: The headphones are packed with smart controls, including “Speak-to-Chat,” which automatically pauses music when you start a conversation, and “Wearing Detection,” which pauses playback when you remove the headphones and powers them off if left off for a period.
Multipoint Bluetooth Connection: You can pair the headphones with two different Bluetooth devices at the same time. This allows you to seamlessly switch from listening to music on your laptop to taking a phone call on your smartphone without having to manually reconnect.
In Detail: The WH-1000XM4’s Promise
On paper, the WH-1000XM4 still brings a heavy-hitting spec sheet to the fight. It promises Sony’s “best ever” (at the time) noise-cancelling performance, powered by the dedicated HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. It boasts a massive 30-hour battery life (with noise-cancelling on), which is still a benchmark today.
It’s packed with clever tech: High-Resolution Audio support with LDAC, DSEE Extreme to upscale your Spotify streams, and a suite of smart features like Speak-to-Chat (which pauses music when you talk) and Wearing Detection (which powers it off). Add in a multipoint connection to pair with your laptop and phone simultaneously, and you’ve got a recipe for a top-tier headphone.
The first impression, looking at the thousands of happy customers, is that this is a modern classic. But as we dug deeper, we found a few cracks that show its age—and also a few areas where it still embarrasses the competition.
Core Feature Analysis
The Main Event: Noise Cancelling That Actually Works
This is why you’re here, isn’t it? The noise-cancelling. And let’s be clear: the WH-1000XM4 is still absolutely brilliant at creating a cocoon of silence. The QN1 chip was a game-changer, and its performance remains in the top tier.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. The user feedback is overwhelming. One happy owner simply said, “I love the noise cancelling!” Another, who uses them for commuting, gets more specific: “I often travel on the train with these and they are great at deadening the outside noise of the train.”
Even better, they “significantly quieten those annoying travellers who have to share their music… and telephone calls with everybody else!” That’s the real-world “experience” test passed with flying colours. For drowning out the drone of a commute or the hum of an office, these are still fantastic.
Sound Quality: From ‘Flat’ to ‘Fantastic’
This is where things get interesting. Several users, particularly those in other countries, noted that out of the box, the headphones can sound “a bit ‘flat’.” This is a common Sony trait—they ship with a very neutral, balanced sound profile.
But the magic comes from the “Headphones Connect” app. As one reviewer put it, “The app is great for adjusting the sound settings and getting the sound just right.” After a few tweaks in the EQ, they sound “‘amazingly clean and nice’.”
For those who really care about sound, the XM4 delivers. We found a review from a self-described Audio Engineer. He says they “have a great overall sound across the frequency spectrum.” He praises the low end (bass) for being “clear and has good definition” and notes that, unlike cheaper cans, the “low end [doesn’t] creep into the mid range.” He finishes by saying the “high end is crisp and detailed without being harsh.”
So, whether you’re listening to upscaled compressed files via DSEE Extreme or true Hi-Res audio over LDAC, the sound is detailed, tuneable, and punches well above its current price point.
Comfort, Battery, and Build: Built for the Long Haul
A 30-hour battery is useless if you can’t bear to wear the things. Thankfully, Sony nailed the design. Users almost universally agree they are “really comfortable to wear, lots of padding, [and] light.” A French reviewer drove this home, noting they “don’t bother the ears” even “after a long duration of functioning.”
And that 30-hour battery claim? It holds up. Owners call it “impressive,” “surprisingly very long,” and “super long.” The quick-charge feature is also a lifesaver: 10 minutes of charging gives you 5 hours of playback. It’s not as fast as the 3-minute charge on the newer XM5, but it’s more than enough to get you through a couple of days.
Finally, portability. A Polish reviewer highlighted something often overlooked: the “ochronny case… jest bardzo wysokiej jakości” (protective case… is very high quality) and “poręczny” (handy). Because the XM4s fold up neatly (unlike the newer XM5s), the case is compact and “fits easily in a backpack.”
Smart Features: Clever… Mostly
This is where the XM4 shows its age, just a little. Let’s start with the good: the touch controls on the right earcup are “simple” and “work very well.” The “Quick Attention” mode (placing your hand over the cup to let in ambient sound) is genius. And the multipoint connection—letting you connect to a laptop and phone at the same time—is a feature many newer, more expensive headphones still get wrong.
Now for the mixed bag. The “Speak-to-Chat” feature, which automatically pauses music and engages ambient mode when you start talking, gets a “so-so” rating from one user, who noted you can “hear the artificiality in the voice” in ambient mode.
And the one clear red flag? The product page’s own summary admits that “functionality and connectivity receive mixed reviews.” While many users have no issues, some “report ‘the right side doesn’t work properly’ and ‘experience constant connection issues.'” This seems to be a minority, but it’s a potential quirk to be aware of.
WH-1000XM4 vs. The Competition
- vs. Bose QuietComfort SC: This is the classic rivalry. The Bose (a “frequently bought together” item) is legendary for its own noise-cancelling and comfort. Generally, the debate comes down to this: Bose is often seen as slightly more comfortable and having a more neutral sound, while the Sony (XM4) packs in more tech (LDAC, DSEE) and a punchier, more customisable sound profile.
- vs. Sony WH-1000XM5: The page explicitly names this as the “newer model.” The XM5 offers “Premium” noise cancellation (vs. the XM4’s “Digital”), a faster quick charge (3 mins for 3 hours), and more mics for better call quality (a jump from 2 mics on the XM4 to 8 on the XM5/XM6). However, the XM5 does not fold, making its case bulkier. And crucially, the XM4, being an older model, is often significantly cheaper.
Our Verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a legend for a reason. In 2025, it represents something increasingly rare: phenomenal value.
While newer models like the XM5 and XM6 might technically beat it in a head-to-head lab test (especially on call quality), the XM4 delivers 90-95% of that flagship experience for a fraction of the price. The noise-cancelling and sound quality are still in the premier league, the battery life is exceptional, and the comfort is proven over millions of hours of user wear.
Who is this for? This is the savvy music lover’s choice. It’s for the commuter, the student, the long-haul flyer, and the office worker who wants flagship performance without paying the 2025 flagship price.
Who is it not for? If you make back-to-back phone calls all day, the 2-mic system is a step behind newer models. And if you’re sensitive to potential (though seemingly rare) Bluetooth quirks, you might be tempted by its newer siblings.
But for the vast majority of people, the WH-1000XM4 isn’t just a good headphone. It’s arguably the smartest high-end audio purchase you can make today.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ World-class noise cancellation (user-verified on trains) | ⚠️ Connectivity can be mixed (some users report issues) |
| ✅ Fantastic, customisable sound quality (praised by an “Audio Engineer”) | ⚠️ Ambient/Speak-to-Chat mode can sound “artificial” |
| ✅ Extremely comfortable, light, and well-padded | ⚠️ Only 2 mics for calls (newer models have 8) |
| ✅ Excellent 30-hour battery life | ⚠️ Quick charge is slower than the newer XM5 (10 mins vs 3) |
| ✅ Multipoint connection (pairs with 2 devices) | ⚠️ An older model (from 2020) |
| ✅ High-quality, compact, folding design and carry case | ⚠️ Sound can be “flat” before using the app’s EQ |
| ✅ Great value for money compared to newer models |
Final Rating: 4.5 / 5
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Additional Information
- Brand: Sony
- Model: WH-1000XM4 (WH1000XM4B.CE7)
- ASIN: B08C7KG5LP
- Date First Available: 6 August 2020
- Dimensions: 25.5 x 18.5 x 7.7 cm
- Weight: 254 g
- What’s in the Box: Headphones, Carry Case, Headphone Cable (approx. 1.2m), USB-C Charging Cable (implied), Aeroplane Adapter (implied from user review)
Further Reading:
- What Hi-Fi? Sony WH-1000XM4 Review – A detailed technical breakdown from a respected UK audio authority.
- Rtings.com Sony WH-1000XM4 Review – For in-depth, data-driven lab tests on sound, noise-cancelling, and latency.
- Official Sony UK Product Page – The manufacturer’s official specifications and feature list.