The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are the successor to the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless. This generation has some improvements, including a longer continuous battery life, additional touch-sensitive control features, and multi-device pairing. Like their predecessor, they have an outstanding noise isolation performance thanks to their noise cancelling (ANC) feature and a comfortable, premium-looking design. Overall, these decently versatile headphones are a solid choice for many different listeners, and even though Sony replaced them with the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, they're still worth checking out as a comparable alternative.
Our Verdict
The Sony WH1000XM4 aren't the best choice for sports use. They're comfortable and well-built but don't stay on your head during more intense exercises. Plus, their closed-back design isn't the most breathable, and since they trap in some heat, you're prone to sweating more than usual with them on.
- Comfortable fit.
- Over 37-hour continuous battery life.
- Can fall off your head with moderate movement.
- Bulky design.
The Sony WH1000XM4 are excellent for commuting and travel. Their hard carrying case helps protect them if you need to stow them in a bag or carry-on. They have over 37 hours of continuous battery life, and you can comfortably wear them for long listening sessions without much fatigue. Plus, their ANC can block out bass-heavy sounds like the rumble of engines as well as mid-range sounds like commute chatter, meaning you can enjoy your music without distraction.
- Comfortable fit.
- Incredible ANC performance.
- Over 37-hour continuous battery life.
- Bulky design.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are very good for office use. Thanks to their ANC feature, these headphones block out a lot of distracting background noises, like chatter from nearby coworkers, so you can focus on your work. They last over 37 hours continuously, and their comfortable fit isn't fatiguing over long periods at your desk. That said, they leak a bit of audio at loud volumes, so you'll want to keep the volume low to avoid bothering your coworkers.
- Comfortable fit.
- Incredible ANC performance.
- Over 37-hour continuous battery life.
- Bulky design.
The Sony WH1000XM4 are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is likely too high to be suitable for wireless gaming. You also can't use them wirelessly with PlayStation or Xbox consoles.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are good for wired gaming. Thanks to their 1/8" TRS cable, you can connect them to your PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, but you can't use the microphone using this connection. That said, they have a comfortable fit for long gaming sessions, and their bass-heavy sound profile adds an extra punch to explosions and action-packed scenes.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Comfortable fit.
- Audio-only wired connection.
The Sony WH1000XM4 are very good when it comes to audio reproduction accuracy. Their warm sound profile pumps up the bass frequencies relative to our target curve, but the frequency response generally follows this sound profile without significant deviations. The L/R drivers are well-matched, indicating tight tolerances, and harmonic distortion levels are low enough that you won't notice any coloration of your audio even at high volumes.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are outstanding when it comes to noise isolation. They excel at blocking out external noise across the entire frequency spectrum, though bass-range noises like rumbly plane engines are particularly heavily attenuated. They can leak a bit of audio, but this is unlikely to be noticed unless you're blasting your tunes in a very quiet place, like a library.
The Sony WH1000XM4 have a disappointing microphone performance. While your voice will be understandable, it'll sound thin and muffled for the most part. The mic also struggles to isolate your voice from your surroundings, particularly in busy backdrops.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 have great frequency response consistency. While they're prone to small inconsistencies in the high-mid and treble range, you should be able to achieve consistent audio delivery, as long as you take the time to ensure a solid fit.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 12, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Mar 12, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
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Updated Jul 15, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've also added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests.
- Updated Jul 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony WH-1000XM4 come in two different color variants: 'Black' and 'Silver'. We tested the Silver model, and you can see its label here. These headphones also come in 'Midnight Blue', which are exclusive to Best Buy, and in a limited edition 'Silent White' color scheme to celebrate Sony's 75th anniversary. The 'Silent White' variant and their included accessories, like their carrying case and cables, are stark white with gold accents. They were only available from May through August 2021.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are premium noise cancelling headphones and are the successor of the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless. They're also the previous generation of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. They're more comfortable and portable than the XM5, have more voice prompt options, and have a comparable bass-heavy default sound profile. Compared to their rival, the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, they aren't as comfortable, but have a better ANC performance and more robust customization options.
If you're looking for other headphones, see our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones, the best closed-back headphones, and the best travel headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better over-ears than the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless. The WH-1000XM4 are more comfortable and better built, and their ANC can block out significantly more ambient noise across the range. They also support LDAC, which is good if you want to stream high-res audio. However, the WH-CH720N have a better overall mic performance.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless have a slight edge over the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless due to the better noise isolation on the Sony. While both are premium headphones, the Sony are a bit more comfortable; their ANC blocks out more ambient sound, and they support LDAC, which is a Bluetooth codec for streaming high-quality audio. They also have a virtual soundstage feature to help make your audio seem more immersive and spacious. However, the Sennheiser are no slouch: they also have a much longer continuous battery life, and they support aptX Adaptive, which is a Bluetooth codec that dynamically adapts to your audio content to give you either lower latency or better audio quality. If you want USB audio, only the Sennheiser boast that feature, but their ANC isn't as strong as the Sony.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are the next generation of the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. There have been a couple of changes in design and performance. As a result, the XM5 have a better microphone performance, and the ANC system attenuates noise slightly differently; you can still expect significant ambient sound isolation from either pair of headphones. However, the XM5's build isn't as solid as the previous generation, and the ANC has a harder time blocking out the low rumble of bus engines. Additionally, their automatic adaptive ANC system can't be disabled.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are both high-end headphones, and depending on your needs, you may prefer either pair. Both headphones have fantastic ANC systems, so you'll get top-tier noise isolation from either pair. The Bose are more comfortable and have a better-performing mic. They also support aptX Adaptive, which is a codec that automatically adjusts its performance based on your audio content, so you'll be able to listen to audio in higher quality or, if you're streaming video, reduce lip sync mismatch. The Sony headphones support passive playback and LDAC codec, allowing you to stream higher-quality audio than with the default SBC codec.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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