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Sony · Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM4

Popular folding noise-cancelling headphones with LDAC high-resolution audio, DSEE Extreme, and 30-hour battery.

List price

$348

14 attributes tracked

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Weight

254 g (8.95 oz)

Active Noise Cancelling

Yes (HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 with Dual Noise Sensor)

Battery life

30 hours (ANC on) / 38 hours (ANC off)

What it does well

  • Folding headband hinges collapse smaller than the newer XM5
  • Supports high-res LDAC streaming and DSEE Extreme upscaling
  • Superb value with industry-tested noise cancellation

Where it gives ground

  • Microphone voice isolation trails newer XM5 in windy conditions
  • Cannot use LDAC while 2-device Bluetooth multipoint is enabled

Compare it head to head

The fastest way to decide is against the product you are actually cross shopping. Showing 4 of 14 published matchups.

Headphones11 differing specs

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

$549

Sony WH-1000XM4

$348

Sony leads on 3 of 4 rankable specs and costs less.

See the breakdown
Headphones11 differing specs

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

$349

Sony WH-1000XM4

$348

Bose leads on 2 of 3 rankable specs, but Sony saves $1.

See the breakdown
Headphones11 differing specs

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

$429

Sony WH-1000XM4

$348

Evenly split on rankable specs, so price and taste decide it.

See the breakdown
Headphones12 differing specs

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

$399

Sony WH-1000XM4

$348

Evenly split on rankable specs, so price and taste decide it.

See the breakdown

Full specifications

Design

Type
Over-ear, closed-back
Weight
254 g (8.95 oz)
Foldable
Yes (collapsible foldable headband)
Carrying case
Compact hard-shell zippered carrying case included
IP rating
No official IP rating

Audio

Driver
40 mm dome type (CCAW Voice coil)
Active Noise Cancelling
Yes (HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 with Dual Noise Sensor)
Transparency mode
Yes (Ambient Sound Control with Quick Attention)
Supported codecs
LDAC, AAC, SBC
Microphones
Precise Voice Pickup Technology with 5 microphones

Connectivity & Battery

Multipoint Bluetooth
Yes (Bluetooth 5.0 multipoint for 2 devices)
Battery life
30 hours (ANC on) / 38 hours (ANC off)
Charging time
3 hours full charge (10 min quick charge gives 5 hours)

Ownership

Warranty
1 year
Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.Official Sony WH-1000XM4 spec sheet (opens in a new tab)

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Frequently asked

How much does Sony WH-1000XM4 cost?

Sony WH-1000XM4 lists at $348 (manufacturer list price snapshot as of 2026-09-01). Retail prices vary by merchant and this is not a live quote.

What are Sony WH-1000XM4’s key specs?

Key specifications for Sony WH-1000XM4 include weight (254 g (8.95 oz)), active noise cancelling (Yes (HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 with Dual Noise Sensor)), and battery life (30 hours (ANC on) / 38 hours (ANC off)).

What does Sony WH-1000XM4 compare against?

Sony WH-1000XM4 is compared head to head against Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Sony WH-1000XM4, Bose QuietComfort Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM4, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM4, Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM4, Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM4, and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM4.