The XM4C keeps the original’s QN1 chip and four mics, adds Bluetooth 6 and a 10-band EQ, and drops battery life to 27 hours.
Sony has brought back the WH-1000XM4 headphones as the WH-1000XM4C. The new model looks identical, adds a lavender option, and keeps the original folding design. The headphones use the same QN1 chip and four microphones for ANC, but Sony updated the sound profile and added a 10-band EQ and gaming preset. The XM4C will cost $300 when it arrives later this fall.
Sony launched the original XM4 in fall 2020 during a noise-canceling battle with Bose. The headphones stayed on best-list rankings for years before going out of stock. Sony then discontinued the XM4 in 2025, and the XM4C now revives the design. The XM5 followed in 2022 with eight microphones and a different hinge, while last year’s XM6 uses twelve microphones and the newer QN3 chip.
Sony’s XM4C extends a proven hardware platform with modest updates. The pair keeps the QN1 chip and four mics, so its ANC design trails the XM6’s QN3 and twelve-microphone setup. Bluetooth 6 support and a 10-band EQ narrow the feature gap with current models. Operators should weigh the $300 launch price against the XM5’s current $200 price.
A review sample of the XM4C has arrived at The Verge, so an in-depth comparison is coming. Sony also refreshed its budget lines with the WH-CH730N and WH-CH530, giving them the same 10-band EQ and gaming preset. Battery life on the XM4C drops to 27 hours from the original’s 30, though that still covers a cross-country flight. Watch whether the $300 price holds when the XM5 is currently selling for $200.
What matters
- Sony brought back the WH-1000XM4 as the XM4C with updated sound tuning and Bluetooth 6.
- For builders, the XM4C keeps the older QN1 chip while newer models move to QN3 and more microphones.
- A deeper review will soon test the XM4C against Sony’s newer XM5 and XM6 models.
Why it matters
A deeper review will soon test the XM4C against Sony’s newer XM5 and XM6 models.
This GenAI News article was prepared in original wording using reporting and materials published by The Verge. Source reference: https://www.theverge.com/tech/990687/sony-announces-xm4c-headphones.
Drafted by the GenAI News review pipeline.