// THE VERGE — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Six years later, Sony revisits its legendary XM4 headphones
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After the WH-1000XM4 were discontinued in 2025, Sony is bringing them back as the WH-1000XM4C.
After the WH-1000XM4 were discontinued in 2025, Sony is bringing them back as the WH-1000XM4C.
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Six years ago Sony and Bose were in the middle of a noise-canceling battle, with each new model of headphones better than the last. In the fall of 2020, Sony released the WH-1000XM4 headphones to wide acclaim. They sat atop best headphones lists for years, thanks to their great sound, competitive ANC, and compact size, until they went out of stock. Now Sony has brought them back, with minor improvements, as the WH-1000XM4C.
The XM4C look identical to the original XM4 (although they now have a lavender option), with the same hinge design and ability to fold up. It’s a compact design that Sony moved away from when it released the XM5 in 2022, and then returned to (although not quite as compact) with the XM6. But it’s not just the look that’s returned. The XM4C still use the same QN1 processing chip and four microphones for ANC. That design is showing its age: The XM5 still used the QN1, but had eight mics. Last year’s XM6 have 12, plus the new QN3 chip.
Sony did update the XM4C’s sound profile to bring it in line with current models, and the headphones have a 10-band EQ in the Headphones app, instead of the 5-band on the XM4, plus a gaming preset. The XM4C also support Bluetooth 6 instead of 5. Surprisingly, the battery performance on the new headphones is slightly worse. Sony claims the XM4C get up to 27 hours of use with ANC on as opposed to 30 hours previously. Not a huge difference, and still more than enough for a cross-country trip.