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I demoed Sony’s new 2026 budget over-ear headphones – including a WH-1000XM4 refresh
Sony's budget headphone lineup starts at $70 and includes the WH-1000XM4, WH-CH730N, and WH-CH530 models.
Just over a year after releasing the highly acclaimed WH-1000XM6, Sony announced the 1000X The Collexion, a luxury consumer headphone aimed at customers with discerning design tastes and deeper pockets. Now, a few months later, Sony is making a unique decision to … rerelease its flagship headphones from six years ago? Sure, why not.
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Alongside the WH-1000XM4C are the WH-CH730N and the WH-CH530, completing the company’s refreshed budget headphone lineup. Each pair suits different user needs: The WH-1000XM4C is the most advanced of the bunch, while the WH-CH530 is the least advanced. I flew to New York City to get a first look at the new headphones — here’s what to know.
The WH-1000XM4C is a reborn version of the WH-1000XM4, initially released in 2020. The XM4C debuts with a more modern, refined look compared with the first-generation XM4, with the exact same noise-cancellation tech, an extended 10-band EQ, updated audio tuning, a $50 lower price tag, and three fewer hours of battery life. It’s an interesting spec sheet.
During a briefing, Sony said it was targeting young women with this release. From 2023 to the present, the Sony WH-1000XM4 has remained a trending topic on TikTok, with many creators praising its noise cancellation, design, fit, and especially its price relative to newer models.
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According to Sony, young women are at the forefront of the online headphone trend, so Sony decided to refresh the fourth-generation headphones to capitalize on the hype. I can understand why Sony claims young women prefer the XM4 to the newer XM5 or XM6 models, and it’s solely because of design. The XM4 sports a lighter, slimmer build with thinner earcups, which can be considered a more “feminine” look compared with the bulkier earcups found on the XM5 and XM6.
However, I don’t see only young women finding the renewed XM4 model attractive. The XM4 is a widely beloved iteration of Sony’s 1000X series headphones, and anyone who doesn’t like the XM5 or XM6 for whatever reason may feel inclined to buy the XM4C.
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