Sony WH-1000XM4 leak suggests multiple pairing and 'smart talking' feature

(Image credit: justplayinghard (via twitter))

In the past few months, we've seen many Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones leaks regarding their alleged manual, pricing and design. In fact, the rumour mill surrounding Sony's forthcoming update to the Award-winning WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling cans has proved so active that we compiled a dedicated Sony WH-1000XM4 release date and rumours page to list everything known about them.

And, thanks to the latest leak, we might know something the WH-1000XM4s will be able to do that the WH-1000XM3s cannot. 

Code spotted during a recent teardown of Sony’s Headphones Connect app, posted by Twitter user justplayinghard (below), allegedly reveals the WH-1000XM4s' ability to simultaneously connect to two devices. This feature is not supported by its predecessor.

The WH-1000XM4s could also boast something called 'Smart Talking', a voice-detection feature that could automatically engage ambient sound once a voice is detected, and after a set time audio will return to normal. The Sony WH-1000XM3 has Ambient Sound Mode, which lets you hear ambient sound without having to remove the cans, but this new tech could mean the headphones deploy the function automatically.

Potential images of the headphones also appear in justplayinghard's tweet, and in line with previous leaks Sony's newest wireless over-ears look very similar to the XM3 indeed.

What didn't emerge from the dismantling of Sony's Headphones Connect app was an official release date for the new model, and there's been no official word from Sony on when we can expect to be able to purchase them, either. 

As soon as we know, you'll know... 

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Becky has been a full-time staff writer at What Hi-Fi? since March 2019. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, she freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 20-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance is of course tethered to a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo, This is Cabaret and The Stage. When not writing, she dances, spins in the air, drinks coffee, watches football or surfs in Cornwall with her other half – a football writer whose talent knows no bounds.