The Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds have been a firm favourite of ours in recent years, and with the arrival of the new more-than-worthy successors, the five-star Sony WF-1000XM5, you might be wondering if there's a good or two to be found on the outgoing model.
And you'd be right. While the XM4 are due to be replaced, that doesn't mean you should automatically opt for the newer model over the XM4. After all, taking home a 2022 What Hi-Fi? Award for the best wireless headphones at £100-£200 is no mean feat, and it's no wonder these brilliant buds have been at the top of our best wireless earbuds recommendations list for the last two years.
With superb sound quality, excellent noise-cancelling and some great new features, the Sony XM4 are still one of the best buds around at their (now discounted) price. Before the XM5 arrived, only the flagship models from Apple (AirPods Pro 2) and Bose (QuietComfort Earbuds II) were able to give them a run for their money in terms of outright sound and ANC performance.
Being a premium pair, the XM4 never exactly came cheap – launched at £250 / $280 / AU$450 – but we've seen the price drop down considerably in recent months, both in anticipation of the new XM5's reveal as well as the inevitable discounts you get after a two-year lifespan (which is a long time in headphone terms).
If you're looking to be a savvy consumer and nab a bargain while prices are low, you could find your patience soon to be rewarded. Below, you'll find the lowest prices across a variety of retailers available now for the Sony WF-1000XM4.
Best Sony WF-1000XM4 deals
What can we say about the Sony WF-1000XM4? The short version is that they're among the best wireless earbuds we've ever tested. Why? Put simply, they're the complete package – fantastic all-rounders that look great, sound great, and do everything you could ask of a flagship pair of buds.
They support wireless charging, for one thing, which is a step up from their predecessors, the WF-1000XM3. Their battery life is class-leading (eight hours from the buds on a single charge, a total of 24 hours with the carry case), and they have an IPX4 water resistance rating (able to withstand "splashing from any angle"). New ear tips provide a more secure fit while being more comfortable, and the Speak to Chat feature lets you talk to someone while still wearing the earbuds – just start chatting and it kicks in automatically. Neat.
Their powerful processor makes for solid noise cancellation while also improving sound quality overall. The XM4 have a wonderful sense of musicality – one that remains impressive even in light of the new XM5's more analytical sound. Bass clarity is stunning, vocals have nuance and depth, the natural tonal balance is impressive and the sense of rhythmic precision lets the headphones switch pace effortlessly.
We would warn you, though, that if you're looking for the most up-to-date features and cutting-edge tech, the WF-1000XM5 are the buds you want. Slimmer, lighter design and improved noise cancelling (unwanted sound is reduced by about 20 per cent over the XM4). They also have a new integrated V2 processor and radically different sound profile that majors on detail retrieval and stunning clarity.
That, in truth, will probably help keen bargain seekers, as we're not expecting any WF-1000XM5 deals to drop any time soon as they've only just launched, but we're fully prepared for some hefty discounts on the outgoing five-star XM4 model – and you'll see the best deals on this page.
MORE:
Here's our Sony WF-1000XM5 review
And our original Sony WF-1000XM4 review
Sony WF-1000XM5 vs WF-1000XM4: which noise-cancelling earbuds are best?
