The Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones set the benchmark when they launched and thanks to a series of price cuts they now represent better value than ever.
Yes, they have been superseded by the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, which have a fresh design and a more detailed audio performance (and are now our no.1 pick on our list of best wireless headphones), but that doesn't make the XM4s bad overnight – far from it.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 over-ear headphones boast a comfortable design that's good for a full day of music or taking calls.
The 30-hour battery life is pretty good for a pair of high-end wireless headphones and they compare admirably with the best noise-cancelling headphones when it comes to blocking external noise.
Sonic performance is a big upgrade compared to the older WH-1000XM3 and they sound better than rivals including the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. The XM4 soundstage is wide and unearths loads of detail, they're composed with low frequencies and deliver a confident, dynamic sound with all genres of music.
The XM4s also have some neat features: they activate pass-through mode as you start talking (so you can hear what the other person is saying) and they automatically pause the music when you take them off and restart it when you put them back on.
Sure, the WH-1000XM5, which arrived in May 2022, are even better – they boast a new design and the ability to expose greater detail – but the XM4 remain a truly outstanding buy at this low price.
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Sony WH-1000XM4 vs WH-1000XM5: which headphones should you buy?
Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review
