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Sony's WH-1000XM4C: Six Years On, a Legend Gets a Comeback

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Sony's WH-1000XM4C: Six Years On, a Legend Gets a Comeback

Six years is a long time in consumer electronics. In 2020, the Sony WH-1000XM4 launched into a world that desperately needed good noise cancellation, given that working from home suddenly became everyone's default, and it promptly became one of the best-reviewed headphones ever made. The XM4 sold in enormous numbers, picked up practically every award going, and created a problem for Sony: how do you follow up something people still love in 2026?

Key Takeaways

  • Sony WH-1000XM4C revisits the XM4 design, restoring the folding form factor that was removed in the XM5
  • Updated with Sony's QN3 noise-cancellation processor, replacing the original XM4's QN1 chip
  • Expected battery life of at least 36 hours with noise cancellation active, up from 30 hours on the original XM4
  • Expected retail price of approximately 349 dollars in the US
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