Sony has reintroduced its acclaimed WH-1000XM4 headphones in a new variant, the WH-1000XM4C, offering updated sound tuning and colour options at a competitive price point, but with minimal hardware changes.
Sony has revived one of its most successful noise-cancelling headphones, bringing back the WH-1000XM4 in refreshed form as the WH-1000XM4C. The company says the new model keeps the familiar over-ear design while adding updated sound tuning, a 10-band equaliser and new colour options. At $299.99, it is positioned well below Sony’s current flagship WH-1000XM6 and lands as a value-focused alternative rather than a full generational replacement.
The specifications suggest little has changed physically. Sony lists the WH-1000XM4C at about 253 grams, with the same closed-back format and stereo mini-jack input. Battery life is rated at up to 27 hours with noise cancellation switched on and up to 34 hours with it off. That makes it slightly less enduring than the original WH-1000XM4, which Sony and industry coverage previously placed at 30 hours with ANC, but the refreshed model is also cheaper and sits in a different part of the market.
That pricing may be the strongest argument for the reissue. AndroidPure reported a launch price of $299.99 and said the headphones will arrive in Black and Platinum Silver this autumn, with Lavender sold exclusively through Sony and Amazon. PR Newswire’s announcement also highlighted the new colourway and the expanded equaliser, while Gadgets 360 and SoundGuys both described the product as a revised version of the 2020 model rather than an entirely new platform.
The bigger question is whether Sony has done enough to modernise a familiar design. The appeal of the WH-1000XM4C appears to lie in sound customisation and updated tuning rather than hardware innovation. Sony says the headphones support Bluetooth 6.0 and high-resolution audio playback via LDAC, with frequency response extending to 40,000 Hz under the right settings. For buyers who want a proven Sony ANC headphone without paying flagship money, that may be enough. For those expecting a true successor, the WH-1000XM4C looks more like a carefully repackaged old favourite.
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