Leaked details suggest Sony is set to launch the WH-1000XM4C, a budget-friendly upgrade to the popular WH-1000XM4, retaining key features while reducing the price and modifying battery life.
Sony is preparing to widen its 1000X headphone range with a cheaper model based on the WH-1000XM4, according to a report by billbil-kun published by The Verge. The new version, expected to be called the WH-1000XM4C, is said to keep the older model’s core performance while cutting the price to €249.99 or £219.99, which works out to roughly $289-$297. If accurate, that would place it below the original WH-1000XM4 launch price of $349.99 and well under the WH-1000XM6, which arrived last year at $449.
The leaked details suggest Sony is not planning a major redesign. Instead, the WH-1000XM4C would reuse the familiar formula that helped make the 2020 model one of the company’s most popular noise-cancelling headphones. Reportedly included are active noise cancellation using Sony’s QN1 chip, spatial audio, hi-res audio support and touch controls on the ear cups. The main trade-off appears to be battery life: the new model is said to offer up to 34 hours of playback, or up to 27 hours with noise cancellation switched on, compared with 38 hours and 30 hours respectively on the original XM4.
The timing also fits Sony’s wider 1000X strategy. Earlier this year, reports from MacRumors, TechRadar, Gadgets 360, SoundGuys and 91mobiles pointed to a premium 10th-anniversary edition called “The Collexion”, with pricing around $649 and a more luxury-focused design. Those leaks described thicker padding, larger ear cups and metal hinge changes, signalling that Sony is simultaneously pushing the line upmarket as well as downmarket. That contrast suggests the company sees room for both a high-priced showcase product and a more accessible model for buyers who prefer the older design.
That may matter because the WH-1000XM4 still has a loyal following. Sony altered the line significantly with the WH-1000XM5 in 2022, removing the folding hinges and making the case larger. The WH-1000XM6 restored folding cups and improved comfort, but some users still prefer the compact XM4 shape. If the WH-1000XM4C reaches stores in black, silver and lavender in early September, as the leak claims, it could become a practical replacement for ageing XM4 owners whose battery has started to fade.
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