The Sony WH-1000XM4C bring back a beloved headphone design

Section paragraphs are in range, but the full piece is still over 1,000 words. I’m cutting repeated lines while keeping every fact.Sony announced the WH-1000XM4C, bringing back the WH-1000XM4 that came out in 2020. The Verge's report, published October 26, 2026, at 4:45 p.m. UTC, finds only minor tweaks on that six-year-old namesake, including the same processor for active noise cancellation. Senior reviewer John Higgins covers TVs and audio, has more than 20 years in AV, and previously was on staff at Digital Trends and Reviewed. He scores the XM4C an 8 and calls them more of a re-release than a refresh.

This is for owners who want the XM4's foldable design back and for buyers who want to get near the WH-1000XM6 for less money. It covers price, sound, noise canceling, calls, battery life, the EU replaceable cell, Auracast, and controls. Higgins says the XM4C are not the cutting edge, but they sound great, the design is classic, and he loves using them.

Sony WH-1000XM4C: the announcement

Higgins was perplexed by the WH-1000XM4C. A revamp usually includes one or two significant improvements, he writes, and nostalgia usually revives a decades-old product, not a 2020 model. The Verge lists them at $298, at $298 at Amazon, and at $300 at Sony and Best Buy. Strengths are long-term comfort, good ANC that is no longer top-tier, enjoyable sound, a 10-band EQ, and a foldable, compact design. It has less battery life than the original and no Auracast. After using them, he gets it.

What owners loved in the XM4 is still the heart of the XM4C. Cups fold into a compact size and ship with a hard-shell zippered case easy for travel, the loop now on the zipper instead of the edge. Faux-leather ear cups are squishy. Higgins wore them for hours without issue. Codecs are unchanged: SBC, AAC, and LDAC for high-res wireless audio on supported devices. A white XM4C beside a black XM4 looks remarkably similar, and that is not a bad thing. He calls the surprise welcome.

What actually changed with Sony WH-1000XM4C

A 40mm driver keeps the XM4's heavier bass, supportive rather than overpowering. Kick drum and tom hits have oomph and definition, and Billie Eilish's "bad guy" drives forward. Midrange can sound slightly covered or muted, including the acoustic-guitar attack in Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" and the bite of Robert Plant's vocals. Higgins does not hear that on his XM4s, and the gap is not drastic. Sound Connect's EQ is 10 bands, up from five. Boosting 1kHz to 4kHz opened the midrange. Even without it, the XM4C sound great.

The XM4C keep a 3.5mm jack as newer headphones drop it, powered for ANC or off if the battery is low. Like the XM4, XM5, and last year's XM6, wired audio is 3.5mm, not USB-C, and only that cable is included. Four mics and the older QN1 chip match the XM4 on ANC. They blocked a little more low end from air conditioners and big trucks, which Higgins says could be ear pads six years newer than his worn XM4 pads.

Who should care about Sony WH-1000XM4C

Buyers who want an XM4 replacement will be incredibly happy, Higgins says. He enjoys the sound, ANC works well, and they are incredibly comfortable. The XM5 pairs the QN1 chip with eight mics. The XM6 uses 12 mics in total and the more advanced QN3 chip, isolates better across the range especially down low, and costs $160 more. On calls the XM4C block ambient sound and keep a voice clear, but louder noises can break through or compress it. They get the job done and are not top tier.

ANC has improved a lot, and this is where the six-year-old tech shows most, Higgins writes. The Anker Soundcore Space 2 offers comparable performance for half the price. Second-generation Bose QuietComfort Headphones, slightly more expensive, block lower frequencies a bit better. Outside noise never distracted him with ANC on. There is no Bluetooth LE, so no Auracast. He had hoped for it with the move to Bluetooth 6.0, which the XM5 and XM6 support. He calls the gap at release a shame.

How to try Sony WH-1000XM4C

Amazon lists the WH-1000XM4C at $298, while Sony and Best Buy list them at $300. Higgins says $300 is a little more than he would expect for headphones based on a 2020 model. Power and ANC buttons sit apart from capacitive touch, as on the XM series. A sensor on the right ear cup controls tracks and volume. A palm over it holds transparency until the hand moves away. The controls work decently, though he has always preferred physical buttons. The cups fold into the case for travel.

Use the included 3.5mm cable for wired listening, powered for ANC or off if the battery is low, and bring your own USB-C cable to charge. Sony Sound Connect holds the 10-band EQ. ANC lasts 27 hours, down from 30 on the XM4, enough for a few days. A removable battery, required by upcoming EU regulations so Sony can sell the XM4C in Europe, explains the shorter time. The replacement is not sold in North America, and Sony has not said when or if it will be.

What to watch after Sony WH-1000XM4C

No instructions yet cover how to replace the battery yourself. Ear cups are easier to remove than before. Higgins popped them off and on by hand instead of prying them up with an extra tool. The screws that reach the cell are not obvious. Removing only the four obvious silver screws with arrows does not open it. That is not a huge deal on brand-new headphones, he says, because the batteries should last a few years. It is not encouraging for American customers who wanted a user-replaceable battery to add longevity.

Auracast is still absent at launch. The XM4C ship without Bluetooth LE and therefore without Auracast, despite the move to Bluetooth 6.0 that the XM5 and XM6 support. The XM5 gained Auracast later through a firmware update, so an XM4C update is possible and is not here yet. Higgins welcomes the reissue. Minor improvements on a six-year-old design leave headphones he calls great. He writes that even though a design is old, it does not mean it should be forgotten.