Headphones · 2020
The WH-1000XM4 is Sony’s 2020 flagship noise-cancelling headphone that keeps a foldable design. It offers the QN1 noise-cancelling processor, a 40 mm driver, SBC/AAC/LDAC, connection to two devices at once, wear detection, Speak-to-Chat that pauses music when you talk, and wired use over 3.5 mm; battery life is up to 30 hours with ANC on and 38 hours off. Independent testing found noise cancelling on par with the Bose 700, the sound full and comfort good over an eight-hour day, but criticised touch controls that skip tracks by accident. Owners praise the sound and comfort; some say it takes time to get used to the ANC pressure and that the mic struggles in noisy places.