Sony resurrects the WH-1000XM4 with Bluetooth 6 — and a slightly smaller battery

Sony is bringing back the WH-1000XM4 as the WH-1000XM4C, a lightly refreshed version of one of its best-known noise-cancelling headphones. It is more encore than sequel: familiar hardware, a lavender colour option and a few modern connectivity and software updates.

What’s actually going on

The Verge reports that the XM4C keeps Sony’s QN1 processing chip and four microphones for active noise cancellation, with a broadly unchanged folding design. Sony has revised the sound profile, added a 10-band equaliser and introduced a gaming preset in the Headphones app, while Bluetooth support moves from Bluetooth 5 to Bluetooth 6. The awkward trade-off is battery life: claimed playback with ANC enabled falls from up to 30 hours on the original XM4 to up to 27 hours on the XM4C. The headphones are expected later in autumn at US$300, a price independently reported by CNET alongside the WH-CH730N and WH-CH530.

Why you should care

The XM4’s compact folding design and comfortable fit remain genuine advantages, particularly against bulkier successors. Bluetooth 6 is welcome, but it is not automatically a reason to replace a pair of headphones that already sounds good and cancels noise effectively — especially when newer models are frequently discounted.

Our opinion

Sony is betting on a known quantity, and that may be smart. But a six-year-old design returning at US$300 with a smaller battery needs a substantial discount before it becomes the obvious buy. Existing XM4 stock or a discounted newer rival probably offers better value.