Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST Sony WF-1000XM4 review for those who are wondering whether they are WORTH IT. I’ll also be comparing the Sony WF-1000XM4 vs WF-1000XM5, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, OnePlus Buds Pro 3, and more!
I’m going to do my best to share whether these wireless earbuds are worth it, and ideally who these are perfect for. I’ve owned these for a while now and have quite a few thoughts.
I’ll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, and tech journalist.
Let’s dive right in!
Sony WF-1000XM4 Review in Short
The now-discontinued Sony WF-1000XM4 still has elite noise cancelling performance and is enjoyable to listen to due to its balanced sound profile. Only issues are its dated mic quality and taking a chance on Renewed or Used. Competes in the wireless noise cancelling earbuds class with the likes of Sony WF-1000XM5, Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation, AirPods Pro 2, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, OnePlus Buds Pro 3, Status Pro X, and more!
Pros and Cons
- Elite noise cancelling performance
- Enjoyable sound profile
- LDAC support
- Incredible value Renewed/Used
- Mic quality
- Can only buy Renewed/Used
- There’s better sound quality
Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
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Comfort + Features
Comfort
The Sony WF-1000XM4 comes with 3 pairs of memory foam eartips to find the perfect fit for you.
I like that the Sony earbuds come with memory foam eartips, which I feel creates a strong physical seal for noise cancelling.
That said, I don’t exactly love the fit of the rather bulky XM4 earbuds.
Sony streamlined the design into a much smaller package with the newer XM5, so I think this validates that critique of the XM4’s size.
And although I don’t mind the stock memory foam tips, I find that both the XM4 and XM5 benefit from aftermarket tips like the ones below.
If for whatever reason the stock eartips aren’t to your liking, I’ve really enjoyed using these aftermarket ones I tested from SpinFit (note that this entire review is using the stock eartips):
The wireless earbuds that I find more comfortable and secure-fitting include:
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd and 1st Gen
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
- Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Features
The Sony WF-1000XM4 was originally released in June 2021, so it has many modern wireless earbud features:
- IPX4 water resistance rating (sweat and light splashes)
- LDAC high-res codec support
- Built-in microphones for taking calls
- USB-C charging case
- Bluetooth 5.2
- Multi-point connection
- Adaptive Noise Cancelling
- Transparency Mode
- iOS and Android app support
The most notable feature for audiophiles is the LDAC high-res codec support.
Also, it’s nice that there is a native app offered for both iOS and Android users alike.
Microphone Quality
The Sony WF-1000XM4 is getting a bit dated now, so its microphone quality is firmly average by today’s standards.
The newer Sony WF-1000XM5 with its bone conduction sensors is one particular standout for improved mic quality.
A couple other notables include the AirPods Pro 3, arguably the best today, and the Nothing Ear 3 with its “Super Mic” function utilizing the charging case.
So if mic quality is an important priority for you, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Battery Life
- With ANC on: 8 hours of battery life on a single charge / 24 hours total with charging case
- With ANC off: 12 hours on a single charge / 36 hours total with charging case
- Fast Charge: 10 minutes = 2 hours of playback
This battery life is about average for the class, as most competitors are 6-8 hours on a single charge, and 24-30 hours with the charging case.
Comfort + Features Score: 8.5 out of 10
Sony WF-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Performance
Now if there’s one feature that is still very competitive by today’s standards, it’s the noise cancelling performance of the Sony WF-1000XM4, which is still near the top.
Both the XM4 and newer XM5 earbuds have elite noise cancelling performance.
In addition to the Sony’s, I’ve found the best noise cancelling to be with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen and AirPods Pro 3.
(As a bonus, putting on the aftermarket eartips I shared seems to improve the physical seal and noise cancelling even further.)
Noise Cancelling Score: 9.0 out of 10
Sound Quality
Since the XM4 is now one of the older premium wireless earbuds released in 2021, one would naturally think that its sound quality may be outshone by newer entrants with newer technology.
But considering its noise cancelling performance is still elite, it makes me curious if that really is the case.
A lot of people online still seem to love their XM4 earbuds, some even suggesting they are superior to the newer XM5 earbuds.
So I set out to find out the truth for myself…
Let’s start with the high-res codec support of LDAC, which makes sense since this is a Sony product, but is actually a pleasant surprise as there’s modern earbuds that don’t support any high-res codecs at all.
To conduct this test, I used my Questyle QCC Dongle Pro to unlock LDAC support:
![Questyle QCC Dongle Pro [MFi Certified] USB-C Bluetooth Audio Adapter with LDAC,aptX Lossless&aptX-Adaptive,Low Latency Bluetooth 5.4 Dongle for PS5,Wireless Lossless Transmitter for PC/Headphones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21jT-Cm5ZVL._SL500_.jpg)
If you’re an iPhone user, or if your phone doesn’t support aptX codecs, then I highly recommend you pick up the dongle above which will cover both LDAC and aptX Adaptive high-res codecs. It’s the only one of its kind that supports both, to my knowledge.
My first listening impressions of the Sony WF-1000XM4 via LDAC was actually above expectations.
They still sound pretty good today, over 4 years after their release.
Aside from LDAC keeping the resolution just as high as today’s offerings, I think one of the most charming aspects of the XM4 is its stock sound profile. I’d describe it as warm, musical, and simply a well-balanced sound signature that wouldn’t offend anybody.
Funny enough, it reminds me of the equally-beloved Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, which would totally make sense if you think about it.
The bass is present and engaging, although not the cleanest or deepest sub-bass compared to today’s competition. More of a punchy mid-bass that is not too overpowering.
The mids are nice and full, albeit a bit shouty at times.
The treble is nicely detailed but runs into some slight sibilance that could be smoother.
Now to bring things back to Earth, there are clearly superior audiophile options such as the Technics AZ100, Denon PerL Pro, Status Pro X, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, and Noble FoKus Rex5 – all of which are some of the best wireless earbud listening experiences available.
These elite options do expose a bit of the XM4’s shortcomings when it comes to having a narrower soundstage, lesser dynamics, and weaker separation and layering.
The sound profile does a great job at hiding this and letting you simply enjoy the music, as long as you’re not doing critical listening.
I also do slightly prefer the newer WF-1000XM5, AirPods Pro 3, and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, which I think are all slightly higher fidelity.
But to be honest, I’m pleasantly surprised how enjoyable the XM4 is to listen to alongside newer releases like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2.
Sound Quality Score: 7.9 out of 10
Value
Due to being officially discontinued, the Sony WF-1000XM4’s price is in a weird spot, as most pairs available for purchase are Renewed or Used.
This is both good and bad in my opinion.
It’s good because the current market price for Renewed is around just $85 at the time of this writing. If we just look at that price, these are an incredible value today.
But… being that these are older, used examples, one thing that worries me is the battery life and longevity.
Since wireless earbuds are quite small along with the capacity of their batteries, I’d just worry that the overall battery capacity would be significantly diminished on a used pair that may be a few years old at this point.
Still, $85 is a bargain compared to today’s AirPods Pro 3, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, and Sony WF-1000XM5 that are typically between $229 to $249 on sale.
There’s only really two newer contenders that jumps out to me as comparable dollar values, the SoundPEATS H3 at under $130, and the Nothing Ear 3 at $149 on sale.
Value Score: 8.5 out of 10
Overall Scoring Breakdown
Comfort + Features (15% of score): 8.5 / 10
Noise Cancelling (25% of score): 9.0 / 10
Sound Quality (50% of score): 7.9 / 10
Value (10% of score): 8.5 / 10
Total: 8.3 out of 10
Is the Sony WF-1000XM4 Worth it?
Thanks to its appealing price point, the Nothing Ear 3 presents a decent value when compared to competitors that can cost up to $100 or more.
Price aside, I still prefer the AirPods Pro 3 overall as a daily driver, and would pay the premium to “upgrade” from the Nothing Ear 3.
Now if we’re focused on audiophile sound quality, there is a handful of superior options that I also prefer listening to.
Lastly, the SoundPEATS H3 is still my standout #1 Ranked for Value at under $130, and I would personally buy the H3 over these myself.
Lastly, if you’d like to save some money and keep supporting RecordingNOW.com’s 100% independent, unbiased reviews, do consider using some of our affiliate links below to shop and even just compare prices. We purchase all products we review with our own money to maintain the highest level of integrity, and your support goes into that plus a continuously improving site experience.
Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
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