Sony has done it again, with a generational replacement truly worth the upgrade. The WF-1000XM4 true wireless headphones have all the bells and whistles and then some, coupling great sound performance with class-leading active noise-cancelling and a much smaller form factor to before.

Great audio performance; Superb adaptive noise-cancelling (ANC) tech; Comfortable for long periods of wear; Hi-Res Audio Wireless and LDAC support; Qi wireless charging on case;

No support for Qualcomm aptX; Still reasonably large in the ear; Battery life in the case is a bit less than some competitors;

Sony's true wireless WF-1000XM4 earphones pair excellent audio performance with class-leading active noise cancellation.

Exceptional active noise cancellation, Powerful bass depth and crisp, defined highs, Adjustable EQ, Good battery life

Expensive

“With an all-new design and tons of improvements, they're very hard to beat.”

Great sound quality, Good battery life, Great noise cancellation, LDAC Bluetooth codec, Wireless charging

May not fit small ears, Slightly lacking in high-end detail

Sony first released its WF-1000XM3 earbuds nearly two years ago, and though they offered some of the best noise cancellation and sound quality you could find at that time, a lot has changed since.

Best noise cancellation in true wireless earbuds, Excellent, detailed sound, New leader in battery life among competition

No Bluetooth multipoint, Microphone performance could still be better, Only three sizes of ear tips included

While one might quibble whether Sony’s new earbuds are the best noise cancelers in the business, they’re either CEO or COO. In other words, they’re large and in charge. They also offer reams of battery life, a comfy fit, a relatively slim design, and some of the best sound in the wireless genre.

Fantastic noise canceling, Superb sound, Next-gen battery life

No viable solution for volume control, Missing some key features

Astonishingly good sound; Excellent noise cancellation; Improved design; IPX4 rating; Smaller case ; Comprehensive feature set;

Is the noise cancelling the best? ; More expensive than before; Call quality suffers in noisy areas;

In the over-the-ear headset market, the battle between noise-canceling headphones is primarily between Sony and Bose. However, in the wireless earbuds space, there are many competitors with noise-canceling capability now present even in some earbuds priced less than $100.

Stunning audio performance, Effective active noise-cancellation, Speak-to-chat option, Long battery life, Simple, reliable touch controls, Small case with wireless charging capability

Expensive

Sony has shrunk its top model a lot. The WF-1000XM4 is a pair of really good earbuds. If you adjust them correctly.

Very stable connection, excellent speech sound and fabulous noise reduction. Pleasant, rich sound on music. Opens at the top with good audio codecs.

In excess subdued in the top register with SBC. Make sure you prioritize sound quality over app stability. 5-band graphic EQ in the app is a bit scarce.

With hi-res audio support and handy new features, Sony’s WF-1000XM4 look set to improve on their already excellent predecessors

The Sony WF-1000XM4 are a punchy, detailed and well-balanced listen, more than capable of soothing just as easily as getting you ready for the dancefloor. They sound spacious, unified and convincingly musical. They’re an endlessly engaging listen, with a stack of sonic talents as long as your arm. On top of that, they cancel external sounds pretty effectively, have battery life that’s just the right side of ‘acceptable’ and are, frankly, streets ahead of any nominal rival where ergonomics are concerned.

Articulate, convincing sound; Great call quality; Ergonomically impeccable;

Battery life is just about acceptable; Noise-cancellation can be bettered;