Sony adds AI smart functionality and even better noise cancelling to its flagship WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth headphones

But for $349, I want more precision from the touch control panel and it’d be nice to get some additional colors. If you want slightly stronger ANC and a more precise audio experience with a more modern look, you should check out the $339 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Excellent audio quality; Powerful active noise cancelling; Light; comfortable frame; 30 hours of battery life; Plethora of sound customization options

Finicky touch controls

Active noise canceling headphones like Sony’s new WH-1000XM4 have quickly gone from a luxury to a must-have, as our homes evolve into remote offices and schoolrooms. At the same time, with most travel on hold, what we expect from a set of isolating headphones has changed dramatically.

Excellent active noise cancelation; Multipoint Bluetooth pairs 2 devices at once; 30+ hours of battery; Almost every item on the WH-1000XM3 wishlist is answered

Not waterproof

There has been a battle waging for years between Bose and Sony for the title of best the wireless active-noise canceling cans. After more than a week of intensive time with the new Sony WH-1000XM4 I think it is clear we have an undisputed winner.

Stunning audio performance; Immersive active noise-cancellation; Quick attention mode; Speak-to-chat option; Very long battery life; Simple; reliable touch controls

360 Reality Audio requires a compatible music service

Sony has made the best even better. With a bunch of seemingly small changes, the company has further improved its already stellar headphones. The WH-1000XM4 sounds great and the custom ANC automatically adjusts if you choose to let it.

Powerful custom ANC; Immersive sound with punchy bass; Automatic pausing when you speak; Multi-device connectivity

Pricey; 360 Reality Audio is still limited; Adaptive Sound Control requires location sharing

The 1000X series of headphones win awards year-on-year and that trend is likely to continue. The WH-1000XM4 wireless ANC over-ear headphones bring one word to mind - superb. With an enhanced feature set that makes many rivals look stone age, these over-ears provide excellent audio playback even with...

Superb music playback with noise-cancelling on or off; Great battery life and fast-charge capabilities; Packed full of useful features; Very comfortable to wear

Not worth upgrading if you already have the XM3; No aptX or aptX HD support

Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy. By keeping the sound as good as it always was to satisfy music lovers and adding some extra features tech heads wanted, Sony manages to keep its nose just in front of Bose, Bowers & Wilkins and Beats by Dr. Dre.

Lively; balanced and detailed sound; Insane noise-cancelling; A full suite of cutting-edge extra features

Can get trebly under the wrong circumstances; No aptX or aptX HD support – seriously Sony?

The successor to the Sony WH-1000XM3 from 2018, one of the most popular over-ear headphones with noise-cancelling ever, has been eagerly awaited. Sony already conquered and successfully defended a top position in the market since the introduction of this product series in 2017 (MDR-1000).

Improved audio, more effective noise cancellation and smart new features make the Sony WH-1000XM4 the over-ear headphones to beat

Class-leading noise cancellation; Supremely comfortable; Excellent audio quality

Lack water resistance; Microphone quality could be better

There was a mixed reaction among the TechCrunch staff when Sony’s WH-1000XM4 were announced the other week. There was excitement among those looking for new headphones and disappointment for those who’d recently purchased a different pair.