It’s quite simple: the WH-1000XM4s improve in numerous ways on the best noise-cancellers going. If you have cash to burn and need some new cans, these are our number one pick. What’s trickier to tackle is whether or not XM3 owners should think about upgrading. While it’s true that features like automatic wear detection and multipoint connection are hard to relinquish once you have them, they’re probably not enough to justify another £350. And Speak-to-Chat, smart as it is, is inessential when there are already so many control options at your disposal. You’ll no doubt be able to pick up the old but just as great-sounding model at a very good price come Black Friday. Still, these headphones are the best of their kind ever released, and it’ll take something special to knock Sony off its perch.

Speak-to-Chat works well (and stops you singing); Noise cancellation even better than before; Wear detection a much-needed addition; They sound fantastic with any genre;

Expensive; Samey design might put people off upgrading;

The Sony WH-1000XM4 deliver excellent noise-cancellation and surprising sound quality all in a lightweight, comfortable design. While they don't look significantly different from their predecessors, a number of new features including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor all help the WH-1000XM4 claim the title of best headphones in 2021.

Improved noise-cancellation; DSEE Extreme audio upscaling; Multipoint pairing; Auto-play/pause and conversation awareness;

Imperceptible design changes; Not water-resistant; Call quality still isn’t perfect; Singing can pause the music

To improve upon what were considered to be the best noise-cancelling headphones seemed like a tricky task, but the WH-1000XM4 do exactly that, making the XM3 feel slightly dated in doing so. They sound better, noise-cancelling is excellent and they're one of most comfortable headphones to wear. The XM4 raises the barrier even further. Sony has outdone itself here.

Superb audio; Great noise cancellation ; Comfortable fit, lightweight design; Useful smart features;

No aptX/aptX-HD;

Supremely comfortable, with a transparent musicality that suits any genre of music, Sony’s WH-1000XM4 noise cancellers are the wireless headphones to beat in 2021.

Class leading noise cancellation; Transparent musical performance; Inventive AI features; Light and comfortable;

Sonically same as XM3; No Bluetooth aptX;

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 noise-cancelling turned up to the max. The best truly have got even better.

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;

We're big fans of Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones, which deliver first-rate ANC (active noise cancellation) and audiophile-level sound quality, so it's safe to say we've been looking forward to the new WH-1000XM4. For $349.99, the headphones deliver some notable improvements, including an automatic conversation feature that pauses the audio and turns on the ambient mic, and the ability to play audio or power down depending on whether you're wearing them. Noise cancellation is slightly improved, thanks to a specialized processor that applies ANC in real time, and audio performance remains impeccable. Simply put, these are the noise-cancelling headphones to buy if audio performance is your top priority, and they easily earn our Editors' Choice.Design Available in black or off-white, the circumaural (over-ear) WH-1000XM4 headphones look a lot like the previous model. Plush earpads and under-the-headband cushioning make them exceptionally comfortable, even during long listening sessions....

Sony's terrific WH-1000XM4 headphones combine top-notch noise cancellation with audiophile-friendly sound quality.

Excellent audio performance with rich bass and detailed highs; Top-tier noise cancellation with in-app adjustments; Customizable EQ; Simple, responsive on-ear controls; Comfortable fit

Expensive; Cable lacks inline remote

When Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones arrived in 2018, they were the first noise-canceling headphones that really gave Bose's QuietComfort models a run for their money. Now, Sony's successor model has arrived. And like any good Hollywood sequel, the eagerly awaited WH-1000XM4 is equal parts familiar and satisfying, with a dash of slight disappointment thrown in.

The much-anticipated new version of Sony's top noise-canceling headphone has finally arrived, and it makes small improvements to an already top-notch product.

Excellent sound and top-notch noise canceling; Slightly more comfortable; Improved voice calling; Pairs with two devices at the same time; New Speak-to-Chat mode; Upgraded Bluetooth system-on-chip; Good battery life;

It's expensive; Looks virtually the same as the previous model;

Do not buy

Comfortable on the ears, excellent noise canceling, I highly recommend this product!

Great for my grandson.