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

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).

The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the successor to what are widely considered to be the best active noise cancelling headphones on the market.

Fantastic noise cancelling; Very accurate sound for ANC headphones; Proximity based auto play/pause; LDAC codec support; Terrific app experience

Edge-AI upscaling doesn't add much; Touch controls still have a learning curve; You can't use LDAC with multipoint Bluetooth

The XM3s represented, at the time of their introduction, the pinnacle of noise-cancelling headphones, but the field has moved on, with Bose coming back into the fray with its al-new NC700s and Bowers & Wilkins with the PX7s.

+ Comfortable fit over long listening sessions and better weight distribution; improved finishing and padding make it an even more premium feeling product; improved sound quality over the XM3; improved noise cancelling offers the feeling of your own personal ‘bubble of solitude”; control app which...

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

These noise-canceling headphones silence the world better than most, and the mics are now actually usable on phone calls.

Top-tier noise-canceling. Fantastic audio processing and digital upscaling. 30 hours of battery life. Light and comfortable. Intuitive app-based controls. Connect two devices at once.

Somewhat drab design.

The world of noise-canceling headphones is getting increasingly competitive. While the likes of Apple have started releasing their own models, companies like Sony and Bose continue to refine and develop their headphones.

Sony has refreshed its flagship wireless headphones this year, though you will be forgiven if you mistake the XM4s for a rehash of the XM3. Taking a “don’t fix it unless it’s broken” approach, Sony didn’t set out to fully remake the headphones.

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;

The Sony WH-1000XM4 noise cancellation headphones may offer iterative changes compared to their predecessor, but they should still be one of the first pairs of headphones you consider if you’re in the market for high-end wireless headphones and have $350+ to spend. There is some competition.