![]() ![]() It’s very clear sounding and offers a great situational awareness. The Ambient Mode filters audio through as if you’re not wearing them at all. To my ears, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds suppress more effectively. Though Sony claims the XM4’s noise cancellation is industry leading – I wouldn’t agree. Noise cancellation is an improvement on previous earbuds, the WF-1000XM4 stifles sounds with more skill. With three charges supplied by the case, max battery life is 36 hours, four better than WF-1000XM3. Otherwise, the WF-1000XM4 pack more hours per charge – from 6 to 8, and with noise cancelling off, battery life is quoted at 12 hours. ![]() With noise cancelling on, the number quoted matches the XM3 – 24 – but the charging case is smaller (40% less volume), so XM4s offer the same amount of stamina from a smaller case. It integrates noise cancelling processing and Bluetooth SoC (System on Chip), producing efficiencies across the feature set. The XM4 siblings no longer share a processor between them like the XM3s did, the WF-1000XM4 featuring Sony’s V1 processor. The packaging for the earbuds has also been revamped reduced in size and made from sustainable sources. Where previous cases were chunky, the WF-1000XM4’s case is petite and pocketable, making them more convenient for transport. The charging case has been reduced in size and is all the better for it. You must choose between the three options (one for each side), which means you will have to fish your smartphone got one of those actions – a slight inconvenience. Which function is assigned to which earbud can be configured in the Headphones app. The controls are responsive, with a range of options that includes activating noise cancelling/ambient sound/Quick Attention, playback (a combination of taps for play/pause, skipping and a long press for voice assistance), and volume control. The rubbery aspect provides a tactile sense of interaction, and like the PI7, the effect is subtle but enhances the connection between you and earbuds. I do like what Sony has done with the ‘feel’ of the touch control area. The matte black (or platinum silver) finish is not as alluring as previous models, though the gold accents, especially on the external microphone, do make them distinctive. You can swap sizes for each ear (they’re colour coded) for a better fit. You could source other ear-tips, but Sony says that could affect the strength of noise isolating design. With small and large options alongside default medium, the ear-tips feature little bubbles that dissipate noise, and mould themselves to the contours of the ear for a tighter fit. The fit is helped by Sony’s new polyurethane noise isolation ear-tips. If anything, the longer I wore them, the more comfortable they became. I find there is a settling in period though but once that passes, they feel fine. Would I recommend them for workouts? I’ve not taken them for a run, but potentially yes, the IPX4 rating protects them against some sweat and rain, and unlike their predecessor these earbuds don’t require pushes after the fact to keep them seated. Once the right position has been found, they stay planted. The more ergonomic shape fits the contours of the ear better, making the XM4 feel more stable than the XM3. The WF-1000XM4 are Sony’s best true wireless pair yet, but given the increase in competition and quality – are they the best true wireless earbuds? DesignĪesthetically, the WF-1000XM4 have undergone a big change from the WF-1000XM3 they’re more compact – 10% less volume – and the result is the earbuds sit within the ear than bulge out. The WF-1000XM4’s entry marks a moment where the true wireless market is booming, earphones pushing against their full-sized counterparts for features, and sound reaching ever higher levels of quality. The WF-1000XM3 came two years later and at time where true wireless was beginning to fulfil more of its potential. Sony’s first effort arrived with the WF-1000X in 2017, which divorced themselves from the safety-first approach of first-gen efforts and placed sound quality at the forefront. The true wireless market sprung into life in 2016, and arguably no-brand has channelled its potential as much as Sony.
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