Sony's "WF-1000XM4" has reached a new peak in wireless earphones: product review

If you want to be the champion, be careful. Since Sony released the wireless headphone "WF-1000X" in 2017, it has continued to reign as the king of the completely wireless inner-ear earphone world. And in that time, he's fended off more assassins than Fidel Castro.

However, recently, it is certain that the products that claim to be the heir to the throne of the earphone world have been upgraded one after another. Thus, the WF-1000XM3 released in 2019 (click here for the Amazon sales page) somehow fell into a state of clinging to its crown with its fingertips.

Related article: Sony “WF-1000XM3” review: Noise canceling performance is at a terrible level

The new model "WF-1000XM4" (Amazon's sales page is here) announced in such a situation may think that he is a born champion. But there are plenty of other products out there looking to take the throne.

To name just four companies, Bose, Bowers & You may think so. Either way, these competing models have a lot to offer.

Does the WF-1000XM4 have the features needed to beat the competition? Or will Sony's attempt to claim succession to the throne end in a bloody reversal?

Reduce the burden on both the environment and your ears

The WF-1000XM4 is greener, less wasteful and less luxurious than its predecessor. It looks like a modern royal family.

Sony reduced the packaging of the WF-1000XM4 to one-third the volume of its predecessor, and now uses Sony's own "original blend materials" for all packaging. This is a plastic-free paper material package that is easy to recycle and environmentally friendly. It is used for all inner and outer boxes, cushions, sleeves, etc. In addition, the charging case is 40% smaller than the larger case of the WF-1000XM3, and the earphone body is also 10% smaller than the previous model.

Sony has added some new components and features while reducing the strain on both the environment and your ears. For example, a newly developed 6mm diameter dynamic full-range driver, an upgraded amplifier, support for "DSEE Extreme" that upscales compressed sound sources (optimistically claiming that sound sources can be converted to almost high-resolution sound quality), Things like the new "V1" processor and more in-depth noise-cancelling technology.

In addition, Bluetooth 5.2 is used for wireless connection, and simultaneous transmission to left and right earphones is possible. Furthermore, by adopting Sony's own LDAC codec, it has received "High Resolution Audio Wireless" certification (the product also supports SBC and AAC codecs).

Battery life is not "amazing" but "adequate". The usable time of the earphone is 8 hours (with the active noise canceling function turned on) to 12 hours (with the same function turned off) according to the catalog value.

If you use a smaller charging case, the playback time will be extended by about 16 hours. That's not bad, considering that a 5-minute charge gives you an hour of playback. It also supports wireless charging of the "Qi" standard.

Enhanced detailed functions

Detailed consideration for the new operability adopted in the wireless headphones “WH-1000XM4” (Amazon sales page here) released in 2020 Even the new model is alive and well, and this point can be evaluated. Adaptive noise canceling function optimized for the environment, "Speak to Chat" that allows you to talk while wearing earphones , or ask someone to wear a mask), and fast pairing with Android devices are all welcome features.