Sony WF1000XM4
Sony WF1000XM4
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MUSIC: Excellent—9.0/10
CALLS: Fair—6.7/10
GAMING: Poor—5.6/10
TV: Fair—6.0/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Best in Class—10.0/10
EXERCISE: Fair—6.6/10
AIR TRAVEL: Very Good—8.7/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Very Good—8.3/10
BUILD QUALITY: Very Good—8.9/10
BATTERY: Best in Class—10.0/10
The Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds feature excellent overall sound quality, with very good noise isolation, making them ideal for immersive music listening and effective in noisy environments like air travel. They are comfortable, have very good build quality, and offer top-tier music performance. However, the microphone quality is poor, which may affect calls and meetings. For gamers and those using them for TV and video, they may not be suitable due to latency issues. They are sweatproof, have active noise cancelling, support LDAC for high-quality audio over Bluetooth, and have a dedicated app for equalizer and control customization. They are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, have ear detection features, offer around 9 hours of battery life with an additional 24 hours from the case, but do not support wireless charging. They are not the smallest earbuds available, so portability could be a minor concern. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Excellent overall sound quality
- Superb comfort
- Good build quality and controls
- Advanced app features like an equalizer
- Supports Sony's 360 Reality Audio
Cons
- Larger earbud size, which may not suit everyone
- Mic quality is poor
- Not ideal for gaming
- Fair for calls and meetings, TV, exercise
Ratings by Category
Podcasts & Audiobooks:5.0
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Battery Life:5.0
The Battery Life rating is based on hours of typical, actual usage.
Music:4.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds provide a very good overall sound quality with a very good soundstage, which delivers a more immersive listening experience when enjoying music. Additionally, they support the LDAC lossless codec for high-resolution audio streaming and feature virtual surround capabilities, enhancing the depth and spatial feeling of the sound.
Air Travel:4.6
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
Calls:3.7
This evaluates the product when used solely to make and receive calls. It takes into account how well the products are able to clearly reproduce the human voice, the quality of the integrated microphones and the battery life, when available, to be able to use them for longer sessions or conferences.
Exercise:3.7
This score evaluates the product when used for exercise and physical activity. It mainly takes into account comfort, whether or not the products are sweatproof and how secure are the earbuds or headphones while wearing them. We also consider products with wireless capabilities to be more suitable for this particular scenario
TV & Video:3.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds are considered fair for watching TV and videos primarily because they have no wired option to eliminate latency, and their soundstage, which contributes to the immersive experience, is rated as poor, potentially providing a less than ideal sense of space and direction of sounds.
Portability:3.0
The Portability score is based on an overall assessment that includes volume and maximum dimension of the product (and case, if relevant), and its weight. Special features like foldability for headphones are also taken into account.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $278 | ||
Brand | Sony | ||
Release Date | July 1, 2021 | ||
Form Factor | Earbuds | ||
Connectivity | Wireless | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 9.1/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 6.7/10 | ||
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 9 Hours | ||
Wireless charging | No | ||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | ||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | ||
Case Battery Life | 24 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | ||
Virtual Surround | Yes | ||
Android App | Yes | ||
iOS App | Yes | ||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | ||
Comfort score | 8.9/10 | ||
Size | Large | ||
Weight of single earbud | 6.5 Grams | ||
Microphone style | Integrated | ||
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Sony WF1000XM4
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What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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