Sony WH-1000XM3 vs Sony WH-1000XM4

Last Updated & Fact Checked:  March 21, 2026

Are you trying to decide between the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Sony WH-1000XM4?

Product Versus will provide you with all the product details so you can quickly compare the facts to find which product is right for you – the Sony WH-1000XM3 or the Sony WH-1000XM4 – and find out exactly what the differences are.

Both the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 are quality products, so read on to find out which one is best for your needs!

Sony WH-1000XM3 quick facts

Sony WH-1000XM4 quick facts

Sony WH-1000XM3 product details

Bestseller No. 1
SONY WH1000XM3 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, Black WH-1000XM3/B (Renewed)
  • HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1
  • Smart Listening by Adaptive Sound Control / SENSE ENGINE for virtual surround sound
  • Hi-Res audio / 1. 57" LCP drivers for up to 40kHz frequency
  • Bluetooth 4. 1 LDAC connection / Connect to the Sony Headphones Connect App
Bestseller No. 2
SOULWIT Professional Earpads Cushions Replacement for Sony WH-1000XM3 (WH1000XM3) Over-Ear Headphones, Ear Pads with Softer Protein Leather, Noise Isolation Memory Foam, Added Thickness (Black)
  • 🎧COMPATIBILITY: Fit perfectly on WH1000XM3 Over-ear Headphones only! (DO NOT FIT WH-1000XM2 OR WH-1000XM4)
  • 🎧OUR INGENUITY: Adopting the High-density memory foam and the softer protein leather, our Added Thickness earpads will seal around your ears brilliantly, which finds the perfect balance of comfort and noise isolation.
  • 🎧FLAWLESS INSTALLATION: Besides the Earpads and a user guide, you will get a plastic stick, making the entire installation easy and fast (usually 5 mins).
  • 🎧TIME TO CHANGE YOUR OLD ONES: Why not buy a new clothes for your 300$ headphones? Your old ear cushions negatively affect the sound quality of your headphones. We promise you will immediately feel the difference as soon as you wear them on.
  • 🎧WE CONTINUE TO develop more professional and ergonomic ear cushions. Please contact us for replacements or refunds if there is any issue with your purchase.
Bestseller No. 3
Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones Bluetooth Over The Ear Headset with Microphone and Alexa Built-in, Black New
  • SONY’S LIGHTEST WIRELESS NOISE CANCELING HEADBAND EVER: Weighing just 192g, our lightest overhead wireless headphones with Noise Canceling yet, for incredible comfort without compromising on technology.
  • DUAL NOISE SENSOR TECHNOLOGY: Take noise canceling to the next level with Sony’s Integrated Processor V1, so you can fully immerse yourself in the music.
  • ALL DAY COMFORT: Super comfortable and lightweight design.
  • SMART FEATURES: Adjustable Ambient Sound mode and Adaptive Sound control features tailors sound to suit the environment around you.
  • LONG BATTERY LIFE: Up to 35-hour battery life with quick charging (3 min charge for up to 1 hour of playback).(USB Type-C Cable included

Sony WH-1000XM4 product details

Bestseller No. 1
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones - 30hr Battery Life, Over Ear Style with Mic for Phone-Call and Alexa Voice Control - Black International Version
  • Noise cancellation, powered by HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. Industry-leading noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology,Specific uses for product Audio Frequency Response 4Hz-40,000Hz. Headphone Type Closed, dynamic. Frequency Response: 4 Hz-40,000 Hz
  • Sound quality - these Bluetooth headphones support ideal Resolution Audio, and even compressed music files are upscaled using evolved DSEE Extreme technology. Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback)
  • Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses playback when one start a conversation, Wearing Detection powers off headphones when not wearing them, plus more smart features for a seamless, hands-free listening experience. The WH1000XM4 Touch Sensor controls to pause play skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls.
  • With multipoint connection, Sony headphones can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time, Bluetooth version: 5.0 and frequency range: 2.4GHz band (2.4000GHz-2.4835GHz), Effective Range : Line of sight approx. 30ft (10m)
  • Driver Unit : 40mm dome type (CCAW Voice coil), Plug : Gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug, Cord Length : Headphone cable (approx. 1.2m, OFC strands, gold-plated stereo mini plug)
Bestseller No. 2
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones with Mic for Phone-Call and Alexa Voice Control, Silver WH1000XM4
  • ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION: Premium noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology
  • LONG BATTERY LIFE: Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback) (USB Type-C Cable included)
  • TOUCH SENSOR CONTROLS: Pause play skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls.
  • SPEAK-TO-CHAT: Automatically reduces volume during conversations
  • SUPERIOR CALL QUALITY: Precise voice pick up combines five built-in microphones with advanced audio signal for clear calls
Bestseller No. 3
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Silver
  • This Certified Refurbished product is manufacturer refurbished, shows limited or no wear, and includes all original accessories plus a 90-day limited hardware warranty.
  • Next-level music with Edge-AI, co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo
  • Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback)
  • Touch Sensor controls to pause/play/skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls

New products & alternatives to the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Sony WH-1000XM4

New
Sony WH-1000XM6-BLACK Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with a 3 Year Amber Protection Plan (2025)
  • The Best Noise-Cancellation: Powered by advanced processors and an adaptive microphone system, noise cancellation is optimized in real time | Co Created with Mastering Audio Engineers: A specially designed driver with a lightweight carbon fiber dome delivers high fidelity sound, where rich vocals and every instrument remains pure and balanced
  • HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3: With more microphones than ever, we can precisely detect external noise and counteracts it with opposite soundwaves, delivering a new level of noise cancellation | Ultra-Clear Calls, From Anywhere: Six-microphone AI-based beamforming system, isolates your voice, filtering out background noise for crystal-clear calls
  • Compact Carrying Case & Foldable Design: Designed to slip seamlessly into bags and airplane pockets, the compact case now features a magnetic closure for easy access—so your headphones are always ready to go | Tailored Comfort, Thoughtfully Designed: Wider, asymmetrical headband with synthetic leather for all-day comfort, paired with a foldable design perfect for traveling
  • This Bundle Includes: Sony WH-1000XM6-BLACK Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (2025) | 2 Year Amber Protection in Addition to the Included Full 1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty. Intended for Residential Use Only. Exclusively Offered by Walt's TV
New
Sony WH-CH720N/B Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone Black Bundle with Premium Deco Essentials CPS Exclusive 3 Year Protection Pack
  • SONY USA AUTHORIZED - Includes Deco Essentials Premium 3 Year Extended Protection Plan in ADDITION to the Included FULL Manufacturer Protection | Sony Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone, Black WHCH720N/B
  • Take noise canceling to the next level with Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 | Super comfortable and lightweight design | Adjustable Ambient Sound mode tailors sound to suit your environment | Up to 35-hour battery life with quick charging
  • More music, less background: With two microphones in each earcup and Dual Noise Sensor technology to capture ambient sound, you can block outside noise everywhere you go, so the only thing you hear is your music.
  • Keep the wind quiet: A newly developed Wind Noise Reduction Structure around the mic reduces background noise for you, and keeps focused on your favorite music.
  • Adaptive Sound Control automatically adjusts to whatever you do: Adaptive Sound Control is a smart function that senses where you are and what you’re doing, then adjusts ambient sound settings for the ideal listening experience. It even recognises locations that you frequently visit, such as your workplace, the gym, or a favourite café, and switches the sound modes that suit the situation.
New
Sony WH-1000XM5SA Premium Noise Cancelling Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Bluetooth, Clear Call Quality, High-Resolution Sound, Up to 30 Hours Battery Life, Soft Case, Including iOS and Android - Black
  • INTRODUCTION SONY WH-1000XM5SA - Award winning wireless headphones with superior noise canceling, superior sound quality, crystal clear call quality and luxurious comfort. The headphones are identical to our WH-1000XM5 but come with a soft case
  • PREMIUM NOISE CANCEPT: With four microphones in each earphone, unwanted sound is more accurately eliminated. Our Auto NC Optimizer ensures noise canceling is optimized for your environment
  • PREMIUM SOUND QUALITY: Our precision engineering driver unit improves high frequency sensitivity and supports High Definition Audio thanks to our industry adopted audio coding technology LDAC
  • LONG BATTERY LIFE: Giant 30 hours battery provides enough power for long journeys. USB-PD AC adapter for fast charging (sold separately) allows 3 hours of playback on 3 minutes of charge
  • LUXURIOUS COMFORT CHIFFE: Premium materials with ergonomic design; plush cushions hug the ears and the adjustable headband provides a custom fit. Available in black, includes a matching soft case
New
Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (Silver) Foldable Over-Ear Bluetooth Headset | Hi-Res Audio, 30-Hour Battery, LDAC, Multipoint with USB Wall Adapter and Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
  • Bundle Includes: 1 x Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise-Canceling Over-Ear Headphones (Silver) | 1 x Single Port USB Wall Charger | 1 x Microfiber Cloth
  • Next-Level Noise Cancellation: The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones redefine what active noise cancellation means. Equipped with the QN3 HD processor and an array of 12 microphones, these headphones deliver immersive sound by silencing everything from airplane engines to office chatter. Whether you're commuting, traveling, or working from a café, Auto NC Optimizer tailors the cancellation level in real time to your environment.
  • All-Day Power with Quick Charge: Power through meetings, flights, and commutes with a robust 30-hour battery life, even with ANC activated. Running low? Just 3 minutes of charging via USB-C provides up to 3 hours of playback—ideal for on-the-go use. With 40 hours available with ANC off, and the ability to charge while listening (with a separate cable), you’re never out of sync with your world.
  • Studio-Quality Sound with Hi-Res Precision: Elevate every playlist with finely balanced audio, deep bass, and refined treble thanks to Sony's carbon-fiber drivers and LDAC codec support. The WH-1000XM6 offers Hi-Res Audio certification and utilizes DSEE Extreme to upscale compressed music files, breathing life into every note. Whether you're listening to orchestral masterpieces or bass-heavy beats, the custom 10-band EQ in the Sony Headphones app allows you to tailor your experience.
  • Smarter Connectivity & Voice Control: Effortlessly switch between your laptop and phone with multipoint Bluetooth pairing. Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable connection while supporting LE Audio, LC3 codec, and advanced call clarity. Touch-sensitive controls on the earcups provide instant access to playback and volume. Whether it’s a business call or a bus ride listening session, everything sounds—and works—better with the XM6.
New
Sony WH-1000XM6 Flagship Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Signature High-Definition Sound, Superior Comfort, Foldable Design, Durable Case, 30 HR Battery, iOS and Android
  • DESCRIPTION OF SONY WH-1000XM6 NOISE CANCEL CORDLESS BLUETOOTH EARS: The best noise cancelling, Sony's flagship model with the best ambient sound in over-ear headphones and more
  • BEST NOISE CANCELL: Powered by the new HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 and Auto NC Optimizer Our Multi Noise Sensor Technology delivers optimal performance wherever you go
  • SIGNATURE SOUND: 30mm driver unit, developed in collaboration with Grammy award-winning mastering engineers, Hi-Res Audio, DSEE Extreme for upgrading every piece and customizable 10-band EQ
  • FOLDABLE DESIGN, DURABLE CONDITION: Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones fold into a compact size for easy storage and portability. The new carry case provides protection with magnetic closure for quick access
  • ULTIMATE COMFORT: Lightweight for all day use, the new headband is more comfortable and safer than the previous model with soft, cushioned headphone pads for a premium feel

Our conclusion on the Sony WH-1000XM3 vs Sony WH-1000XM4

Both the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 are high quality products and we are sure you will be happy with either one. In the end it comes down to your budget and the value for money you are looking for.

Either way, the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 are both excellent products that will more than do their job!