Sony Brings Back the WH-1000XM4 as the New WH-1000XM4C at a Lower UK Price

Cast your mind back to 2020. Sony launched the WH-1000XM4, and for millions of headphone buyers around the world, the search was basically over. Comfortable, excellent at blocking out noise, and genuinely good-sounding, the XM4 became the default recommendation for anyone who asked “what headphones should I buy?” It sat at the top of best-buy lists for years.

Then Sony quietly pulled the plug. By 2025, the WH-1000XM4 was listed as discontinued on Sony’s Japanese product pages — production finished, stock dwindling, an era ended. The company had moved on to the WH-1000XM5 and then the WH-1000XM6, its current flagship.

But now Sony’s bringing it back. Sort of.

Meet the WH-1000XM4C

The new model is called the WH-1000XM4C, and it’s essentially a revised reissue of the XM4, designed to sit at a lower price point beneath the WH-1000XM6. Sony is pricing it at £219.99 in the UK — around 249.99 euros on the continent and roughly £235 equivalent in the US market at current rates. That’s a meaningful step down from what the original XM4 cost at launch, and considerably less than the XM6.

For their part, the design is largely the same. You get the same 40mm drivers, the same touch controls on the earcups, and the same smart features that made the XM4 so popular — Speak-to-Chat, Quick Attention mode, Bluetooth wireless, and support for high-resolution audio including 360 spatial audio. Sony has also updated the sound tuning, adding a 10-band equaliser that the company says reflects how people actually listen to music now.

What’s changed is mostly what’s been trimmed. NFC pairing is gone. Battery life is slightly down: the XM4C is rated for up to 27 hours of playback with active noise cancelling switched on, and up to 34 hours with ANC off. The original XM4 managed 30 hours with ANC and 38 hours without. Not a dramatic drop, but worth knowing if you travel long-haul.

The Chip Question

Under the hood, the XM4C runs Sony’s QN1 noise-cancelling processor — the same chip as the 2020 original, not the newer QN3 found in the WH-1000XM6. That’s drawn some raised eyebrows from reviewers. Technology outlets including The Verge and PCMag have questioned why Sony chose to reissue a design built around older hardware rather than develop a fresh mid-range model from scratch.

It’s a fair point. But Sony’s argument, at least implicitly, is that the QN1 still delivers strong ANC performance, and that many buyers simply don’t need the very latest chip if the experience is solid and the price is right.

The XM4C will be available in black, silver and lavender, with a launch expected in early September 2026.

Why Sony Is Doing This

The move runs against the usual direction of consumer electronics pricing. New premium headphones tend to get more expensive over time, not cheaper. Sony appears to be responding to a genuine gap in its own line-up — after discontinuing the XM4, there was nothing between entry-level options and the XM6 flagship that could satisfy buyers who wanted serious ANC performance without paying top-end prices.

Bose and a growing number of newer competitors have been pushing hard in the mid-range ANC segment. Sony’s answer, at least for now, is to revive a proven design rather than rush out something entirely new.

Fans of the original XM4 who missed their chance to buy one — or who wore theirs out — will likely find the XM4C an appealing proposition. Those who want the very latest noise-cancelling technology will still need to look at the XM6 or rival flagships.

It’s a pragmatic move, even if it’s not a flashy one.

What the Critics Are Saying

Coverage from The Verge frames the XM4C as Sony “revisiting” a fan favourite rather than advancing its headphone technology. SoundGuys and European outlets including Les Numériques and WinFuture have noted the trade-offs honestly: slightly shorter battery life, no NFC, an older ANC platform. But the consensus seems to be that the XM4’s core appeal — its comfort, its ANC quality, its general usability — remains intact.

Some reviewers are also watching how the XM4C performs against newer rivals in the same price bracket. The mid-range ANC headphone market in 2026 is more competitive than it was in 2020, and a reissued design, however beloved, will need to hold its own against fresher competition.

Sony hasn’t confirmed exact availability dates for every market, so UK buyers should watch for official retail listings in the coming weeks.

What This Means for Kent Residents

For commuters catching the train from Maidstone, Ashford or Canterbury into London, or anyone who regularly travels through the Channel Tunnel or on coaches, the XM4C offers a well-regarded noise-cancelling option at a more accessible price than the current XM6 flagship. Students at the University of Kent and those working from home in shared houses may also find the £219.99 price point easier to justify than Sony’s top-tier model. National electronics chains operating across Kent’s town centres are likely to stock the XM4C alongside the XM6, giving buyers a clearer choice between mid-range and flagship — though exact in-store availability and any promotional pricing will depend on UK retailers rather than Sony’s headline figures.