Tis the season for Black Friday headphone deals, but while everyone else is encouraging you to buy the latest and greatest models, allow me to suggest an alternative. The Sony WH-1000XM4, which were first released back in 2020, have been my ride-or-die cans for years now, and even though I have newer headphones with more high-tech features and arguably better sound, I simply can’t quit my XM4s.
Of course, I’m not completely nuts, so I wouldn’t suggest buying the Sony WH-1000XM4 at full price these days. But slap on a 54% Black Friday discount at Best Buy and the last-gen headphones become an absolute steal.
If you don’t mind buying wireless headphones that are *shudder* over five years old, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are a great pick, with up to 30 hours of battery life consistently, customizable EQ settings with active noise cancellation (ANC), and a comfortable design that you can wear all day (trust me, I do it all the time).
I’ve used my Sony WH-1000XM4 back to back with newer headphones, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5, and I can confirm that the sound is mostly indistinguishable with casual use. This is especially true if you use the companion app that lets you fine-tune EQ settings directly from your smartphone. The Sony WH-1000XM4 also have a convenient folding design that the XM5 lack, which is a major selling point if you travel or commute with your headphones a lot.
That said, ANC is noticeably better on the XM5 and, of course, the even-newer Sony WH-1000XM6, but the upgraded tech comes with a steeper price tag to match. Compared to other noise-cancelling headphones under $200, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are still quite impressive.
Still want the newer models?
