Sony brings back its acclaimed 1000X headphones with upgrades and a $300 price tag
Sony is reintroducing its popular WH-1000XM4 headphones as the WH-1000XM4C, keeping the original design but adding updated sound profiles and a faster quick-charge feature. The new model costs $300, which is $50 less than the original launch price. Sony also announced two new budget-friendly headphone models.
The revived M4C keeps the original chassis and QN1 chip, but adds updated sound profiles, gaming equalizers, and a faster quick-charge that yields an hour of playback from three minutes. Battery life drops to 27 hours with ANC on, while the $300 price is $50 below the 2020 launch and $150 below the current flagship.
The midrange CH730N gains a folding headband, a 50-hour battery, and a safe-listening volume limiter. The budget CH530 remains an on-ear model without ANC, yet inherits the hearing-health tools and offers 55 hours of runtime. Both ship in September for $180 and $70.
By reviving a proven design at a lower price, Sony could be signaling a shift toward value and longevity over rapid incremental upgrades. This approach may encourage consumers to keep devices longer, potentially reducing electronic waste. The inclusion of safe-listening volume limiters across midrange and budget models could foster better hearing habits among younger or cost-conscious users. Additionally, the $300 flagship revival might make premium noise-cancellation technology accessible to a broader demographic, reshaping market expectations for mid-tier audio gear.