Sony has brought back the WH-1000XM4, one of its most popular noise-cancelling headphones, as the WH-1000XM4C — a refreshed re-release priced at $299.99, alongside two cheaper models replacing its mid-range and entry-level lineup. The move gives Sony a sub-$300 option in its 1000X Series lineup again, alongside the newer, pricier WH-1000XM6 at the top of the range.
Pricing and Availability
Sony Electronics announced all three headphones on September 7, 2026. The WH-1000XM4C ships in Black and Platinum Silver this fall for $299.99 USD / $429.99 CAD, sold at Sony, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized retailers. A Lavender colorway is available only through Sony and Amazon. Pre-orders are already tracking toward a shipping window around September 30, according to 9to5Google.
- WH-CH730N — available now in Black, White, Pink, and Blue, with an Oat color exclusive to Sony and Amazon; priced at $179.99 USD / $249.99 CAD
- WH-CH530 — available now in Black, Cobalt, White, and Pink, with Coral and Mint exclusive to Sony and Amazon; priced at $69.99 USD / $99.99 CAD
Sony has not announced India or EU pricing for any of the three models.
What’s New on the WH-1000XM4C
The WH-1000XM4C is built on the same body as the six-year-old WH-1000XM4, carrying over Sony’s 1000X Series noise cancellation and the foldable over-ear design. Sony’s changes are limited to software and color: a “latest sound tuning” profile and a new 10-band equalizer for finer audio adjustment, plus the new Lavender finish alongside the returning Black and Platinum Silver.
Sony Electronics Vice President of personal entertainment Masaaki Hori framed the release as filling a gap in the lineup rather than replacing anything current:
“The release of the WH-1000XM4C reflects continued consumer interest in a headphone model recognized globally for its combination of noise cancelling performance, sound quality, and comfort.”
That’s a reasonable read of the market — the WH-1000XM4 remained one of the most recommended noise-cancelling headphones years after its 2020 launch, largely on the strength of its price-to-performance ratio once newer, pricier Sony models arrived. Reviving it under a new name, rather than discounting the original further, lets Sony keep a familiar product in stores without touching the pricing of its current flagship.
One thing buyers should know before assuming this is a straight upgrade: Sony’s own press release lists no battery-life figure for the WH-1000XM4C at all. SoundGuys, which tested an early unit, reported up to 27 hours with noise cancellation on and 34 hours with it off — three to four hours less than the original WH-1000XM4 delivered. That’s SoundGuys’ own measurement, not a number Sony has published, so treat it as an early data point rather than a confirmed spec.
WH-CH730N and WH-CH530: The Cheaper Two
The WH-CH730N gets a lightweight foldable redesign, Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup Technology for calls, up to 50 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on, and support for LE Audio, Multipoint connection, and Fast Pair/Swift Pair. The WH-CH530 is the entry-level pick, on-ear rather than over-ear, with up to 55 hours of playback, the same Fast Pair/Swift Pair and Multipoint support, and a five-step volume limiter aimed at hearing protection. Neither of the connectivity features above apply to the WH-1000XM4C — Sony’s release lists no Fast Pair, Multipoint, or LE Audio bullet for that model specifically.
Specifications
- WH-1000XM4C: Over-ear, foldable design, 1000X Series active noise cancellation, 10-band EQ, Black/Platinum Silver/Lavender, $299.99
- WH-CH730N: Over-ear, foldable, Dual Noise Sensor ANC, up to 50 hours battery, LE Audio/Multipoint/Fast Pair, Black/White/Pink/Blue/Oat, $179.99
- WH-CH530: On-ear, up to 55 hours battery, AI noise reduction for calls, LE Audio/Multipoint/Fast Pair, six colors including Cobalt/Coral/Mint, $69.99
Source: Sony Electronics
