Sony has just released a second-generation refresh of their classic headphones, dubbed the WH-1000XM4C. The original XM4s hit the shelves back in September 2020, and nearly six years down the line, Sony is giving them a second lease of life with a few subtle tweaks.
Visually, you would be hard pressed to spot any major differences. They stick with the familiar over-ear, swivel-fold design that fans loved, though Sony has added a fresh lavender shade to the lineup alongside the usual black and silver finishes.
Most of the hardware remains untouched, but a couple of upgrades bring them into 2026. You now get a 10-band equalizer instead of the original five, giving you far more control over your audio. Sony has also tweaked the default sound profile to better suit modern listening tastes, though they have kept the same four-microphone setup and QN1 chip powering the active noise cancellation.
The XM4C upgrades to Bluetooth 6.0 for better range and stability, whereas the original XM4 uses Bluetooth 5.0
The main downside to this new version is battery performance. Sony rates the XM4C for up to 27 hours with noise cancellation switched on, or 34 hours with it turned off. That is up to four hours less than the old model.
Pricing and Availability
If you are looking to pick up a pair in Malaysia, the WH-1000XM4C carries an official retail price of RM1,399. However, Sony Malaysia is offering an early bird pre-order deal that knocks the price down to RM1,099, with shipping scheduled to begin around mid-November 2026.