Leak spills the beans on the Sony WH-1000XM4 revival

Aug 7, 2026 — 10:46 AM ET

• A new leak has spilled the beans on Sony’s upcoming WH-1000XM4C headphones, a spinoff of the now-discontinued WH-1000XM4.
• These headphones will reportedly retain a bulk of the hardware used in the original, but with a shorter battery life.
• Sony is expected to release the new headphones early next month in Black, Silver, and Lavender colors.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones set the benchmark for what wireless headphones should be. While it has since been replaced with a couple of newer variants, the WH-1000XM4 holds a special place in audiophiles’ hearts. It now looks like Sony’s classic pair of headphones could be making a comeback soon, but not in the way you’re thinking.

Prominent leaker Roland Quandt first revealed the existence of this supposed revival of the fan-favorite WH-1000XM4, claiming it would be known as the WH-1000XM4C. We’re now learning about the headphones’ possible hardware attributes, available colors, launch date, and expected pricing, courtesy of the folks at Dealabs.

The publication claims that the Sony WH-1000XM4C will feature identical hardware to the original, including the same QN1 HD noise-canceling processor, plus features like multi-point audio and Personalized Spatial Audio. However, this upcoming model will reportedly offer just 34 hours of battery life, compared to the WH-1000XM4’s 38 hours.

Meanwhile, the upcoming headphones will reportedly be available in Silver/Platinum Silver, Lavender, and Black colorways. Sony has previously released additional color variants of the WH-1000XM4 in some markets, so it wouldn’t be the first time the manufacturer strayed from the classic black and silver options for its premium pair of headphones. Since there are no images available, it’s unclear whether the WH-1000XM4C will differ from the original in terms of design.

As for the all-important question of the launch date and pricing, the headphones will supposedly be revealed on September 7 for €249.99 and £219.99, which translates to just around the $300 mark. For reference, Sony released its WH-1000XM4 in 2020 for $349.99. Interestingly, you can get Sony’s WH-1000XM4 successor on Amazon right now for just under $250.

It’s hard to tell if the reported $300 price tag is justified for the WH-1000XM4C, as we still don’t have access to the full feature list. Perhaps the manufacturer intends to position these headphones just below the WH-1000XM6, which launched at $450 — though those can also be yours for much cheaper right now.