The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones that combine the best design elements of their predecessors, while levelling up the sonic and ANC capabilities. With super-clean touch controls, an ultra-comfy fit and a ton of features, there’s a lot to love about these headphones, even if they do come at quite the cost.
Pros
- Class-leading ANC
- Excellent audio quality
- Refined, responsive touch controls
Cons
- Way pricier than the XM4
- Battery life barely improved
- Still not waterproof
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones supply great noise cancellation and surprising sound quality, bundled in a lightweight, comfortable design. With multi-point pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness, and wear detection, they have a feature set that’s still fit for use, even though they were released half a decade ago.
Pros
- Fantastic cut-price
- 40mm drivers deliver great audio as well
- Features have stood the test of time
Cons
- Not water resistant
- Call quality could be better
- ANC can’t compete with that of XM6
Even after the launch of the excellent Sony WH-1000XM6, many will still wonder if the new flagship headphones can outdo the legendary Sony WH-1000XM4 and stand alone as the best noise-cancelling headphones money can buy.
When the Sony WH-1000XM4 launched, they were met with widespread critical acclaim, thanks to their impressive ANC, strong sound quality and bountiful feature set. In fact, for many, they remained king even after the Sony WH-1000XM5 were released, largely due to that model’s lack of foldability.
I understand some of the XM5’s criticism – I’ve tested them extensively – but there’s no doubt that the new Sony WH-1000XM6 are the successor the XM4 always deserved. For me, they’re among the world’s best over-ear headphones. With a return to foldability, noise-crushing ANC and effortlessly balanced audio, these are the real deal.
Still, is it worth picking these over the XM4 if you’re a new buyer? And should XM4 owners upgrade to Sony’s flashy new cans? Read on to find out which are the best Sony headphones for you.
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: price & availability
The Sony WH-1000XM6 launched in May 2025, almost five years after the Sony WH-1000XM4. Sony’s new cans cost $449 / £399 / AU$699, which is by no means cheap. In fact, they’re considerably more expensive than the XM4 at the point of release, which initially cost $349 / £349 / AU$549. They’re also around $50 / £20 more than the Sony WH-1000XM5, when they came out in 2022.
Of course, in 2025, you won’t pay anywhere near list price for the XM4. Instead, you’ll be able to find them for around $249 / £199 / AU$399. That’s essentially half, yes, half, the price of the XM6!
Like a lot of the best headphones around, you can get both the XM6 and XM4 in multiple colorways. Both models come in Black, Midnight Blue, or Platinum Silver – I tested the silver colorway for each pair of cans.
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Sony WH-1000XM6 |
Sony WH-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$449 / £399 / AU$699 |
$349 / £349 / AU$549 |
|
Drivers |
30mm dynamic |
30mm dynamic |
|
Active noise cancellation |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Battery life |
30 hours (ANC on) |
30 hours (ANC on) |
|
Weight |
254g |
253g |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm |
Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm |
|
Waterproofing |
None |
None |
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: features
When we got our mitts on the Sony WH-1000XM4 back in 2020, we were wowed by the flurry of features they put at your fingertips. With great ANC, wear detection and multi-point connectivity, they really were class-leading.
But the key word there is ‘were’. Yep, years down the line, the XM4 have been considerably improved upon by the Sony WH-1000XM6. The XM6 offer substantially better noise-cancelling capabilities, refined touch controls, and more fleshed-out EQ settings – there’s now a ten-band equaliser, as opposed to the XM4’s five-band approach.
So, let’s start by running through the features you’d only get if you opted for the XM6: Auracast compatibility; Scene-based Listening, which can adjust ANC levels based on your environment; and Cinema Listening, which up-mixes stereo sound into a more immersive, three-dimensional format. And that’s pretty refreshing given the XM5 only really refined what the XM4 did rather than add new stuff.
As nice as those extras are, though, they’re secondary to both headphones’ standout feature: ANC. If we’re directly comparing these two, unfortunately, it’s not really a fair fight. The XM4 block out low-end sounds well, effectively dulling harsh noise, and are more than capable of keeping you focused on your favorite tunes or TV shows. But the XM6 are truly exemplary.
Even in busy, traffic-filled areas, these cans offered me near-silence and at times, total detachment from the outside world. When vacuuming my apartment, the XM6 did even better than the XM4 at crushing loud suctioning sounds. The strides taken by the XM6 come down to two main reasons. First, they use a much stronger QN3 HD noise-cancelling processor. And second, that shiny new processor harnesses the abilities of twelve – that’s right, twelve – microphones to phase out unwanted sounds. That’s seven more mics than the XM4.
Again, the XM4 are by no means poor for ANC. They also have a lot of the customizability you’ll find on the XM6. For instance, there’s an Ambient Sound mode, which includes a slider that can be set between 1 and 20. The higher you go, the more noise from your surroundings can filter in.
Some more shared options include a Find Your Equalizer sound test, LDAC and DSEE for higher quality Bluetooth streaming, and touch controls. A useful nugget on both is that you can cup your hand over the right earcup to enable passthrough mode – super useful if you need to speak to a colleague in the office or a cashier, for example. However, this was made a bit smoother on the XM6, and other touch controls, like volume adjustment, were refined so you don’t have to continually swipe, just flick and hold to crank the music up or down.
One feature that many wanted to see improved was battery life. When the XM4 launched, the 30 hours of playtime with ANC on was considered pretty good. Since then, competitors like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless and Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 have doubled that. Unfortunately, five years down the line, the XM6 are still rocking that same 30-hour battery life with ANC active. That’s enough for most people, and the new model can be charged while in use, but it’s still a touch underwhelming.
Having said that, it’s hard to argue for the XM4 as far as features go. Yes, the options you get are still strong, and most of what the average user would look for is here. Yet, the XM6 does everything its ancestor can but better and with some extras thrown in. 1-0 to the XM6.
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: sound quality
For so long, the Sony WH-1000XM4 have been considered among the best headphones on the market, not least because of their fantastic sound quality. Yes, even now, I have to say the XM4 sound great, with detailed, expressive and well-separated audio.
After firing up Tidal on my source device, I was struck by a pretty excitable sound signature. I’m talking impactful, punchy bass and high-energy treble galore. That’s not to say that mids were unclear or drowned out. I still heard plenty of detail, and vocals in the mid-range were more than clear enough. There is a slightly v-shaped sound profile here, which is excellent for genres like EDM and hip-hop, but you can tune them for a slightly flatter sound if you’d prefer.
Yet, as we saw in the Features section, everything the XM4 can do, the XM6 can do better. These still deliver intoxicatingly rich low-end and treble output, but out of the box, the XM6 produce a slightly more balanced sound. The XM6 were developed with a host of leading mastering engineers, and that push for a more even sound across all frequencies is evident from the get-go – something I also realized when comparing the XM6 to the XM5.
Another aspect of the XM6’s sound I prefer over their ancestor is the increased width they offer, sonically speaking. When tuning into the dramatic, vocal-led track Rains again by Solji, the XM6 gave each instrumental element considerably greater breathing room, resulting in a more open-sounding, immersive listening experience. The inclusion of Cinema mode – which up-mixes stereo sound into a more expansive format – also helped form a solid spatial impression for watching movies. That’s something you don’t get with the XM4.
I also wanted to swiftly touch on call quality – something that’s a big focus area for both sets of cans. Each model will plate up clear speech, whether you’re on a Microsoft Teams video conference or plain ol’ phone call. But if you’re looking for truly crystal-clear calling capabilities, the XM6 are the, ahem, clear victor here. During a product demo, I watched a person walk into a very noisy room with clamoring all around them. But as soon as they put the headphones on and made a call, their voice was totally separated from all forms of chatter and came through extremely cleanly.
That’s because the XM6 channel the power of six beamforming mics, which combine with unwanted noise-nixing AI tech for the best quality possible. There are fewer mics present in the XM4, and when you pair that with the XM6’s superior performance for music and movies, there can only be one winner.
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: design
Other than the much-improved ANC, I’d argue the biggest difference between the Sony WH-1000XM6 and XM4 is the design and build. Yes, I know the XM6 is getting headlines for reviving the XM4’s foldability, but honestly, these two look night and day next to one another.
Let’s start on the all-important matter of foldability. In terms of how compact they can get, there’s really not a lot in it, but there has been one big upgrade from the XM4 to the XM6, and that’s stronger hinges. Yes, the XM6 now use mighty metal hinges that are more durable than the plastic ones of its ancestor. As a result, you’ll likely feel less concerned about loosening or breakage.
You have to fold both pairs up to slot them into their respective carry cases, which are very different in terms of look and build. The XM4 has a zip-up case, which is slim but a little long. Meanwhile, the XM6 opts for a more convenient magnet-lock case, which looks a little more premium to me, but it is pretty bulky, which may not be ideal for slotting into a small bag.
In general, I do think the XM6 appear quite chunky on-ear. There’s no moving frame that attaches the hinge to the earcup, as seen on the XM4. That frame perhaps gave the illusion of a slimmer build on the XM4, though it certainly offers a less rounded aesthetic.
Similarly, the headband looks a lot more plasticky on the XM4, whereas the XM6 opts for a smoother, more luxurious band. It’s more comfortable than before and slimmer too – a bit like that of the XM5 – so the XM6 is the overall winner for me, as far as looks and feel are concerned.
I wanted to see Sony take the lead on waterproofing by adding an IP rating to their newest cans. But much like the XM4, there’s no official rating attached to the XM6. Still, with refined button controls, a more comfortable headband and more reliable foldability, the XM6 take the victory on design.
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: value
Let’s wrap up by tackling a crucial topic: value for money. As I suggested earlier, it’s essentially pointless to compare these two on list price, although the Sony WH-1000XM6 are priced way higher by that metric alone. Sony’s new flagship cans are typically priced at $449 / £399 / AU$699, while the XM4 launched for $349 / £349 / AU$549.
Now, you can regularly find them for around $249 / £199 / AU$399. So, are the XM6 worth double the outlay required for a pair of the XM4?
Look, I love the Sony WH-1000XM6, but even I’m conflicted on that point. The WH-1000XM4 are a really accomplished set of cans. Their feature set is more than fit enough for modern-day use, they have a pleasing sound profile that can be easily adjusted, and they’re compact.
However, I’d argue that they’re starting to show their age. Their noise-cancelling capabilities, though solid, are no longer class-leading. Not only the XM6, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and, of course, the Sony WH-1000XM5 do a better job. The build of the XM4 also looks a little dated, with a plasticky, less-rounded appearance. Even the wear detection sensor is exposed in the earcup.
There are other upgrades too, like improved sound quality, a more fleshed-out microphone system and more seamless touch controls. Essentially, two generations’ worth of changes really show in the XM6, and you don’t have to make the compromise on foldability introduced by the XM5.
If all you need is solid ANC and great sound, the Sony WH-1000XM4 honestly might still be the better option for you, simply given the drastic price difference. But if you want some of the most accomplished headphones on the market, the XM6 will give you more bang for your buck. They really are better in every way, and look a lot more premium to boot. Let’s say this one’s a tie.
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sony WH-1000XM4: verdict
I think the release of the Sony WH-1000XM6 is a momentous one. Why? To me, it indicates the end of an era, with the XM6 finally doing enough to usurp their ancestor, once and for all.
The XM4 are still a great pair of headphones, and if you’re on a tighter budget, you can’t go wrong with them. But if you want the best ANC around, truly great audio and S-tier call quality, the XM4 just aren’t the best option any longer.
The XM6 really do deliver across the board. They’re arguably the best all-rounder headphones on the market right now, and even if they are a little pricey, they’ll almost certainly rock your world if you grab a pair. So, whether you need some new cans or want to upgrade from the XM4, I can say with confidence, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are a great choice.
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
