Sony Revives WH-1000XM4 as XM4C — New Colors, Lower Price

Remember the WH-1000XM4? Sony is quietly bringing that model back, but with a twist: the headphones will reportedly return as the WH-1000XM4C and land on September 7. Short story: familiar name, slightly different package.

Why resurrect an older model? It looks like a pricing play. The XM4C is rumored to carry a €249.99 / £219.99 price tag, roughly €100 cheaper than the original WH-1000XM4 at launch. That puts Sony in a curious spot: the company could be trying to fill a mid-range niche it left open after the XM5 and XM6 moved the series premium-ward. But there’s an odd wrinkle — you can sometimes find the newer WH-1000XM5 on sale for less than the expected XM4C price. Strange, right?

The changes are subtle. Reports say the XM4C keeps the core specs of the original WH-1000XM4 intact, which means the same ANC performance and sound profile many users praised. The visible updates are mostly cosmetic: Platinum Silver joins Black and Lavender as color options. In other words, if you loved the XM4’s tuning, you’ll probably enjoy the XM4C too.

Not everything is identical — battery life with ANC turned off is said to drop to about 34 hours, down from 38 hours on the original unit. That four-hour gap isn’t headline-grabbing, but for frequent fliers and long-haul listeners it’s noticeable. There’s no clear explanation yet; it could be a different battery cell, minor component swaps, or simply conservative reporting on runtime.

What does this mean for buyers? If you’re hunting value and prefer a tried-and-true sound signature, the XM4C could be tempting at its rumored price. If you chase the latest design or incremental improvements, the XM5 or XM6 — particularly when discounted — might still be the smarter buy.

Sony seems to be playing with its lineup more deliberately now, offering legacy models alongside flagship releases. September will tell whether the XM4C is a clever repositioning or just a quirky detour. Which camp will you fall into?