Sony Surprises With New 1000XM4C 2nd Gen Headphones With Updated Sound, Bluetooth 6.0
Sony has announced the WH-1000XM4C, a second-generation update to its popular legacy headphones featuring Bluetooth 6.0 and improved sound tuning. The new model retains the classic design of the original while introducing a more advanced 10-band equalizer for personalized audio.
Why it matters
This release highlights how consumer electronics brands are refreshing legacy hardware with modern connectivity standards to maintain market share in the competitive audio space.
The $300 WH-1000XM4C will be released alongside Sony's new midrange CH730N and entry-level CH530 headphones.
Read full bio September 7, 2026, 12:00 pm ET
The Sony WH-1000XM4C look nearly identical to their predecessor. David Carnoy/CNET When Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones hit the market back in August 2020, I awarded them a CNET Editors’ Choice Award, calling them nearly flawless. Despite their age and the release of two successors — the WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM6 headphones — the 1000XM4s remain quite popular.
Now, Sony is leaning into that legacy model’s popularity with the new WH-1000XM4C (M4 2nd Gen) , which comes in new color options and has “updated sound tuning designed for today’s listening preferences,” according to Sony. The WH-1000XM4C headphones list for $300 and are being launched alongside the new WH-CH730N ($180) and WH-CH530 ($80).
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