SAVE $152: As of Sept. 11, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are down to just $198 at Amazon. That's a savings of 43% and just a few bucks shy of their best price ever.
Although Sony's new WH-1000XM6 headphones have definitely wowed us, their upgrades are pretty minimal. "I'd class the changes as more iterative than innovative," Mashable's tech editor writes in his review. And to be totally honest, the XM5s were only a slight upgrade from the XM4s. In other words, if you're not pressed on getting the latest and greatest Sony tech, you can keep a whole lot of extra money in your pocket by grabbing the still-great XM4s.
As of Sept. 11, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are on sale for just $198 at Amazon. That's a 43% or $152 price drop from their typical list price and just a few bucks shy of their best price ever. FWIW, that's also $100 cheaper than the XM5s and $230 cheaper than the XM6s.
With minor generation-over-generation upgrades, Sony has not only managed to keep the XM4 headphones from 2020 relevant, but also an impressive budget-friendly option in 2025. They offer top-notch noise cancellation, impressive sound quality, customizable EQ, a comfortable fit, and foldable cups that make them great for travel (unlike the XM5s). The XM5 and XM6 headphones obviously have even better specs, but whether or not the slight updates are worth forking over another $100-$230 is debatable. For less than $200, the XM4s are a fantastic value.
