Comparison · Headphones · Desk research
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Specs come from each named-model page — not a lab test.
Quick Answer
Sony WH-1000XM5 (12 May 2022; $399.99) versus WH-1000XM4 (6 August 2020; $349.99). XM5 prints a 30 mm driver, approx. 250 g, Bluetooth 5.2, and a non-folding swivel-flat case with max. 30/40 music hours. XM4 prints a 40 mm aluminum-coated LCP dome, approx. 254 g, Bluetooth 5.0, a folding case, and max. 30/38 music hours. Both list SBC/AAC/LDAC. Desk research only.
The verdict
Sony WH-1000XM4 or Sony WH-1000XM5 — quote the two manufacturer sheets.
Why: XM5’s music table is max. 30 hours NC on / 40 hours NC off; XM4 is max. 30 hours NC on / 38 hours NC off. The chassis fork is fold (XM4 yes, XM5 no) and driver size (30 mm vs 40 mm). Do not invent a QN3 cell on either leftover.
Buy Sony WH-1000XM4 if
You want XM4’s printed 40 mm dome, folding case, Bluetooth 5.0, and the $349.99 (6 August 2020) launch class.
Buy Sony WH-1000XM5 if
You want the XM5 leftover sheet: 30 mm, 250 g, Bluetooth 5.2, LDAC, 30/40 music hours, swivel-flat case — and you do not need cups that fold.
Spec comparison
Same 25 keys as the two hubs. Cells are copied fromSony WH-1000XM4 andSony WH-1000XM5. Do not invent a driver, gram, codec, or dollar that a hub marks not-published.
| Attribute | Sony WH-1000XM4 | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Circumaural, closed-back dynamicSony WH-1000XM4 specifications | Over-ear, closed-back dynamic (Sony: Closed, dynamic / Over Ear)Sony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Drivers | 40 mm (1.57 in) dome, CCAW voice coil, neodymium magnet, aluminum-coated LCP diaphragmSony WH-1000XM4 specifications | 30 mm dynamic driver; neodymium magnetSony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Frequency response | 4–40,000 Hz wired; Bluetooth 20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz) or 20–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz / 990 kbps)Sony WH-1000XM4 specifications | 4–40,000 Hz (JEITA) wired; Bluetooth 20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz) or 20–40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz / 990 kbps)Sony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Impedance | Not publishedSony WH-1000XM4 US specifications | 48 ohm (1 kHz) via headphone cable with unit on; 16 ohm (1 kHz) with unit offSony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Sensitivity / SPL | 105 dB/mW (1 kHz) via cable with unit on; 101 dB/mW with unit offSony WH-1000XM4 specifications | 102 dB/mW (1 kHz) via cable with unit on; 100 dB/mW with unit offSony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Active noise cancellation | HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1; Dual Noise Sensor; Personal NC Optimizer; atmospheric-pressure optimizingSony WH-1000XM4 specifications; electronics.sony.com | Sony noise canceling with Ambient Sound Mode (QN1 / Integrated Processor V1 generation — see extras)Sony WH-1000XM5 specifications; XM6 product page contrast |
| Awareness / transparency | Ambient Sound Control; Quick AttentionSony WH-1000XM4 specifications | Ambient Sound ModeSony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LDACSony WH-1000XM4 specifications | SBC, AAC, LDACSony WH-1000XM5 US/UK specifications |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth Specification Version 5.0Sony WH-1000XM4 specifications | Bluetooth Specification Version 5.2Sony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Multipoint | Yes — Multi Device Connection on this generation (LDAC priority can conflict; confirm in Sound Connect)Sony WH-1000XM4 feature set / Headphones Connect lineage | Yes — 1000X two-device connection via the companion app (confirm toggle; LDAC priority can conflict)Sony Headphones Connect / Sound Connect feature set; treat app text as OEM |
| Battery — playback (OEM) | Max. 30 hours music (NC ON), max. 38 hours (NC OFF). Standby max. 30 hours (NC ON), 200 hours (NC OFF)Sony WH-1000XM4 specifications | Max. 30 hrs music (NC ON), max. 40 hrs (NC OFF); calls max. 24 hrs (NC ON), 32 hrs (NC OFF)Sony WH-1000XM5 US/UK specifications |
| Charging (OEM) | USB, approx. 3 hours full. Sony product copy: 10 minutes ≈ 5 hours with the optional AC adapterSony WH-1000XM4 specifications; electronics.sony.com | USB, approx. 3.5 hours full. Sony UK product copy: 3 minutes ≈ 3 hours with an optional USB-PD adaptorSony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications / product copy |
| Wired audio | Detachable approx. 1.2 m OFC cable; gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug; passive operation YesSony WH-1000XM4 specifications | Detachable approx. 1.2 m cable; gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug; passive operation YesSony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| Weight | Approx. 254 gSony WH-1000XM4 specification sheet | Approx. 250 g (8.82 oz)Sony WH-1000XM5 US/UK specifications |
| Fold / travel | Folds. Ear cups fold into the supplied carrying caseSony WH-1000XM4 specification sheet (Foldable: Yes) | Does not fold. Cups swivel flat into the supplied carrying case (pouch on some regional SKUs)Sony WH-1000XM5 Help Guide — package contents; chassis vs XM4/XM6 |
| Companion app | Sony | Sound Connect (formerly Headphones Connect)Sony current app branding | Sony | Sound Connect (formerly Headphones Connect)Sony support / current app branding |
| Microphones / calls | Dual Noise Sensor — two microphones on each cup feeding QN1 (Sony product copy)electronics.sony.com WH-1000XM4 | Sony Media Room, 12 May 2022: two processors controlling eight microphones for noise canceling; four beamforming microphones plus an AI noise-reduction structure for calls. XM6 product page later contrasts 1.5× more mics (12)Sony Media Room, 2022-05-12; Sony XM6 product/press contrast |
| Voice assistant | Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa via companion-app setup; Siri via the connected iPhoneSony WH-1000XM4 feature list | Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa via companion-app setup (region-limited)Sony XM5 feature pages / Sound Connect |
| Water / sweat resistance | Not publishedSony WH-1000XM4 specifications | Not publishedSony WH-1000XM5 specifications |
| Finishes | Black and Silver at US launchSony US press, 2020-08-06 | Black and Silver / Platinum Silver at launch; later regional colors exist — confirm the live SKUSony WH-1000XM5 product pages |
| Device compatibility | Bluetooth audio devices. NFC listed on some regional sheets. LDAC needs a compatible source.Sony WH-1000XM4 specifications | Bluetooth audio devices. LDAC needs a compatible source.Sony WH-1000XM5 UK specifications |
| US MSRP (launch) | $349.99 (6 August 2020). Pre-order that day; retail mid-August 2020Sony Electronics US press, 2020-08-06 | $399.99 (12 May 2022). Black and Silver; US pre-sale from 20 May 2022Sony Media Room, 2022-05-12 |
| Price band | Legacy flagship leftover (launch $350; 2026 used/refurb often mid)Derived from $349.99 launch | Last-gen flagship leftover (launch $400; street often mid)Derived from $399.99 launch |
| Announced | 6 August 2020Sony Electronics US press | 12 May 2022Sony Media Room, 2022-05-12 |
| Availability | US retail from mid-August 2020; leftover / refurb / used as of 19 September 2026Sony US press; live electronics.sony.com listing | US pre-sale from 20 May 2022 at Sony.com, Amazon, and Best Buy. Still listed as last-gen 1000X as of 19 September 2026Sony Media Room, 2022-05-12; live support specifications |
Generation fork (OEM)
XM5 launched $399.99 on 12 May 2022. XM4 launched $349.99 on 6 August 2020. Both are leftovers as of 19 September 2026. Keep the 1000X line, but do not paste XM6’s QN3 / LC3 / fold story onto this pair.
Drivers and ANC
XM5: 30 mm dynamic, neodymium. ANC cell is QN1 / Integrated Processor V1 generation with Ambient Sound Mode.
XM4: 40 mm dome, CCAW voice coil, neodymium, aluminum-coated LCP. ANC cell is HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, Dual Noise Sensor, Personal NC Optimizer, atmospheric-pressure optimizing.
Battery
XM5 music: max. 30 h NC on / 40 h NC off. XM4 music: max. 30 h NC on / 38 h NC off. XM4 also prints standby max. 30 h NC on / 200 h NC off — that row is not on the XM5 first table.
Weight and fold
XM5 approx. 250 g, does not fold. XM4 approx. 254 g, folds. A 4 g sheet delta plus a fold is the travel contrast — not a comfort lab.
Codecs and Bluetooth
Both: SBC, AAC, LDAC. XM5 is Bluetooth 5.2; XM4 is Bluetooth 5.0. Multipoint / multi-device connection is printed on both; LDAC priority can conflict.
Who Sony WH-1000XM4 is for
- Used-market shoppers who want a folding 1000X with a 40mm LCP driver instead of XM5’s swivel-flat 30mm cups.
- Owners already on XM4 who need an honest 2026 OEM record before an XM5/XM6 upgrade vs-page exists.
- Android buyers who still want LDAC on a leftover Sony can and do not need LC3.
Who Sony WH-1000XM5 is for
- Shoppers who want 1000X ANC and LDAC but are buying leftover / refurb XM5 instead of XM6.
- Anyone comparing last-gen Sony against current Bose QC Ultra or Momentum 5 on a named-pair vs-page later.
- Owners already on XM5 who need an honest OEM record of what the spec sheet still says in 2026.
Hubs and sources
Frequently asked questions
Which generation folds?
XM4 folds into the supplied carrying case. XM5 does not fold — cups swivel flat. XM6 is the later folding return; do not merge that slug into this pair.
Did Sony shrink the driver on XM5?
The sheets say 30 mm on XM5 and 40 mm (1.57 in) on XM4. That is a manufacturer row, not a sound-quality ranking.
Is XM5’s battery table longer?
On NC-off music, yes on the sheet: 40 hours (XM5) vs 38 hours (XM4). NC-on music is max. 30 hours on both. Quote the rows; do not invent a lab winner.