Earbuds / Compare
Sony WF-1000XM3 vs Sony WF-1000XM4
Product A: Sony
60 of 166 known
Change Sony WF-1000XM3
Compare the Sony WF-1000XM4 with
Product B: Sony
85 of 166 known
55 of 157 fields differ
- 31 different values
- 24 known for one only
- 25 the same
- 77 missing for both
Biggest differences
Each bar uses the scale of all 138 earbuds.
- Battery lifeA: 8hB: 12hWF-1000XM4 is 4 h higher.
- Quick chargeA: 1.5hB: 1hWF-1000XM3 is 0.5 h higher.
- Playback per charge with ANC (claimed)A: 6hB: 8hWF-1000XM4 is 2 h higher.
- With caseA: 32hB: 36hWF-1000XM4 is 4 h higher.
Weight
0 to 80 g
Weight per bud
A8.5g
B7.3g
Case weight
A77g
B41g
All 166 fields
Every value links to where we found it.


General
4 of 8 differ
Series
Model numbers
GTIN / EAN
Not available
Not available
Announced
Status
Predecessor
Not available
Sony WF-1000XM313Reviewtechradar.com/news/sony-wf-1000xm4-take-the-crown-as-the-best-true-wireless-earbuds-of-2021Read 23 October 2026TechRadar's launch report calls the WF-1000XM4 the successor to the WF-1000XM3.14Reviewnotebookcheck.net/The-Sony-WF-1000XM4-launches-with-some-exciting-features-and-an-inflated-price-tag.544040.0.htmlRead 23 October 2026Notebookcheck calls the WF-1000XM4 the follow-up to the WF-1000XM3.
Successor
Sony WF-1000XM410Reviewtechradar.com/news/sony-wf-1000xm4-take-the-crown-as-the-best-true-wireless-earbuds-of-2021Read 23 October 2026TechRadar's launch report calls the WF-1000XM4 the successor to the WF-1000XM3.11Reviewnotebookcheck.net/The-Sony-WF-1000XM4-launches-with-some-exciting-features-and-an-inflated-price-tag.544040.0.htmlRead 23 October 2026Notebookcheck calls the WF-1000XM4 the follow-up to the WF-1000XM3.
Launch price (US)
Markets
US, GB, JP, DE5Press articleav.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1194178.htmlRead 13 October 2026Sold in Japan.6Reviewwhathifi.com/news/sony-launches-wf-1000xm3-true-wireless-earbuds-with-active-noise-cancellingRead 13 October 2026Sale prices of 220 GBP, 250 EUR and 230 USD from the first weeks of August 2019. The UK price is listed.7Press articlegiga.de/artikel/sony-wf-1000xm3-preisverfall-noise-canceling-in-ears-unter-200-euro-2019Read 13 October 2026German UVP.
US, JP1Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4Read 5 October 2026Japanese exact product/store history and original US launch release separately establish JP and US. A translated support page alone does not establish another sales market.5Press releasesony.mediaroom.com/2021-06-08-Sony-Electronics-Unveils-the-WF-1000XM4-Truly-Wireless-Headphones,-Setting-a-New-Standard-for-Noise-CancellationRead 5 October 2026
Colours
Segment
Design
1 of 4 differ
Form factor
Bud shape
Not available
Use one bud alone
RGB lighting
Not available
Not available
Drivers and sound
2 of 17 differ
Drivers per bud
ASony WF-1000XM3
| Type | Diameter (mm) | Count per earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic | 6 | 1 |
BSony WF-1000XM4
| Type | Diameter (mm) | Count per earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic | 6 | 1 |
Source2Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4/spec.htmlRead 5 October 2026Exact maker table says closed dynamic and 6 mm. The separately opened original Crutchfield review explicitly states a single 6 mm dynamic driver in each earbud. Acoustic role is not explicitly published and remains omitted.12Reviewcrutchfield.com/S-L8b4RWU6LPi/learn/sony-wf-1000xm4-review.htmlRead 5 October 2026Original first-hand review by Jeff Miller, who auditioned this exact model for a week. Cleaner, more spacious sound paragraph and exploded-component caption explicitly say each earbud includes a single 6 mm dynamic driver. This is the physical per-earbud count. Its erroneous 13 h ANC-off battery claim is not used over exact Sony manual and launch data.
Driver type
Driver size
6mm
6mm
Drivers per bud
1
1
Diaphragm material
Not available
Not available
Impedance
Not available
Not available
Sensitivity
Not available
Not available
Sensitivity reference
Not available
Not available
Max sample rate
Not available
Not available
Max bit depth
Not available
Not available
Adaptive EQ
Not available
Not available
Personalised sound
Not available
Onboard EQ
Not available
Not available
Custom EQ bands
Not available
Not available
EQ presets
Not available
Not available
Volume limit
Not available
Not available
Spatial audio
1 of 2 differ
Spatial audio
Not available
Head tracking
Not available
Not available
Noise cancelling
4 of 11 differ
Active noise cancelling
ANC type
ANC microphones in both earbuds
Not available
Adaptive ANC
Not available
Not available
ANC levels
Not available
Not available
ANC attenuation (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Transparency mode
Automatic ANC and transparency blend
Not available
Not available
Conversation detection
Not available
Wind noise reduction
Not available
Measured
4 of 23 differ
Frequency response notes (measured)
Bass and mids receive a slight bump. The highs roughly follow the reviewer's house curve. Bass and mids are slightly exaggerated.8Reviewsoundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm3-review-25342Read 13 October 2026Sound section describes the bass and mid bump against SoundGuys' house curve.
The measured default response emphasizes bass and lower midrange. Output above about 2 kHz is reduced relative to the review target.10Reviewsoundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm4-review-53454Read 5 October 2026Exact lab curve discussion, not plotted coordinate estimates. Fixture/target revision, firmware and codec unstated.
Bass amount (measured)
Not available
Not available
Treble amount (measured)
Not available
Not available
Deviation from target (measured)
Not available
Not available
Consistency between fittings (measured)
Not available
Not available
Harmonic distortion (measured)
Not available
Not available
Sound leakage (measured)
Not available
Not available
Noise isolation (measured)
Not available
Not available
Noise isolation, best (measured)
Not available
Not available
Passive isolation (measured)
Not available
Not available
Call quality notes (measured)
Voices are relayed well enough through both earpieces for general use. Outdoors the other party hears wind, traffic and passersby.8Reviewsoundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm3-review-25342Read 13 October 2026Microphone section. The demo uses SoundGuys' older, non-standardized method.
Published quiet, office and wind recordings show usable call pickup in quiet. Background office noise and wind reduce voice clarity.10Reviewsoundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm4-review-53454Read 5 October 2026Exact ideal/office/wind demos. Review comments on AAC quality but does not explicitly label every sample codec. No sample codec or quantitative noise-handling score inferred.
Mic low-frequency extension (measured)
Not available
Not available
Mic high-frequency extension (measured)
Not available
Not available
Mic speech-to-noise ratio (measured)
Not available
Not available
Latency (measured)
Not available
Not available
Bluetooth latency, worst (measured)
Not available
Not available
2.4 GHz latency, worst (measured)
Not available
Not available
Latency in game mode (measured)
Not available
Not available
Battery life (measured)
ASony WF-1000XM3
| ANC | Hours (h) |
|---|---|
| Yes | 4.77 |
BSony WF-1000XM4
| Hours (h) |
|---|
| 7.72 |
Longest tested use per charge
4.77h
7.72h
Battery life with case (measured)
Not available
Not available
Full charge time (measured)
Not available
Not available
Weight per bud (measured)
Not available
Not available
Microphones and calls
4 of 7 differ
Voice microphones in both earbuds
Not available
All microphones in both earbuds
Not available
Not available
Bone conduction voice sensor
Not available
Call audio bandwidth
Not available
Not available
Mic mute control
Not available
Not available
Connectivity
6 of 18 differ
Chip
HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1e3Press releasegstylemag.com/2019/07/05/sony-wf-1000xm3-truly-wireless-headphonesRead 13 October 2026HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1e, also a 24-bit signal processor and DAC with amplifier.4Press articleaudioxpress.com/news/sony-introduces-new-wf-1000xm3-noise-canceling-true-wireless-headphones-featuring-dedicated-processorRead 13 October 2026Dedicated HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1e.
Connections
Bluetooth
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth profiles
LE Audio
Not available
Not available
Auracast
Not available
Not available
Multipoint
Multipoint devices
Not available
Multipoint with LDAC
Not available
Not available
Paired devices remembered
Not available
Not available
Automatic switching between own devices
Not available
Not available
Fast pairing
Not available
Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair5Press releasesony.mediaroom.com/2021-06-08-Sony-Electronics-Unveils-the-WF-1000XM4-Truly-Wireless-Headphones,-Setting-a-New-Standard-for-Noise-CancellationRead 5 October 2026Original release explicitly Google Fast Pair Android and Microsoft Swift Pair Windows 10. Manual requires Windows 10 version 1803 or later for Swift Pair.
Audio sharing
Not available
Not available
Wireless range (claimed)
Wireless receiver
Not available
Not available
Receiver connector
Not available
Not available
Simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth audio
Not available
Not available
Latency
None of 3 known
Low latency mode
Not available
Not available
Claimed latency
Not available
Not available
Lowest claimed latency
Not available
Not available
Compatibility
3 of 4 differ
Platforms
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS3Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026
Connection per platform
ASony WF-1000XM3
Not availableBSony WF-1000XM4
| Platform | Connection | Microphone works |
|---|---|---|
| Android | Bluetooth | Yes |
| iOS | Bluetooth | Yes |
| Windows | Bluetooth | Yes |
| macOS | Bluetooth | Yes |
Features that need a specific device
ASony WF-1000XM3
Not availableBSony WF-1000XM4
| Feature | Needs |
|---|---|
| 360 Reality Audio personalization | Compatible Android/iPhone, companion app ear-shape analysis, supported content and a compatible streaming service. Subscription and regional availability may apply. |
| LDAC | Compatible LDAC source and Priority on sound quality in companion app. iPhone Bluetooth music uses AAC instead. |
| Two-device multipoint | Updated firmware and companion app Connect to 2 devices simultaneously enabled. It routes one audio stream at a time. |
Official licence
Not available
Not available
Battery and charging
8 of 13 differ
Battery per bud
Not available
Not available
User-replaceable earbud battery
Not available
Not available
Claimed battery life
ASony WF-1000XM3
| Mode | Codec | Includes case recharges | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANC on | AAC | No | 6 |
| Transparency | AAC | No | 6 |
| ANC off | AAC | No | 8 |
| ANC on | SBC | No | 5.5 |
| Transparency | SBC | No | 5.5 |
| ANC off | SBC | No | 7.5 |
| ANC on | Not available | Yes | 24 |
| ANC off | Not available | Yes | 32 |
| Call | Not available | No | 4.5 |
Source1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026Available operating time. AAC with DSEE HX off: ANC on 6 hours, Ambient Sound Mode 6, off 8. SBC with DSEE HX off: 5.5, 5.5 and 7.5. With DSEE HX auto the figures are 3, 3 and 4 hours (AAC) and 3, 3 and 3.5 hours (SBC) and are not stored. Communication time: ANC on 4, Ambient Sound Mode 4, off 4.5. The call row stores the NC-off figure because the call enum has no ANC state. Totals with case from the Sony launch release and What Hi-Fi.2Maker product pagestore.sony.co.th/blogs/1801756442659_15195742535715/1801756442659_specificationsRead 13 October 2026Continuous music playback max 6 hrs (NC ON) and 8 hrs (NC OFF). Communication max 4 hrs (NC ON) and 4.5 hrs (NC OFF).3Press releasegstylemag.com/2019/07/05/sony-wf-1000xm3-truly-wireless-headphonesRead 13 October 2026Up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, thanks to the charging case.4Press articleaudioxpress.com/news/sony-introduces-new-wf-1000xm3-noise-canceling-true-wireless-headphones-featuring-dedicated-processorRead 13 October 20266 hours with ANC and a further three charges, up to 24 hours. With noise canceling off 8 hours per charge and up to 32 hours with the case.6Reviewwhathifi.com/news/sony-launches-wf-1000xm3-true-wireless-earbuds-with-active-noise-cancellingRead 13 October 2026What Hi-Fi review: 8 hours with noise cancelling off and a total of 32 hours with the case.
BSony WF-1000XM4
| Mode | Codec | Includes case recharges | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANC on | LDAC | No | 5 |
| ANC off | LDAC | No | 6 |
| Transparency | LDAC | No | 4.5 |
| ANC on | AAC | No | 8 |
| ANC off | AAC | No | 12 |
| Transparency | AAC | No | 8 |
| ANC on | SBC | No | 7.5 |
| ANC off | SBC | No | 11 |
| Transparency | SBC | No | 7 |
| ANC on | AAC | Yes | 24 |
| ANC off | AAC | Yes | 36 |
| Call | Not available | No | 6 |
Source1Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4Read 5 October 20263Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 20264Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026Pages 27-28 music rows with DSEE Extreme OFF. ANC off also means Ambient Sound off. DSEE AUTO shortens LDAC ANC/on,off,ambient to 3.5/4/3.5 h, AAC to 6/8/6 h and SBC to 5.5/7/5.5 h. AUTO alternatives are noted rather than merged into indistinguishable rows. Volume and firmware unstated. Japanese maker footnote explicitly supplies AAC and DSEE/EQ off for case-inclusive 24 h ANC on and 36 h off. Case totals include earbuds. Call maximum 6 h with ANC/Ambient off and codec unstated. Other call modes: 5.5 h ANC on, 5 h Ambient on. No unsupported call ANC column added.
Longest claimed use per charge
8h
12h
Playback per charge with ANC (claimed)
6h
8h
Playback per charge without ANC (claimed)
8h
12h
Total with case (claimed)
32h
36h
Total with case and ANC (claimed)
24h
24h
Talk time (claimed)
4.5h
6h
Full charge time, buds
Charging guidance
Not available
Not available
Quick charge time
Earbud playback after quick charge
1h1Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4Read 5 October 20263Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026Page 27 about 1 h playback after 5 min charging. Exact maker Japanese page footnote qualifies AAC, ANC on, DSEE/EQ off and other features at default.
Charging case
3 of 10 differ
Case battery
Not available
Not available
User-replaceable case battery
Not available
Not available
Case charging port
Case full charge time
210min1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026Charging: the headset and the charging case take about 3.5 hours together. Sony specification lists case charge time approx. 3.5 hours.2Maker product pagestore.sony.co.th/blogs/1801756442659_15195742535715/1801756442659_specificationsRead 13 October 2026Charging case battery charge time approx. 3.5 hrs.
Wireless charging
Wireless standards
Not available
Wireless charging power
Not available
Not available
Speaker in case
Not available
Not available
Screen on case
Not available
Not available
Case works as audio transmitter
Not available
Not available
Controls
2 of 5 differ
Controls
Touch, Voice commands3Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026
Earbud volume control
Gestures
Left tap: switch noise canceling and Ambient Sound Mode, Left hold: Quick Attention Mode, Right tap: play or pause, Right tap twice: next track or answer or end a call, Right tap 3 times: previous track, Right hold: voice assist1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026About the touch sensor table. Left: tap switches noise canceling and Ambient Sound Mode, hold activates Quick Attention Mode. Right: tap plays or pauses, tap twice skips to the next track or answers or ends a call, tap 3 times goes to the previous track, hold uses the voice assist function.
Single tap, Double tap, Triple tap, Touch and hold3Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026
Remappable controls
Voice assistant
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026Manual pages for the Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and the voice assist function (Siri and Google app).
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri3Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 20265Press releasesony.mediaroom.com/2021-06-08-Sony-Electronics-Unveils-the-WF-1000XM4-Truly-Wireless-Headphones,-Setting-a-New-Standard-for-Noise-CancellationRead 5 October 2026Google Assistant/Alexa explicitly original launch, with supported language/region and app setup requirements. Siri activation is touch-controlled in manual pages 104-105, not hands-free Hey Siri.
Sensors and health
1 of 9 differ
In-ear detection
Yes1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026Built-in sensors detect removal and attachment. The headset pauses and resumes playback.4Press articleaudioxpress.com/news/sony-introduces-new-wf-1000xm3-noise-canceling-true-wireless-headphones-featuring-dedicated-processorRead 13 October 2026A proximity sensor in each earbud detects whether one or both are worn. Music pauses when taken out and resumes when put back.
Sensors
Infrared wearing sensor, Bone conduction voice sensor3Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026IR wearing sensor explicit in manual. Dedicated bone-conduction speech pickup sensor separately explicit in original maker release, not a speech-detecting accelerometer.
Heart rate sensor
Not available
Not available
Skin temperature sensing
Not available
Not available
Hearing aid feature
Not available
Not available
Medical clearances
Not available
Not available
Hearing test
Not available
Not available
Hearing protection
Not available
Not available
Health features
Not available
Not available
Fit and durability
4 of 7 differ
Ear tips included
Long hybrid silicone rubber: SS, S, M, L, Triple-comfort: S, M, L1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026Package list: long hybrid silicone rubber earbuds SS, S, M, L (2 each) and triple-comfort earbuds S, M, L (2 each). Size M comes attached.
Ear tip materials
Not available
Stabilisers
Not available
Not available
Ear tip fit test
Not available
Dust and water rating, buds
Not available
IPX43Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 20265Press releasesony.mediaroom.com/2021-06-08-Sony-Electronics-Unveils-the-WF-1000XM4-Truly-Wireless-Headphones,-Setting-a-New-Standard-for-Noise-CancellationRead 5 October 2026Earbuds only. Launch footnote 12 excludes sound conduit, vents and two microphone holes per unit from protection scope and states case is not water resistant.
Dust and water rating, case
Not available
Not available
Water resistance depth
Not available
Not available
Software
2 of 6 differ
Companion app
Sony | Headphones Connect1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026Sony | Headphones Connect.
Sony | Sound Connect1Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4Read 5 October 2026Current maker feature 5 names Sony Sound Connect. Original manual and launch use its former name Sony | Headphones Connect.7Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4/feature_5.htmlRead 5 October 2026Exact current maker feature page names Sony Sound Connect. This replaces the former Sony | Headphones Connect name used in the original manual.
App platforms
User firmware updates
Finding network
Not available
Precision finding
Not available
Not available
Live translation
Not available
Not available
Dimensions and weight
2 of 4 differ
Weight per bud
Bud dimensions
Not available
Not available
Case weight
Case dimensions
Not available
Not available
Certifications
2 of 3 differ
Hi-Res Audio
Not available
Communication certifications
Not available
Not available
FCC IDs
Not available
Not available
Other certifications
Not available
360 Reality Audio certified6Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4/feature_1.htmlRead 5 October 2026
In the box
2 of 2 differ
In the box
Wireless Noise Canceling Stereo Headset, USB Type-C cable (USB-A to USB-C) (approx. 20 cm), Long hybrid silicone rubber earbuds (SS/S/M/L 2 each), Triple-comfort earbuds (S/M/L 2 each), Charging case1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026Package contents list.
WF-1000XM4 earbuds, Charging case, Noise isolation ear tips (S, M, L pairs), USB-A to USB-C cable, Documentation1Maker product pagesony.jp/headphone/products/WF-1000XM4Read 5 October 20263Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026Page 8 publishes cable, case and three pairs of EP-NI1000 tips. M pair fitted, not an extra pair. Japanese maker page explicitly includes instruction manual and warranty documentation.
Cables included
ASony WF-1000XM3
| Type | Length (m) | Count |
|---|---|---|
| USB-A to USB-C | 0.2 | 1 |
BSony WF-1000XM4
| Type | Length (m) | Count |
|---|---|---|
| USB-A to USB-C cable | 0.2 | 1 |
Links
Not compared
Product page
Not available
Spec sheet
Not available
Manual
helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdf1Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm3/v1/en/print.pdfRead 13 October 2026
helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdf3Owner's manualhelpguide.sony.net/mdr/wf1000xm4/v1/en/print.pdfRead 5 October 2026Original exact YY2948 Help Guide, 144 pages, revision 5-027-983-11(6). Technical tables, package, controls, charging, calls and updated multipoint chapters read. Later software capabilities are qualified separately from launch.
EPREL registration number
Not available
Not available
Warranty
None of 1 known
Manufacturer warranty (source market)
Not available
Not available
Both are also in the API. Back to all earbuds.
















