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Sony WH-1000XM3 vs Sony WH-1000XM4

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SonyWH-1000XM3SonyWH-1000XM4
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2018August 2020
Sound
TypeOver-earOver-ear
Noise cancellingYesYes
Transparency modeYesYes
Driver size40 mm40 mm
BackClosed–
Bluetooth codecsSBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and LDACSBC, AAC and LDAC
Lossless over USB-C–No
ChipHD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1QN1
Drivers40 mm dome drivers with aluminium-coated liquid crystal polymer diaphragms, CCAW voice coils and neodymium magnets; wired frequency response 4 Hz–40 kHz. Impedance is 47 ohms powered on and 16 ohms off; sensitivity 104.5 dB/mW on and 101 dB/mW off.40 mm dome-type driver with an aluminium-coated LCP diaphragm, CCAW voice coil and neodymium magnet; 4 Hz to 40,000 Hz (JEITA); sensitivity 105 dB/mW switched on, 101 dB/mW switched off; impedance 40 Ω switched on, 16 Ω switched off (1 kHz, wired)
Chip–HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 (with an integrated analogue amplifier) and a Bluetooth Audio SoC
Noise cancelling detailQN1 processor and dual noise sensors; Personal NC Optimizer and Atmospheric Pressure Optimizing; Ambient Sound Mode, Quick Attention and Adaptive Sound ControlDual Noise Sensor technology, with two noise-cancelling microphones on each ear cup (one outside, one inside); Personal NC Optimizer and Atmospheric Pressure Optimising; Ambient Sound Mode with Voice focus; Adaptive Sound Control; Quick Attention Mode; Speak-to-Chat
Audio featuresDSEE HX upscaling; Bluetooth frequency response 20 Hz–20 kHz at 44.1 kHz sampling, or 20 Hz–40 kHz with LDAC at 96 kHz and 990 kbps; QN1 includes a DAC and amplifierLDAC up to 990 kbps (Hi-Res Audio Wireless); High-Resolution Audio over the headphone cable; DSEE Extreme upscaling; 360 Reality Audio certified; equaliser in the app
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)Up to 30 hoursUp to 30 hours
Battery life detailMaximum 30 hours with noise cancelling or 38 hours off uses AAC with DSEE HX off. The manual lists 24 hours with noise cancelling for aptX, aptX HD and LDAC; SBC is 28 hours with noise cancelling and DSEE HX off.Up to 38 hours with noise cancelling off (AAC or SBC); with LDAC, 24 hours with noise cancelling on or 30 hours off; with DSEE Extreme on, 18 hours with noise cancelling on (16 hours with LDAC); Speak-to-Chat shortens battery life by about 30%; talk time up to 24 hours (30 hours with noise cancelling off); standby up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on (200 hours off); up to 22 hours on the headphone cable with noise cancelling on (36 hours off); can't be used while charging
Charging caseUSB-C charging; about 3 hours for a full charge; USB does not carry audio–
Fast charging10 minutes gives up to 5 hours with a USB adapter rated at least 1.5 A10 minutes gives about 5 hours of playback with a 1.5 A or higher USB adaptor; full charge in about 3 hours
Design
Weight255 g254 g
Bluetooth4.25.0
Two devices at onceYesYes
Headphone cableYesYes
ControlsRight earcup touch panel for playback, volume and calls; holding a palm over it activates Quick Attention; separate power and NC/AMBIENT buttonsTouch sensor control panel on the right ear cup (double-tap to play, pause or answer calls; swipe forwards or backwards to skip; swipe up or down for volume; hold for the voice assistant; cover with your hand for Quick Attention Mode); power and CUSTOM buttons; a proximity sensor and two acceleration sensors pause music when the headphones are taken off and switch them off after 15 minutes; NFC one-touch pairing
MicrophonesInternal and external microphones for noise cancelling; built-in microphones for Bluetooth callsFive microphones for calls and Speak-to-Chat (Precise Voice Pickup Technology); MEMS, omnidirectional, 50 Hz to 8,000 Hz
Fit and ear tipsCircumaural ear cushions; adjustable headband and folding earcups; carrying case suppliedClosed, circumaural; foamed urethane earpads; stepless slider; ear cups swivel and fold inwards for the carrying case
Water resistance detail–No water resistance rating; Sony says the headphones are not waterproof
Works withBluetooth A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP; NFC pairing. Multipoint connects one music source using A2DP and another device for calls using HFP/HSP, without two music sources; unavailable with Google Assistant or Alexa assigned. The supplied cable allows passive listening, but disables Bluetooth and does not carry the headphone microphone.Sony | Sound Connect app (formerly Headphones Connect) for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices (AAC or SBC only while connected to two); Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built in; Google Fast Pair; Bluetooth 5.0 Class 1, about 10 m range; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP
ColoursBlack, Platinum SilverBlack, Platinum Silver; limited-edition Silent White sold in Europe from May 2021
In the boxHeadphones, carrying case, 1.2 m headphone cable, approximately 20 cm USB-A to USB-C cable, in-flight plug adapterHeadphones, USB-C cable (USB-A to USB-C, about 20 cm), headphone cable (about 1.2 m, gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug), plug adaptor for in-flight use, carrying case

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