Recently we reviewed the JBL LivePro 2 earbuds, which are a wonderful noise-cancelling package under Rs. 12,000. But, what if you are willing to spend a bit more? The simple answer is the Sony WF-1000XM4, which are considered among the best TWS earbuds around. These earbuds have been around for a while and come in at a price of Rs. 16,900*, which is a bargain considering its price at launch. While Sony has introduced many new TWS models recently, the WF-1000XM4 still is their flagship offering. So, two years since its launch, are they still worth your money? We tested them to find out the answer.
Design
When compared to the older WF-1000XM3, the new XM4 are smaller, as is the carry case. The compact size makes them lighter and more comfortable in the ears. They now have a more universal fit and you can try out different ear tips to find the best fit. We really liked that the earbuds fit snugly while running and cycling. This made us less anxious about the earbuds falling off, and we were able to better concentrate on the activity. Keeping the earbuds in the pocket is also less annoying due to their pebble-like design.
Two years later, the earbuds still look more premium than most of the latest offerings. We had the black variant with the matte finish which does a great job at keeping away the fingerprints. They are built well and can survive the occasional bumps. The upper flap felt a bit light and flimsy, but it shouldn’t break unless you are using the case very roughly.
The earbuds magnetically attach to the case and don’t fall off easily. The case has a LED battery status indicator at the front. The case has a Type-C port at the rear. Since the WF-1000XM4 also come with QI support, you can even charge them wirelessly.
Features
The Sony WF-1000XM4 come with the Integrated Processor V1 which claims to enhance sound and reduce distortion while listening to music. The process also enables LDAC codec processing and DSEE Extreme, so you can have a rich audio experience. The earbuds come with 6mm drivers promising better performance in low frequencies. They also come with a noise cancellation feature, so you can enjoy your music in near silence. Sony says the newly developed Noise Isolation Earbuds Tips are made of unique polyurethane material which maximizes contact between the ear tips and canals to eliminate gaps and offer better noise isolation.
The earbuds come with an IPX4 rating, so you can wear them in the rain or while working out, without worrying. They also have a proximity sensor which automatically pauses the music when you remove either of the earbuds out of your ears. You also get touch control. For example, a tap on the left earbud changes the noise cancellation modes while a long tap activates the Quick Attention feature. A tap on the right earbud skips the track. You can also customize the function to each earbud using the Headphones Connect app. A recent software update has also added multi-point support to the earbuds, allowing you to connect to two devices at a time.
Performance
We used the Sony WF-1000XM4 regularly to listen to a variety of genres of music. It included new hits like All My Life by Lil Durk to old ones like Wake Me Up by Avicii and I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys. We also listening to some of the new as well as older Bollywood tracks. After four days of usage, we can safely say that they are one of the best sound earbuds we have ever heard. We were able to hear every tone, across instruments from the mids to the lows.
The bass on the earbuds is also adequate. All tracks were streamed from Apple Music in Hi-Res Lossless quality, and there were barely any connections drops while testing.
Since Battlegrounds India is back online again, we also tried these earbuds for gaming. They perform well here as well, as we were able to hear footsteps and sounds of gunfire clearly. We also didn’t experience any input lag during the gameplay. The call quality on these earbuds is also good and recipients on the other side had no complaints. The battery life of these earbuds is also impressive. After four days of usage, the case was still left with a 34 per cent charge.
Conclusion
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are one of the best-sounding premium TWS earbuds. If you are fond of audio quality and not worried about buying the latest in tech, you will be happy to know the Sony WF-1000XM4 cost just Rs. 16,900, which is a great price for what you get. These earphones sound good, are built well and will last for years. Since Sony hasn’t made any announcement about the WF-1000XM5 yet, these earbuds remain the brand’s flagship option. You can buy these earbuds from your nearest Reliance Digital store and even order them online from www.reliancedigital.in.
