All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.
Hot deals: Should you get the Sony WH-1000XM4 or XM5? Both on sale!
Are you looking for the best headphones the market has to offer? Like most of the industry, we would all agree the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones take the crown. That said, the previous-generation Sony WH-1000XM4 cans are still excellent, even in 2024. We can help you pick the right ones, but regardless of which you get, both are on sale right now! Let’s go over today’s hot Sony deals!
We’re linking to the Amazon deals because we know many of you already shop there, and the prices are a tiny bit cheaper there. That said, Sony has kicked off its early Black Friday sale and you can get both models at nearly the same prices from the official website. The discounts apply to all color versions, for both models. There is only one exception: the Sony WH-1000XM4 in Silver are a bit cheaper at $196.01.
Which Sony headphones should you get?
So, should you stick to the latest and greatest, or are the Sony WH-1000XM4 a better bet? Let’s go over the details together and help you figure out which set is better for your needs.
Sony WH-1000XM4: Significantly more bang per buck
Let’s make things simple from the get-go. If you want the absolute best value, the Sony WH-1000XM4 will win without a struggle. They may be about four years old, but these headphones are still impressive in 2024, and the newer model doesn’t beat them by much. You’ll get an amazing pair of headphones for much less if you can live with slightly less quality.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones still offer outstanding audio quality and ANC performance. Sure, the newer-generation model is better, but not by too much. These will still sound exquisite, and keep the world around you very quiet. Go ahead and check out our Sony WH-1000XM4 review to read our full impressions.
Remember, these were launched as flagship headphones with a high-end, premium experience. As such, Sony didn’t really skimp out in other departments. While these don’t look as minimalist and clean as the XM5, they still look very good and are built very solidly. There’s no lack of features, either. You’ll enjoy Bluetooth Multipoint, auto-pausing upon removal, touch gesture controls, etc. And if you care for battery life, it is also pretty good at 24 hours per full charge.
At just $198, you really can’t go wrong with these. You would have to pay $328 if you want to upgrade to the newer model! I like making my dollars stretch as far as possible in this tough economy. If you want a high-end experience without spending much, there’s no going wrong with the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. Unless you’re really picky, you won’t be missing much.
Sony WH-1000XM5: Uncompromised quality
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are usually a whopping $399.99, so the fact that they are $328 right now is a nice treat for those who really want to go all out on the best headphones around. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are amazing, but are they worth the $130 difference at current discounted prices?
While not too significant, these are a better pair of headphones. You’ll get improved audio quality and even better ANC performance, which was already impressive in the XM4. These also have a more refined and streamlined design. Where you will find a significant difference is in battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 can last 32 hours on a single charge, with ANC enabled. Turn off noise canceling, and that number skyrockets to an impressive 53 hours per full charge.
You’ll obviously still get a nice set of premium features, such as Bluetooth Multipoint, touch gestures, a handy EQ in the official app, and even Find My Device support.
All that said, we can’t say we wouldn’t recommend the Sony WH-1000XM5. These are stunning, and they have won the industry’s unconditional love. If you have the extra money and really value the fine things in life, you will surely enjoy these. The improved ANC will be nice, and we know many of our readers really value pristine sound quality.
If you’re upgrading to these, though, one thing to keep in mind is that we’ve seen them go for less. The lowest price we’ve reported is $290, and they were $298 during Amazon Prime Day. If you wait a bit, you could score an even better deal than today’s. Black Friday is almost here, after all!
Which are you getting? Keep in mind these deals don’t last too long, so act quickly. Especially if you’re going for the Sony WH-1000XM4, which are actually at record-low prices right now.