shouldibuythat
← All Audio verdicts
Audio · head to head

WH-1000XM3 vs WH-1000XM4

Reddit rates both Risky Buy. The split is what you want: the WH-1000XM3 — buy only if you value refined sound and strong noise cancellation and can accept the reliability trade-off. The WH-1000XM4 — buy only if you prioritize sound quality and noise cancellation above long-term reliability.

Sony · Audio

WH-1000XM3

Risky Buy—
57% of 986 owners recommend
~1 in 4 failure rate — ~1 in 4 long-term reports mention a failure, with power and charging issues leading (microphone, charging, and power/won't-turn-on being the most cited components). Failures appear anywhere from 1 to 37 months in. Warranty coverage rarely helps: 81 of 103 failure reports describe unresolved outcomes, meaning most failures land outside or beyond warranty recourse. Against a category baseline of 27% serious failures across 12 wireless headphones we track, the XM3 sits close to typical.

Buy only if you value refined sound and strong noise cancellation and can accept the reliability trade-off.

+ Repeatedly mentioned as the reason owners keep coming back, even after years of use.

− A vocal minority finds the tuning overly processed or fatiguing on certain tracks.

Full verdict →
Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony · Audio

WH-1000XM4

Risky Buy$233.5
47% of 854 owners recommend
~1 in 3 failure rate — Roughly 1 in 3 long-term owner reports describe a failure, placing it 7th of the 10 wireless headphones we track — slightly above the category baseline of 27%. Charging is the most-cited component, followed by hinges and battery issues, typically surfacing within the first 25 months. Warranty coverage rarely helps: only 9 cases were resolved under warranty versus 37 that landed outside it.

Buy only if you prioritize sound quality and noise cancellation above long-term reliability.

+ Repeatedly mentioned as a reference point other headphones get compared against.

− Repeatedly mentioned: some owners find the tuning too bass-heavy or processed for their taste.

Full verdict →

Questions people keep asking

Which is better, the WH-1000XM3 or the WH-1000XM4?

Reddit rates both Risky Buy. The split is what you want: the WH-1000XM3 — buy only if you value refined sound and strong noise cancellation and can accept the reliability trade-off. The WH-1000XM4 — buy only if you prioritize sound quality and noise cancellation above long-term reliability.

Is the Sony WH-1000XM3 worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Risky Buy. Buy only if you value refined sound and strong noise cancellation and can accept the reliability trade-off. Strong ANC and sound that improves with ownership — but ~1 in 4 long-term reports mention a failure, mostly power and charging issues.

Is the Sony WH-1000XM4 worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Risky Buy. Buy only if you prioritize sound quality and noise cancellation above long-term reliability. Strong ANC and sound, but ~1 in 3 long-term reports describe a failure — mostly charging and hinges within the first two years.