Sony WH-1000XM4C Headphones Return: Price, Specs, and What’s New

Sony just resurrected one of the most loved noise-cancelling headphones of the 2020s. On September 7, 2026, the company announced the WH-1000XM4C—essentially a refreshed WH-1000XM4—alongside updated midrange and budget wireless models already heading to shelves.

XM4C: nostalgia with a few modern tweaks

The Verge reports that the XM4C keeps the original’s fold-flat silhouette (now with a lavender color option) and still uses the QN1 processor with four microphones for ANC—hardware that trails the XM5’s eight mics and the XM6’s twelve mics plus QN3 chip. Sony did retune the sound for current preferences, expanded the Headphones app EQ from five to 10 bands, added a gaming preset, and moved to Bluetooth 6.

Battery life slips slightly: Sony claims up to 27 hours with ANC on, versus 30 hours on the classic XM4. The Verge notes that is still enough for a long-haul flight, just not a headline upgrade. Suggested pricing is $299.99 USD / $429.99 CAD, with Black and Platinum Silver arriving later this fall at major retailers; Lavender is listed as Sony- and Amazon-only in Sony’s PR.

CH730N and CH530: the practical buys shipping now

Alongside the XM4C revival, Sony refreshed the WH-CH730N ($179.99) and WH-CH530 ($69.99). Both get the same 10-band EQ and gaming preset. The CH730N adds a more compact fold and up to 50 hours with ANC. The CH530 skips ANC but claims up to 55 hours and ships in six colors. Sony also highlights a safe-mode volume limiter in the app—useful for parents, though The Verge notes it is not lockable.

Sony’s PR timestamps the mid/entry models as available now from September 2026, while the XM4C is a later-fall arrival. Limited Hello Kitty bundles (XM6, CH730N, or CH530 plus pouch and bag) are also promised later this year on Sony’s site only.

Should you wait for XM4C—or buy CH730N?

If you loved the foldable XM4 form factor and want Bluetooth 6 plus a wider EQ, the XM4C is the nostalgia SKU at a $300 list that undercuts today’s XM6. If you want ANC and long battery life without waiting, the CH730N looks like the more rational Rocks pick at $180. Treat the XM4C as a lifestyle reboot, not a leap past XM6 on ANC hardware.

One more shopper note from The Verge’s correction log: an earlier draft misspelled the CH730N model name—easy to do across Sony’s alphabet soup, and a reminder to match SKUs carefully when comparing ANC midrangers. If you still own original XM4s, the XM4C is less “must upgrade” and more “replacement stock with Bluetooth 6.” If you do not, the CH730N’s 50-hour ANC claim may be the quieter win of the announcement.

Sources: The Verge, Sony / PR Newswire.