Is the Sony WH-1000XM3 worth the upgrade from the Sony WH-1000XM4?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Sony WH-1000XM3 actually scores 10.0 points below the Sony WH-1000XM4, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in battery (8.0 to 9.0). You do give up ground on sound (9.0 to 8.0) and calls (8.0 to 7.0). On paper: codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC and microphones 2 to 4. Worth checking: bluetooth goes 5 to 4.2 and multipoint pairing goes Yes to No. It is at least $190 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound9.08.0
- Noise cancelling9.09.0
- Battery8.09.0
- Calls8.07.0
- Value8.08.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | WH-1000XM4 | WH-1000XM3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5 | 4.2 | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Microphones | 2 | 4 | |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No | |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No | |
| Wear detection | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Frequency response | 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 4-40000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "WH-1000XM4 to WH-1000XM3". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.