
The new noise isolation ear tips are actually one of the best things about the WF-1000XM4s. I’d describe it as almost a hybrid between silicone and memory foam. But with the 1000XM4s, Sony is going all-in on the memory foam approach with new “noise isolation ear tips.” They’re quite different from Sony’s past foam tips, now with a thicker design that’s less rounded and with a tackier feel that helps them stay planted in your ears. Last time around, Sony shipped six pairs of tips with the 1000XM3 buds - three silicone sizes and three foam-like tips. If I’m being fussy, the lid has a little more play than I’d like for $280 earbuds, but it stays shut fine.īut I’d argue the best thing about this redesign isn’t the actual earbud hardware: it’s the new ear tips Sony is including in the box. The case has a USB-C port and supports wireless charging, and the earbuds magnetically latch into the case strongly and should stay seated unless you fumble the whole thing to the ground.
SONY MUSIC CENTER CONNECT VIA PRO
It’s shorter than the AirPods Pro case, but a tad wider and noticeably thicker. Now it’s on par with cases from Jabra and other competitors. Sony has shrunk down the carrying case even more it’s 40 percent smaller than the bulky case that came with the 1000XM3s. Sony’s logo is now on the side of the buds, where few would ever spot it when you’re wearing them. There’s a big round area for touch controls, and the flashiest thing about these earbuds is the small, accented circular microphone inlet. Sony told me it’s just a 10 percent downsizing, but it feels like more due to the sleeker overall design. Sony has moved away from the pill shape to a more subtle, all-matte style. The 1000XM4s look nothing like their predecessors.
The earbuds now have an all-matte design with more subtle Sony branding.
