Sony revives the WH-1000XM4 as a €250 XM4C — now with a user-replaceable battery

At IFA in Berlin, Sony has revived its 2020 bestseller WH-1000XM4 as the WH-1000XM4C for €250 — technically almost unchanged, but now with a user-replaceable battery and spare parts sold directly to end customers. The move positions Sony ahead of the EU Battery Regulation, which from February 2027 will require replaceable batteries in over-ear headphones and much other consumer electronics. Two new budget models, the WH-CH730N (€120) and the WH-CH530 (€60), round out the line-up.

Key Takeaways

At IFA in Berlin, Sony has revived its 2020 bestseller WH-1000XM4 as the WH-1000XM4C for €250 — technically almost unchanged, but now with a user-replaceable battery and spare parts sold directly to end customers.
The move positions Sony ahead of the EU Battery Regulation, which from February 2027 will require replaceable batteries in over-ear headphones and much other consumer electronics.
Two new budget models, the WH-CH730N (€120) and the WH-CH530 (€60), round out the line-up.

AI synthesis3 sources11

Sony has brought back one of its most successful headphones ever — and the 2026 version answers a question the industry has long dodged: what happens when the EU demands that batteries come out of devices?

At IFA in Berlin, Sony presented the WH-1000XM4C, a revival of the WH-1000XM4 — the 2020 model that defined premium active noise cancelling for years. The reissue costs €250, roughly €130 less than the original's launch price six years ago, and is technically almost unchanged. Almost: this time, the battery can be replaced by the user, and Sony sells spare parts directly to end customers.

The reason is regulation, not nostalgia. The EU Battery Regulation requires that from February 2027, batteries in many consumer electronics — explicitly including over-ear headphones — be removable and replaceable. With the XM4C, Sony appears to be getting ahead of the deadline while turning an ageing flagship into a mid-range offer.

What remains: the erstwhile ANC reference still works effectively against engine and aeroplane noise by today's standards. The sound is powerful and warm. Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC, multipoint, around 30 hours of battery life and the foldable design are still solid, and the companion app adds a ten-band equalizer.

What shows its age: voices are transmitted thinner and more error-prone than on current rivals — the XM4 was never a strong choice for phone calls — and modern wireless standards such as LE Audio, LC3 and Auracast are missing. Against human voices, the noise cancelling is also weaker than today's class leaders. Whether the reissue becomes a value tip therefore depends on priorities.

Below the XM4C, Sony rounded out its line-up at the show. The WH-CH730N offers ANC, up to 50 hours of battery life, multipoint and LE Audio for €120. The WH-CH530, without ANC, manages up to 55 hours and comes in six colours for €60. Both show where the industry is heading: EU rules are reshaping how even premium audio is engineered — 'replaceable battery' looks set to become a checklist item across the sector well before 2027.