Sony WH-1000XM5 vs WH-1000XM4: Which Should You Buy Refurbished?

Short answer: Buy the WH-1000XM5. Unboxed, it is ₹21,990 — 37% below its ₹34,990 MRP — and it is the one of the two we can actually ship. The WH-1000XM4 is a genuinely excellent pair of headphones and it folds, which the XM5 does not, but it is out of stock with us today, so treat everything below about the XM4 as context for your decision rather than an offer. If ₹21,990 is too much, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 at ₹17,790 is the honest alternative.

Prices are live as of 29 September 2026 and move with stock — check the linked product page for today’s exact price.

Sony’s WH-1000X series has led the premium noise-cancelling market in India for years, and both generations turn up regularly in the open-box and certified market. This is the honest comparison — including the part where one of the two is not available from us.

Which of the two can you actually buy today?

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Over-Ear ANC Headphones (Unboxed) — ₹21,990 (MRP ₹34,990, 37% off), roughly ₹1,833 a month on a 12-month EMI.

Unboxed means the box was opened and the headphones were returned essentially unused. Physically they are indistinguishable from new, which on a pair of headphones is most of what you are paying for. What Unboxed means on audio gear explains exactly what we check.

What did the XM5 actually change?

• A second processor. The XM5 runs Sony’s V1 chip alongside the QN1 the XM4 used. Noise cancellation is measurably better, particularly on higher-frequency sound — office chatter, air conditioning, aircraft cabin hiss.
• Eight microphones instead of four. This is the upgrade you will notice most if you are on calls all day. Your voice comes through cleaner, and wind handling outdoors is better.
• A redesigned, non-folding frame. Sleeker and slightly lighter, at Sony’s published 250g against the XM4’s 254g. But the hinge is gone.
• Better wind noise handling. A real gain if you walk or ride to work.

What did the XM4 do better?

Being honest about this matters, because if the folding hinge is what you want, the right answer is not on our shelf.

The XM4’s folding hinge is a real advantage for anyone who travels with a small bag, and the two are close enough on pure music listening that most people would not reliably tell them apart. That is the honest picture. What it does not change is that we cannot sell you an XM4 today. If the hinge is non-negotiable, buy an XM4 from a seller who has one in hand, and hold them to the same standard: original accessories, a serial you can verify, a written warranty and a return window.

If ₹21,990 is more than you want to spend

Most people arriving at this comparison are looking for the cheaper option. Since that used to be the XM4 and the XM4 is gone, here is what we can genuinely ship instead:

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (Unboxed) — ₹17,790 (MRP ₹34,990, 49% off). Sony’s closest real rival at this level, and the battery life is longer. ANC is a step behind the XM5; sound signature is warmer. Roughly ₹1,483 a month on EMI.
• Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (Unboxed) — ₹14,790 (MRP ₹34,500, 57% off). The best microphone array of this group for voice calls, and a distinctly different design. An older model than the XM5, and that is reflected in the price.
• Sony WH-CH720N (Unboxed) — ₹5,890 (MRP ₹14,990, 61% off). Sony’s ANC at a quarter of the XM5’s price. The cancellation is noticeably weaker and the build is plastic, but for a student on a train it is a lot of headphone for ₹5,890.
• Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds (Unboxed) — ₹16,490 (MRP ₹29,900, 45% off). If portability is the reason you liked the folding XM4, earbuds solve that problem better than any hinge does.

Our Sony vs Bose vs Sennheiser comparison goes deeper on how the three brands tune noise cancellation differently, and the full ANC roundup covers every price band we stock.

Who should NOT buy the XM5

• Anyone who must have folding headphones. The XM5 does not fold and no amount of discount changes that. If your bag is small, buy an XM4 elsewhere or buy the WF-1000XM5 earbuds at ₹16,490 instead.
• Anyone buying for the gym or running. Over-ear headphones get hot and slide. Sweat is not covered by any warranty. Buy sports earbuds.
• Anyone who mainly wants sound quality rather than silence. At ₹21,990 you are paying mostly for class-leading ANC. If you listen at home in a quiet room, the Momentum 4 at ₹17,790 is the better-sounding buy for less money.
• Anyone who needs studio monitoring or wired-only latency. These are consumer Bluetooth headphones with deliberate EQ shaping. They are the wrong tool for mixing.
• Anyone whose budget is genuinely under ₹6,000. Do not stretch. The WH-CH720N at ₹5,890 gets you most of the daily benefit, and how ANC actually works explains why the last 20% costs four times as much.

Why buy Unboxed rather than new?

On headphones the logic is unusually clean. The XM5 at ₹21,990 against a ₹34,990 MRP is ₹13,000 saved on a product where the only difference from new is that somebody opened the box. There is no battery cycle history to worry about the way there is on a laptop, and no cosmetic wear to grade.

What we check before listing: both drivers, ANC at every level, every microphone on a real call, all touch controls, the charging port, the case and every accessory, Bluetooth multipoint pairing across two devices, and the serial number. That is part of our 50-point quality check. Only 2 to 3 out of every 10 devices that reach our bench pass; the other 7 to 8 go back to the supplier. The exact figure moves month to month with the stock we are offered, so we publish the range rather than one flattering number.

Every pair ships with a written 6-month NewAsNew Assured Warranty, a GST invoice in your name, 7-day returns and EMI.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a refurbished Sony WH-1000XM4 from NewAsNew?

Not today — the WH-1000XM4 is out of stock. We do not list headphones we cannot ship. The WH-1000XM5 is in stock at ₹21,990, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 at ₹17,790 or Bose Noise Cancelling 700 at ₹14,790 are the closest in-stock alternatives if you wanted the XM4 for its lower price.

Is the WH-1000XM5 better than the WH-1000XM4 for noise cancellation?

Yes. The XM5 adds Sony’s V1 processor alongside the QN1 and uses eight microphones instead of four, which gives measurably better cancellation — especially on higher-frequency sound like office chatter and cabin hiss — and clearly better call quality.

Does the WH-1000XM5 fold like the XM4?

No. The XM5 has no folding hinge; it swivels flat into a larger case. The XM4 folds into a compact case, which remains the single best reason to prefer it. If that matters more than anything else, buy an XM4 from a seller who has one in stock.

Which is better value refurbished, the XM5 or the XM4?

The question is settled by availability. The XM5 at ₹21,990 is 37% below its ₹34,990 MRP and we can ship it today. The XM4 is out of stock with us, so there is no live price to compare against — and we will not quote one we cannot honour.

Do the XM5 and XM4 have the same battery life?

Effectively yes. Both are rated at around 30 hours of playback with noise cancellation on. Battery life is not a reason to choose between them.

What does Unboxed mean on headphones?

The sealed box was opened and the unit was returned essentially unused, usually within a return window. Physically it is indistinguishable from new, all accessories are present, and we test drivers, ANC, microphones, controls, charging and pairing before it is listed. Read Unboxed vs Grade A for the full distinction.

Is ₹21,990 a good price for the WH-1000XM5 in India?

It is 37% below the ₹34,990 MRP on our catalogue, in Unboxed condition, with a written 6-month warranty, a GST invoice and 7-day returns. Refurbished and open-box pricing follows unit supply rather than sale calendars, so this is not a figure that drops further in a festive sale — popular models sell out instead.

Can I pay in EMI?

Yes. No-cost and low-cost EMI turn the ₹21,990 XM5 into roughly ₹1,833 a month over 12 months, and the ₹17,790 Momentum 4 into roughly ₹1,483.

Browse and ask

All Unboxed headphones in stock · Best unboxed ANC headphones 2026 · What dB figures on headphones actually mean · ANC vs ENC vs noise isolation

Want us to tell you honestly whether the XM5 is worth ₹21,990 for how you listen? Message us on WhatsApp with where you use headphones — commute, open office, flights, home — and we will say so, including when the ₹5,890 pair is the smarter buy.

Written by Atul Pandey, founder of NewAsNew (NextG Serve Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi). Every pair on this page is tested on our own bench before it is listed, and we only list what genuinely performs — because not every product deserves to be sold. Our story and why we grade honestly.