Sony’s WH-1000XM series has dominated the premium noise-cancelling headphone market in India for years. The XM5 launched at ₹29,990. The XM4 at ₹29,990 (now dropped). Both appear regularly in the certified pre-owned market. Here’s which to choose.

What Changed with the XM5?

  • New processor: V1 chip — significantly better ANC than XM4
  • Redesigned form factor: Sleeker, premium look, non-foldable (this is a controversial decision)
  • Better call quality: XM5 has 8 microphones vs XM4’s 4. Call quality is noticeably better
  • Improved ANC in wind: XM5 handles outdoor/wind noise better
  • Multipoint connection: Both support connecting to 2 devices simultaneously (XM4 got it via update)

What XM4 Does Better (or Equally)

  • Foldable: XM4 folds into a compact case. XM5 does not fold. For travel portability, XM4 wins clearly.
  • Sound quality: Largely identical in music listening — the difference is marginal
  • Battery: Both offer ~30 hours with ANC on. Effectively the same.
  • Comfort: Both are comfortable — XM5 is slightly lighter at 250g vs 254g

Certified Pre-Owned Price Comparison

XM5 XM4
New retail ₹26,990 ₹19,990
Unboxed (certified) ~₹20,000 ~₹14,500
Grade A (certified) ~₹16,500 ~₹11,500

The Verdict

For most buyers: XM4 Grade A at ~₹11,500 is the better value decision. The ANC is excellent, sound quality is superb, and the foldable design is more practical. The XM5’s improvements are real but incremental — not worth the premium for casual listeners.

If call quality matters and you travel with a bag (not a small pouch): XM5 — the microphone improvement is genuinely significant for anyone on calls all day. And the non-foldable design is less of a problem if you have a larger bag.

Either way, buying certified pre-owned vs new saves you ₹8,000–10,000 on headphones that are identical in performance to the new version.