Sony Revives WH-1000XM4 as $250 XM4C, Undercutting $450 XM6

Q: Could the mysterious 'C' in Sony's leaked headphones actually be a clever strategy to clear out old hardware inventory?

Yes — that is a plausible reading of the leak, though it remains unconfirmed because Sony has not announced the WH-1000XM4C. The strongest clue is how little appears to be changing. Leaks from Billbil-kun and Roland Quandt suggest the XM4C keeps most of the original WH-1000XM4 formula, including the QN1 noise-canceling processor, 40mm drivers, LDAC, multipoint audio and Sony’s app support. The only notable reported downgrade is battery life, falling to 34 hours from 38 hours with noise cancellation off. That pattern looks less like a true successor and more like a repackaging or cost-optimized refresh. The pricing also fits an inventory or platform-extension strategy. At €249.99 and £219.99, the XM4C would sit below Sony’s premium XM6 and likely replace the now-discontinued XM4 at a lower tier. That would let Sony keep a proven design in stores without undercutting its flagship line too aggressively. Companies often do this when they still have access to older tooling, components or supply chains and want a mid-range option without funding a full redesign. That said, “clearing out old hardware inventory” may be too narrow. The move could be broader: monetizing an older platform, filling a price gap, and reviving a popular model while XM5 and XM6 handle the premium segment. The “C” could signal a cheaper, compact, classic or channel-specific variant — but for now, that is speculation. The leak supports the idea of a strategic refresh more than a genuinely new product.

3 articles · Updated · 9to5Google · Aug 7

Sony is reportedly set to relaunch its 2020 WH-1000XM4 headphones on Sept. 7 as the WH-1000XM4C, with U.S. pricing implied at about $250 from leaked European listings.
€249.99 in Europe and £219.99 in the UK would position the XM4C as a cheaper entry in Sony’s 1000X lineup, well below the roughly $450 WH-1000XM6 flagship.
34 hours of battery life—down from 38 hours on the original XM4—suggests the refresh keeps most hardware intact while making only minor trade-offs.
Black, Platinum Silver and a new Lavender option point to a light refresh rather than a redesign, extending the life of a six-year-old model for more price-sensitive buyers.