Head to head
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs, but Sony WH-1000XM4 costs $31 less.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 3 to 2
Buy the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Sony WH-1000XM4 takes 2.
- Battery life: 60 hours vs 30 hours
- Charging time: 2 hours full charge vs 3 hours full charge
- Sony WH-1000XM4 is $31 cheaper. Pay the difference only if battery life matters to you.
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Sennheiser
293 g (10.3 oz)
Sony
254 g (8.95 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Sennheiser
Yes (Hybrid Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation)
Sony
Yes (HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 with Dual Noise Sensor)
Battery life
Sennheiser
60 hours (ANC on via Bluetooth)
Sony
30 hours (ANC on) / 38 hours (ANC off)
Comfort, Clamp & Travel Fit Check
Ergonomic factors that affect daily comfort, glasses wearers, and luggage space.
Folding & Travel Packability
Swivels flat only (large fabric travel case)
Folds flat & inward (ultra-compact zippered case)
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Medium-firm seal (~4.8 N, thick cushioned headband)
Gentle clamp force (~4.2 N, comfortable with glasses)
Weight & Crown Pressure
293g (moderate weight, thick memory foam)
254g (lightweight plastic composite)
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Sennheiser: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Sony: What to watch for
- Hardware Quirk
Microphones struggle significantly in windy outdoor conditions.
- Ergonomics
Shallow earcups cause ear cartilage to touch inner driver grille.
Design
leads 2-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | Over-ear, closed-back |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 293 g (10.3 oz) | 254 g (8.95 oz) (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (swivels flat) | Yes (collapsible foldable headband) (wins this row: has it) |
| Carrying case | Fabric-covered structured hard zip case included | Compact hard-shell zippered carrying case included |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 42 mm Transducer system (audiophile-inspired) | 40 mm dome type (CCAW Voice coil) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Hybrid Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation) | Yes (HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 with Dual Noise Sensor) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Adjustable Transparency Mode) | Yes (Ambient Sound Control with Quick Attention) |
| Supported codecs | aptX, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | 2x2 digital beamforming mic array | Precise Voice Pickup Technology with 5 microphones |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint pairing) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.0 multipoint for 2 devices) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 60 hours (ANC on via Bluetooth) (wins this row: higher) | 30 hours (ANC on) / 38 hours (ANC off) |
| Charging time | 2 hours full charge (10 min charge gives 6 hours) (wins this row: lower) | 3 hours full charge (10 min quick charge gives 5 hours) |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 2 years (wins this row: higher) | 1 year |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Audiophile-tuned wireless headphones delivering signature Sennheiser sound and mammoth 60-hour battery life.
- Unrivaled 60-hour battery life with ANC engaged
- Audiophile-grade acoustic tuning with punchy dynamic bass
- Comprehensive aptX Adaptive high-resolution audio support
What you give up
- ANC performance slightly behind Sony XM5 and Bose Ultra
- Less distinctive styling compared to retro Momentum 3
Pick this one if
Sony WH-1000XM4
Popular folding noise-cancelling headphones with LDAC high-resolution audio, DSEE Extreme, and 30-hour battery.
- Folding headband hinges collapse smaller than the newer XM5
- Supports high-res LDAC streaming and DSEE Extreme upscaling
- Superb value with industry-tested noise cancellation
What you give up
- Microphone voice isolation trails newer XM5 in windy conditions
- Cannot use LDAC while 2-device Bluetooth multipoint is enabled
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
For flights & commutes, buy the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets. Only battery life is rankable here.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ↗ · Sony WH-1000XM4 ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless or the Sony WH-1000XM4?
Sony WH-1000XM4 costs $31 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless or Sony WH-1000XM4?
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless or the Sony WH-1000XM4?
For flights & commutes, buy the Sony WH-1000XM4. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless takes 1. Weight: 254 g vs 293 g
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 9 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.