Sony WH-1000XM4: Leaks confirm IR sensor and MediaTek Bluetooth chip for upcoming US$349.99 ANC headphones

The release of the Sony WH-1000XM4 is long overdue. Not only has Sony been selling the WH-1000XM3 for almost two years, but also it certified the WH-1000XM4 with the FCC in December 2019. The release of the WH-1000XM4 has become so protracted that multiple retailers have already leaked the headphones, while even the FCC's confidentiality agreement with Sony has expired.

Now Xuan Vu Audio, a Vietnamese YouTube account, posted its review for the WH-1000XM4. Xuan Vu Audio has since taken down its video, but it has confirmed the presence of a hitherto unknown IR sensor in the WH-1000XM4 headphones. Oddly, none of the WH-1000XM4 retail listings mentioned this sensor, which The Walkman Blog asserts will allow the headphones to control audio playback by sensing when you have removed or placed them on your head. The rest of the video confirms the design changes that Sony has made for its new headphones, which we have outlined here.

Separately, the Bluetooth SIG has certified the WH-1000XM4. The listing declares that the WH-1000XM4 will feature the Mediatek MT2811S Bluetooth chip that Sony also uses in the WI-1000XM2, WH-H810 and WH-H910N. In other words, the Bluetooth SIG has unequivocally confirmed that the WH-1000XM4 will not support Qualcomm codecs like aptX and aptX HD. 

Sony is expected to launch the WH-1000XM4 before the end of this month, possibly on June 23. The headphones should retail for US$349.99, too.