Sony WF-1000XM4 Leak reveals AirPods Pro Rival's design, color and release Date

Sony WF-1000XM4 Leak reveals AirPods Pro Rival's design, color and release Date

Remember the package leak earlier this year that teased the design of Sony's new WF-1000XM4? Now, more leaked information has come to light that lays bare the same design from all angles.

The Walkman Blog initially posted what looked like a photo cutout of the WF-1000XM4 earphone prototype, confirming a much shorter, more rounded profile than the Sony WF-1000XM3. The Walkman Blog then posted a Twitter posted numerous WF-1000XM4 renderings shared by leaker mirai160525, confirming the design. And with the AirPods 3 set to launch this year, the upgraded design may be just what Sony's headphones need to join the ranks of the best wireless earbuds.

The new angle, with its overall more rounded shape (a welcome change from the oddly oval WF-1000XM3 design), gold-accented pressure relief vents, infrared sensors for in-ear detection, and possibly replaceable ear tips, glimpses from the first package leaks corroborate what we saw in the first package leak.

Also, while previous leaks showed the WF-1000XM4 only in black, new renderings suggest a creamy white model will also be available.

The leaked information also includes a photo and rendered image of the WF-1000XM4 charging case, which is considerably more compact than the WF-1000XM3 case and reveals one important detail. The charging output is listed as 5V=140mA, slightly larger than the 5V=120mA of the WF-1000XM3 charging case. The package leak indicated that both Sony earbuds have the same rated battery life of 6 hours, but the details of the case indicate that the WF-1000XM4 can be charged more quickly. The case also appears to support wireless charging.

Even more intriguing is the change in the FCC document for the WF-1000XM4. It previously referred to a short-term confidentiality agreement ending on September 27, 2021, suggesting that the WF-1000XM4 would be available shortly before that date, but the Walkman Blog noticed that this date had been changed to June 9, indicating a much earlier June launch.

With not much time left before its non-disclosure agreement expires, it seems unlikely that Sony will change the WF-1000XM4 into anything more than what is currently seen in multiple leaks. All that really remains is pricing and confirmation of key features like active noise cancellation (ANC).

After the WF-1000XM3 comes standard with ANC, that particular feature seems obvious, but Sony will need to watch the price of the WF-1000XM4; AirPods 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, and Google Pixel Buds A-Series are all expected to be released this year and are priced lower than their most recent predecessors.

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