Sony is getting ready to enter the true wireless earbud world yet again, this time with the WF-1000XM4. The upcoming earbuds look to offer a sleek design, improved Bluetooth technology, and a lot more. Here are all the latest rumors so far.

Although Apple's AirPods are often seen as the market leader for wireless earbuds, Sony has securely established itself as one of the best players in the space. The company launched the WF-1000XM3 in August 2019, and nearly two years later, they're still considered to be some of the best earbuds money can buy. They sound amazing, deliver incredible noise cancellation, and package all of that in a truly unique design. While it's certainly impressive just how well the 1000XM3 have been able to withstand the test of time, Sony is gearing up to replace them with something even better.

Related: Why Amazon's New Echo Buds Are A Better Buy Than Google & Samsung's

Let's start with the biggest question on everyone's mind — price and availability. When the WF-1000XM3 launched, Sony sold the earbuds for $230 in the U.S. Considering the WF-1000XM4 are expected to offer similar (and better) features, identical pricing for them seems quite likely. As for when that info will be officially revealed, Sony is hosting a live stream event on June 9 at 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT. While the WF-1000XM4 aren't specifically mentioned by name anywhere in the description for the live stream, it's branded as "Truly Silent. Tailored 4 you" — clearly hinting at the earbuds' ANC feature and the '4' in their name.

The WF-1000XM4 Have A Drastically Different Design

Sony WF-1000XM4 render next to WF-1000XM3

As technically impressive as the WF-1000XM3 were, one of the biggest complaints was that the earbuds (and charging case) were too bulky. Based on renders that have been leaked, this is something Sony's addressing head-on with the WF-1000XM4. Leaker Evan Blass shared high-res product renders of the XM4 in mid-May, and simply put, they look like a substantial step-up from the XM3's design. The earbuds themselves are noticeably smaller, they now have a much rounder shape, and they appear to come with memory foam tips right out of the box. It also looks like the entire backside of the XM4 earbuds can be used as a touch area for gestures — thus making them easier to perform than they were on the XM3. Even better, the included charging case should be much more compact this time around. It ditches the flashy two-tone design currently available with the XM3 case, but that seems like a fair price to pay for vastly improved portability.

Outside of the new design for the WF-1000XM4, Sony is also expected to deliver when it comes to features. An FCC filing for the earbuds hinted at them using the newer Bluetooth 5.2 standard. That may not sound very exciting on paper, but it should translate to improved battery life and a stronger wireless connection. Another report from WinFuture claims that the XM4 will deliver up to 8 hours of battery life with ANC turned on or 12 hours with it turned off. In other words, longer battery life seems to be a given this year. Other features are rumored to include Qi wireless charging and an IPX4 rating for water resistance. In regards to audio quality, the WF-1000XM4 are expected to add support for LDAC — Sony's high-resolution audio standard that should make music, movies, and podcasts sound better than ever.

In short, expect the Sony WF-1000XM4 to be among the best wireless earbuds released in 2021. The new design and features will come at a steep price, but for folks that want one of the best listening experiences out there, this looks to be a fantastic option. AirPods Pro better watch out.

Next: AirPods Vs. Pixel Buds A-Series

Source: Sony, Evan Blass, WinFuture