Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Review 2025: The Ultimate Battery Life & Sound Quality Champion

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are a direct competitor to Sony’s popular WH-1000XM5, boasting the latest technology, impressive battery life, and exceptional sound quality. They stand firmly among the best headphones on the market today.

Sennheiser has been creating premium audio for decades, and new technology almost immediately appears on the company’s flagship models. In terms of design, however, the manufacturer has always been conservative, making its devices recognizable at first glance. But when creating the Momentum 4 Wireless, the German company decided to adopt modern trends. And the results are impressive; the headphones are both stylish and sonically excellent.

Design and Build Quality

While other well-known brands like Sony and Bose remain true to their design language, Sennheiser has completely redesigned the Sennheiser Momentum 4, bringing its appearance more in line with the competition, a change some longtime fans may find disappointing.

Sennheiser now uses more plastic, with the classic metal headband a thing of the past. Nevertheless, the headphones still feel very solid, and the build quality is impeccable. The fabric covering the headband is visually appealing, and both the synthetic leather padding and the ear cups are pleasantly soft. The ear cups create an excellent seal, providing significant passive noise isolation from the moment you put them on.

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The Momentum 4 Wireless fits well and offers fairly gentle pressure. Even after extended wear, they don’t become uncomfortable, though you’ll remain aware of them. However, the circumaural (over-ear) design means there’s little ventilation, so depending on the ambient temperature, it can get a bit warm under the ear cushions.

Control Scheme and Features

Sennheiser has ditched the physical buttons that graced the Momentum 3 Wireless headphones, and instead, the M4Ws feature robust touch controls. Functionality is limited to the right ear cup, where the interface controls play/pause, next/previous track, volume up/down, call management, and ANC modes. A single physical button on the side of the right ear cup makes powering on and pairing simple.

Using pinch gestures on the touchpad, you can adjust the transparency level without having to open the Sennheiser Control app. This was very convenient and allowed me to control the ambient noise level on train rides without having to unlock my phone.

The touch controls are responsive and become intuitive after a short time. It’s a shame, however, that the controls can’t be moved to the left ear cup for left-handed users. The wearer detection works well, automatically pausing playback when you remove them. I did find that the sensors are sometimes too sensitive, with the headphones resuming playback even when I simply picked them up to move them.

Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation

On paper, the technical specifications of the Momentum 4 Wireless haven’t changed drastically from those of its predecessor. The frequency response is identical, and the harmonic distortion is exemplary, a claim supported by our own measurements. The 42-millimeter drivers are incredibly powerful and deliver a voluminous sound with very present bass, without losing detail or drowning the lower mids. We would have preferred a bit more airiness in the super-high frequencies, but that’s a minor complaint.

The Sennheiser headphones impress with their characteristic sound balancing, which makes their heritage unmistakable. This applies not only to music of every genre but also to films, which the Momentum’s deep bass can impressively enhance.

Active noise cancellation has been noticeably improved, effortlessly reducing background noises like air conditioning, fans, and distant street noise. In truly loud environments, such as on a busy road or an airplane, these noises remain audible but at a significantly reduced volume.

The Momentum 4 Wireless also represents a significant improvement in telephony. The tinny voice recording of the predecessor is a thing of the past; your voice is now transmitted much more naturally, sounding only slightly nasal. While background voices are dampened, they aren’t eliminated. Thus, the voice quality is significantly better, but not as “crystal clear” as Sennheiser advertises.

Battery Life and Charging

The Momentum 4 Wireless’s biggest selling point is its 60-hour battery life, which Sennheiser claims is achievable even with noise-cancelling turned on. That’s exceptionally long, nearly double the 30 hours offered by the Sony WH-1000XM5. In fact, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has the longest battery life of any noise-cancelling headphone we’ve ever encountered.

The ability to charge these headphones once every couple of weeks at most (or once a month if you only listen for two hours a day) will make them very attractive to commuters and travelers. Even when you do need to recharge, it’s quick: a full charge takes only 2 hours, and a 5-minute fast charge provides up to 4 hours of playback.

Considering I received these headphones for review less than a week ago, I haven’t yet had enough listening time to fully drain the battery and test the claims. So far, after several hours of daily use, the battery indicator still shows 70% remaining. I’ll be monitoring the battery levels over the next few weeks and will update this review once I have more accurate data. Bookmark this page for my real-world testing findings!

Comparison: Momentum 4 vs Momentum 3 vs Sony WH-1000XM5

Feature	Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless	Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless	Sony WH-1000XM5
Design	Modern, fabric headband, foldable with swivel hinges	Retro-inspired, leather + stainless steel sliders	Sleek minimalist, non-foldable
Drivers	42mm dynamic	42mm dynamic	30mm dynamic
Frequency Response	6 Hz – 22 kHz	6 Hz – 22 kHz	20 Hz – 40 kHz
Weight	~300 g	~305 g	~250 g
Bluetooth	5.2 (SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive)	5.0 (SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX LL)	5.2 (SBC, AAC, LDAC)
Noise Cancellation	Adaptive Hybrid ANC + Transparency	Hybrid ANC	Adaptive ANC
Battery Life	Up to 60 hrs (ANC on)	Up to 17 hrs	Up to 30 hrs (ANC on)
Charging	USB-C, 5 min = 4 hrs playback	USB-C	USB-C, 3 min = 3 hrs playback
Controls	Touch + physical buttons	Physical buttons	Touch controls
App Support	Sennheiser Smart Control (EQ, sound zones, personalization)	Sennheiser Smart Control (EQ only)	Sony Headphones Connect (EQ, Adaptive Sound Control, 360 Reality Audio)
Price at Launch	$349	$399	$399

Conclusion Sennheiser Momentum 4 review

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless represents a comprehensive and significant evolution of the series. While the new, understated design is a departure from its predecessors, the improvements under the hood are undeniable.

Sennheiser has successfully addressed the key criticisms of past models. The integration of the high-quality aptX Adaptive codec, a massive 60-hour battery life, significantly improved active noise cancellation, and clear call quality make these headphones a formidable package. The sound signature remains characteristically Momentum-rich and powerful, thrilling fans of the brand without sacrificing detail.

Though competitors may have a slight edge in pure noise cancellation or codec support, the Momentum 4 Wireless excels through its remarkable balance of stellar sound, exceptional battery life, and top-tier features. They don’t just compete; they set a new benchmark for practicality and performance in the premium headphone market, earning them an Editor’s Choice award.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Price and Availability

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is available now with a recommended retail price of $449.95 USD. It can be purchased from the manufacturer’s online shop and major retailers like Amazon. You can also check for deals available on Best Buy.

As of September 16, 2025, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is available on Amazon at a 34% discount, bringing the price down to just $295, a strong deal for one of the best premium ANC headphones on the market.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Pros and Cons

Pros

• Class-leading 60-hour battery life with ANC
• Balanced, dynamic sound with deep bass
• Effective adaptive active noise cancellation
• Comfortable plush ear pads for long sessions
• Smooth, responsive touch controls
• Solid build with a sturdy hard case

Cons

• Generic design lacks the charm of the Momentum 3
• Ear cups can get warm during extended use
• The app is buggy and unreliable
• Slightly bulkier feel than the Sony WH-1000XM5

Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose & Sony

With so many awesome noise-canceling headphones out there, like Bose’s QuietComfort and Sony’s WH-1000XM line, you might be wondering how the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless holds up. Here’s the deal.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is awesome at blocking out noise, and they’re super comfy and light. But the Momentum 4’s killer feature is its insane battery life—it lasts almost twice as long on a single charge. It also lets you tweak the sound way more to your liking. So if you’re always traveling and hate plugging in, go Sennheiser. If you just want the absolute best silence money can buy on your commute, the Bose might have a slight edge.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony XM5s are fantastic. Their noise cancellation is top-notch, they’re super light, and they sound great. But the Momentum 4 really fights back with its crazy-good battery life—it just lasts way longer. Sound-wise, the Sonys are awesome, but I found the Sennheisers have a richer, more balanced sound right from the start, especially for music and vocals. So, if you want the best battery and love a great out-of-the-box sound, go Sennheiser. If you live for the strongest ANC and want all the high-tech audio codecs, you’ll be happy with the Sonys.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Sony WH-1000XM4

The Sony XM4s were legendary—awesome ANC, great sound, and they folded up. The Momentum 4 smokes them on battery life and feels more modern. But the XM4s are still a solid pick if you love that foldable design or features like speak-to-chat. Upgrading to the Momentum 4 feels like a big step forward… as long as you don’t mind a bigger case and a new look.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose QuietComfort

If you’re rocking an older pair of Bose QuietComforts (like the QC35 or QC45), the Momentum 4 is a huge leap forward. Sure, those old Bose are still super comfy and have a more relaxed sound, but the Sennheisers absolutely crush them on battery life and throw in modern perks like touch controls and way better sound customization. For anyone looking to upgrade, the Momentum 4 is the much more future-proof pick.

So, at the end Bose is the king of comfort, Sony is the ANC champ, but the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is the best all-rounder. With its insane battery life and great sound, it’s the easiest to recommend for pretty much anyone.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Specifications

• Driver Type: 42mm dynamic drivers
• Frequency Response: 6 Hz – 22 kHz
• Impedance: 60 ohms (passive mode)
• Sensitivity: 106 dB SPL (1 kHz / 1 Vrms)
• Bluetooth Version: 5.2
• Supported Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Adaptive hybrid ANC with Transparency Mode
• Battery Life: Up to 60 hours (with ANC on) / 5 minutes charge = 4 hours playback (fast charging)
• Charging Time: About 2 hours (full charge)
• Controls: Touch panel + physical buttons, voice assistant support
• Weight: 293–300 g
• Dimensions: 178 × 195 × 46 mm
• Microphones: 4 beamforming mics for calls and ANC
• App Support: Sennheiser Smart Control (EQ, sound zones, personalization mode)
• Included Accessories: Hard-shell carrying case, USB-C charging cable, audio cable (3.5mm), flight adapter

What’s in the Box

Available in Black and White, the headphones ship with:

• Momentum 4 Wireless headphones
• Hard-shell carrying case
• USB-C to USB-C charging cable
• 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable
• Airplane adapter