The WF-1000XM4 came out in 2021, which makes most pairs in daily use senior citizens by earbud standards. The electronics age fine; the tips don't. If your XM4 lost its grip, its bass or its silence, start here before you start shopping for new earbuds.
What actually wears out
Sony shipped the XM4 with polyurethane foam-type tips. Foam seals by expanding against your ear canal, and after a few years of daily compressions it simply stops expanding. The result creeps up slowly: a bit less bass this month, a bit more street noise the next, and eventually an earbud that lets go during a brisk walk. The XM4's size makes it worse; it's one of the heavier earbuds around, and weight punishes a weak grip.
The checklist, cheapest first
- Inspect the foam. Squeeze a tip: it should rebound slowly and fully. Shiny, cracked or permanently flattened foam is finished.
- Run Sony's seal test. Headphones app, 'Determine optimal eartips'. Do it per ear; canals differ.
- Clean, but dry. Wipe tips with a dry or barely damp cloth. Never rinse foam under the tap.
- Reconsider your size. Ears change over the years (really), and a size that worked in 2021 might not be the best one now.
New foam, new earbuds (almost)
Replacing spent tips on an XM4 is the closest thing to a free upgrade: the seal comes back, and with it the bass and the noise cancelling you bought them for. Our memory foam tips for the WF-1000XM4 fit its wide nozzle and keep the earbuds fitting in the charging case:
Foam Eartips for Sony WF-1000XM4 - Memory Foam Eartips - foamigo®from €14.95View tips
Fit them right and they'll disappear in your ears:
Keep an old favorite going
A fresh set of tips, a case cleaning and a firmware update: that's the full maintenance list for keeping an XM4 excellent past its fifth birthday. When you're ready, everything that fits is on the WF-1000XM4 fit page.
Frequently asked questions
My WF-1000XM4 tips feel hard and slippery. Is that normal?
It's normal aging, not a defect. Sony's polyurethane tips compress and harden with years of use. Hard foam doesn't expand against your ear anymore, so it stops sealing and starts slipping. Replacement tips restore the original feel.
Do XM5 tips fit the WF-1000XM4?
The nozzles are close but not identical, and the XM4 is a bigger earbud with different case clearance. Use tips made for your exact model so both the seal and the charging case keep working.
Is it worth buying new tips for a four-year-old earbud?
If the battery still holds up, absolutely. The XM4's sound and ANC still compete today, and worn tips are usually the single biggest downgrade in an older pair. New tips cost a fraction of new earbuds.
Why don't manufacturers include foam eartips in the box?
Because silicone lasts practically forever. A silicone tip can be used for 5 to 10 years, so manufacturers can bundle it once and forget about it. Memory foam adapts to your ear but wears out: with daily use a set typically needs replacing after about six months, when the foam stops sealing properly. That's why foam tips are an upgrade you choose, not a default in the box.