Well, I have almost a month of experience with these, I choose to start with the negatives because it will take less. They are bigger than you think, much bigger than they appear in photos, consider that they cover the entire inside of the ear. But this is a matter of preference, the real negative they have is that due to their size, if they are not properly inserted into the ear, they are likely to fall unexpectedly and I can say from experience that they bounce a lot. It's not difficult to insert them correctly, it just takes a few days to get used to it. But here the negatives stop. They have amazing noise cancelling and ambient modes that you can switch from the left earbud while the right one is used as a pause and play for videos and for accepting and rejecting calls. The battery is satisfactory, as a person who wears them almost all day, I charge the case once a week, and the earbuds themselves have a battery life of at least 8 hours each. Sound quality is excellent, and they can be connected to the Sony app to easily change the equalizer and to automatically adjust the noise cancelling and ambient according to the shape of the ear. I have no complaints about the Bluetooth connection, pairing is quick on all devices and they automatically connect when you take them out of the case. I can say they are worth their price, although I would recommend waiting for a discount, 350 is a lot of money

Good experience overall.
The sound is excellent, the fit is very good for me at least.
The battery has never run out so far, but I mainly use it in the office/home, so there's always a charger nearby.
I haven't figured out if the ANC is good or not because this is my first experience with ANC headphones. It cancels out office sounds like machine noises very satisfactorily, keyboard and mouse clicks to a good extent, but it's not a problem if they can still be heard. However, speech and the voice of the person next to me sound like they're on the other side of the office. For now, I am satisfied with the ANC.

On the negative side, the case seems to be of very mediocre quality. I have the impression that it will break the first time it falls. Although the headphones are of very good quality, the case doesn't seem to be...

The big negative is that it doesn't easily connect to Windows 11. Neither on my desktop nor on my laptop with Bluetooth, the sound keeps cutting off and there's interference. For now, I have only managed to connect them to an Android mobile

Strange experience. On one hand, the sound is among the best I have ever heard in my life. The headphones provide an amazing music experience. No complaints on that front.

The battery is okay, the case is okay, as well as the charging. Overall, the headphones are flawless in terms of functionality.

However, I have two complaints:

1. Personally, the fit was not what I would have liked for my ear. I constantly felt like they were about to fall out, which was incredibly annoying. They didn't suit me, especially when walking, as I constantly felt like they were outside of my ear.

2. Active Noise Cancelling: The ANC is either good or bad. Nothing in between. Speaking for myself, I wanted the ANC to be able to hear music clearly while walking. Unfortunately, it didn't work that way. The headphones constantly picked up the impact of my shoes on the floor and transmitted it into my head. Walking was completely impossible with ANC, as every step resulted in impacts in my head. Highly irritating. So, of course, I turned off the ANC and used them normally. Which, of course, defeats the whole purpose of the headphones, as various city sounds passed through normally and the detailed sound quality disappeared, which is like using $20 headphones.

So, I gave them as a gift to my audiophile father, who didn't have the first problem and told me that he rarely notices the second one. Maybe the second one is caused by a bad fit?

In conclusion, if you read this review, think about the fit in your ears and what use you want to make of them. I would buy them again if my purpose was simply to listen to music at home, on the bus, airplane, etc., but not for walking.

For my purposes, the WH-1000XM4 headphones turned out much better with superior ANC and perfect fit.

1.

User here for a year and a half. You will hear various things before you buy them. If you have a good ear and understand quality, then these are the ideal headphones. Why:
-Huge battery life
-Amazing quality
-Comfort
-Great range
-Flawless software...meaning. The headphones disconnect and turn off automatically without consuming battery. Moisture recognition so that the touch buttons are not accidentally pressed.
-They withstand water and dust
-They block any loud external sound, such as a horn, so as not to scare or harm you

After using the AirPods Pro 2, I have to say that I will return them to buy the xm4 again.

Important note. Sony released version 1.4.2 which broke the charging of the headphones, resulting in permanent battery damage. Unfortunately, Sony ruins it for us here. The new models come with 1.6.1 software, which does not have this problem. So in the end, I paid 280 (that's how much they were when they came out) and they lasted for a year and something. Despite this problem, I would buy them again because they are the best headphones.

I consider that for the 200 euros that I paid, it is a very mediocre purchase and I do not recommend it. The build quality of the headphones is good, but the case is unacceptable for this price. The previous Galaxy Buds that I had had much better build quality and I bought them for half the price. As for the positives, the sound is excellent, but they are not comfortable for prolonged use as your ears get warm. Now, the noise canceling is good, but I think it is a bit overrated. Personally, I had never tried headphones with noise canceling before and I probably had very high expectations. It's not something amazing, you just hear the surrounding noises more quietly, like if someone is talking normally two meters away, you just hear it less. For me, don't buy them for this price. For iPhone, it's better to get the AirPods Pro, and for Android, get the Galaxy Buds Pro.

Update:
After a year of use, the battery in the right earbud drains twice as fast as the left one. I returned them to the store and within the warranty period, they sent them to Sony for repair. After a few days, they told me that they couldn't be fixed and refunded my money. The battery issue has happened to many people and has not been fixed so far. Stay away. Also, after less than 3 months of use, the ear tips broke.

These headphones are not intended for the average user. So let's start with the positives: Very good build quality, except for the case door which could be more sturdy. The sound and noise cancelling are both very good. In terms of battery life, you simply forget that you have to charge them (personally, I expect the battery to run out before I stop using them for the first time). The connectivity is also good, I didn't experience any interruptions. Unfortunately, Sony didn't pay attention to the details and that's where it loses a lot... and let me explain. The ambient sound is unacceptable compared to headphones of much lower value, and the microphone quality is also unacceptable to the point where you have to use your phone's microphone. The weight and size are also a bit prohibitive for people with small ears (justifiably so if you want such sound performance and battery life). In conclusion, if what you want is the best sound and battery life (I say this with reservation) that you can find out there and you can overlook some minor software issues and their size, then go for them without hesitation.

I really want to find (and search for) reasons to justify the money I spent, €230, but it's not easy. And it's not easy when I know that if I accept a call while wearing them, it would be better to take them off and answer normally from my mobile because it's not the fault of anyone on the other end of the line, and it's also annoying for me to hear "speak louder," "I can't understand what you're saying," especially when it happens while I'm at home, alone, in complete silence... where I should be outside on the street.

What's the point of having good sound when it's so bad during calls, because if it's not "bluetooth handsfree" they shouldn't sell it as such. These are the most significant disadvantages for me, and I'll continue below.

Before judging sound, ANC, application... make sure you have found the correct size pads.
Unfortunately, Sony's choice to use only memory foam ear pads (I read that the XM3 had various sizes of silicone along with the memory foam in the packaging) is a bit problematic because the fit is not easy. I don't see it as self-centered, but in my case, for example, the medium-sized ones that fit better are not able to keep the headphones in place, and most importantly, they are not able to have the proper fit for the speaker to function correctly and ALSO allow the ANC to work properly. I have achieved better results, not perfect, by replacing the memory foam with some random silicone from my old Bluetooth headphones, and I am waiting for a set of different sizes of silicone that I ordered from a foreign website to see if I can achieve something better. I have never had an issue with in-ear headphones, so apparently there is nothing so strange about the physiology of my ear.

The sound is good, mainly neutral, which is desirable. There are times when you would like to have more volume... mainly to balance out pieces that are at a lower level, but IF the ANC is working properly (correct application of the pads), it's not a big problem.

Regarding ANC, I read that it is "the ultimate"... it requires attention because "you can't hear anything on the street"... what comes to mind is that it's probably the first time they are using headphones with ANC, and it's their first reaction of amazement without having a point of comparison. I won't say that the ANC in the XM4 is not satisfactory, but in no way does it compare, for example, to the Bose QuietComfort 20 that I have had for almost 5 years (5 years behind in technology)...

Anyway...

I don't consider them worth the money because at this price, they should at least deliver decently on everything they promise, and in conversations, they are simply unacceptable.

We are talking about the most overrated headphones on the market. I waited a long time to find them on sale. Many websites consider them the top headphones for Android. Maybe they were when they first came out. However, I tried the Samsung Buds Pro before these and I consider them superior. The Sony headphones are definitely not worth their money. The sound is indeed a bit louder, a bit clearer, and the bass is a bit stronger. For music lovers, yes, maybe they are the best, they have incredible sound quality, which is very important, but it's not the only thing that matters.

First and foremost, they are phone headphones, and phone headphones are mainly used for calls. And let me explain, one thing is the ability of the headphone to isolate external noise from the caller and another is for the user to be heard clearly by the caller. When the user can hear clearly and has the impression that the headphones are good, but the caller doesn't hear the same, it's a problem. Reviewers should also do this test, give the headphones to a colleague and call them while walking next to a busy street. But they don't do it, they only listen to music in their own space, maybe they rarely try the ANC in noise.

That's where good headphones show their quality in a noisy call environment, and unfortunately, these Sony headphones are not among them. No matter how much you don't care what others hear, if they can't hear you clearly, communication is impossible! Sony claims that they have a chip with machine learning that learns your voice and improves over time, the amplification of your voice does improve a bit over time, but it's far behind what Samsung achieves from the first use.

Second flaw, the Pass through or ambient sound is a joke. All these headphones try to isolate external noise so that the user can listen to music clearly. But not everyone lives with 15 people in the same house and wants headphones to find their peace, in some countries, this happens and that's their only concern. Some of us wear headphones when we go to work or for a walk. Maybe in Japan, there are no stray animals or motorbikes going the wrong way on a one-way street, but in Greece, these things happen and it's a life-threatening danger to have headphones in full transparency mode, to completely cover such sounds and leave the user exposed to danger.

If someone has tried Samsung or Apple headphones in such a situation, they will understand how embarrassing it is for Sony to have these headphones at this price... You can't have a conversation in a noisy place because you can't be heard, you can't walk on the street or run in a park with these, ready to answer a call at any moment because neither will you be heard if you answer, nor will you hear an impending danger next to you.

These headphones only deliver quality music with good battery life and nothing else, for calls, look elsewhere. Having tried the Samsung Buds 2 Pro, there is finally the ultimate solution. Power and sound quality comparable to Sony, better application and connectivity, much better call quality, and the Pass through feature is divine compared to these. The only thing I miss is the battery, but the difference is not that big if you consider the size and weight. And the Sony Linkbuds S have better call quality but not better sound.

Well...let's see...

Positives:
Quality construction.
Connected very easily.
Very good noise cancellation.
Very good sound.

Negatives:
They could be a bit cheaper.
I wanted a bit more volume. My galaxy buds pro are much louder.
Confusing and difficult to use application.
And what bothered me the most is (unless I haven't found it in the application yet, although I don't think so), you can't "lock" accidental touches in any way and if you try to adjust them again at some point, you may accidentally pause the music.

Also, I can't wear them with a helmet when riding a motorcycle for the above reason.
They get pressed and turn off. So for the motorcycle, I stick with the pro, which also do an excellent job in everything.

Finally, a tip for all those who complain about their application.

You will initially find the eartips a bit bulky for the ear.
However, since they are memory foam tips, the correct way to wear them is as follows.

You press them initially, holding them with your fingers, you wear them and then they take the shape they should inside the ear, covering the gaps for proper sound isolation.

1.

I also bought them during the amazing black Friday sale. However, I give them 4 stars because I have insecurity about their fit in my ears, as there are times when it feels like something is pushing them out and I think they will fall off. Note that I chose the S size tips for a better fit, but there is still some difficulty. The sound is great, although the instructions do not mention Siri support on the iPhone. However, when you wear them on the left, regardless of the settings you have made in the app, you need to press for a few seconds and then you hear the familiar sound of Siri. The options it offers in the Equalizer are plenty and you can create your own.
Also, what bothers me quite a bit is that there are times when the incoming call does not transfer to the headphones, as if they disconnect, and when I finish the call, they reconnect. This mainly happens when I am listening to music.

Edit 24/12: Even with the small ear tips, they don't fit properly at all. I tried using other headphones, but in the end, when I took them out, the ear tip remained inside my ear and I freaked out because I struggled for a while to remove it

I will not talk about the positive aspects that previous reviewers have mentioned. I will focus on the points that are far from perfection.
1. Application (app): Sometimes it has some glitches. I play music with the UAPP and even though it shows that it's playing, I can't hear anything. I need to restart my phone (OnePlus Nord) and then it's okay.
Update: The latest firmware update (1.2.6) solved this problem, which was the main issue. Now I give it an excellent rating in terms of connectivity.
Update 2: Another point of criticism for the application is the equalizer, which only has a few settings, just 5. I believe it would be better with more options.
2. I would like the material around the headphones to be less smooth for better grip (a bit rougher or stickier in the hand).
3. I would also like a combination of gestures for "answer/end call" and "volume adjustment" on either earbud. You can't have both active at the same time.
4. The quality of the case is good (good plastic), it closes securely and doesn't slip in the hand, but it's not on the same level as the headphones. It seems a bit fragile and falls short compared to similar implementations by competitors (e.g. Klipsch), which are metallic.

Overall, I think the most discussed issue is the size and fit in the ear. The medium-sized tips that are already placed on the headphones fit perfectly for me, and I never felt any risk of them falling out of my ears. Also, I haven't experienced any pain or discomfort in my ears while wearing them.

Other than that, if you have the budget, don't hesitate at all, especially during Black Friday, it was a great opportunity. I don't regret it at all.

Update 2: The connection issue returned with the 1.3.3 update, not as severe but it's still there. I don't know if it's the headphones, the device, or the application. It's probably the latter because I randomly discovered that the headphones are connected properly, I can make and receive calls without any problem, and as soon as I end the call, the music starts playing without any issue.
Also, regarding the connection, it's good (for those familiar with Developer Options on Android) to leave the LDAC codec on Auto. If you set it to the highest setting (990 kbps), there are some connection issues. Auto works just fine. If you haven't dealt with this setting, you won't encounter any problems.

Update 3: The problem became more pronounced with the subsequent updates of the phone and headphones, and the headphones were checked by Sony's service, but no hardware issue was found. OnePlus is not responsive. If you have one of the two (phone or headphones), don't get the other. I'm considering either changing the headphones or the phone (leaning towards the latter). It's a shame because the headphones have excellent sound quality, but the usability issue cancels it out.

Update 4: With the 9.0 version of the application, the connection issue improved significantly, around 80% if I have to quantify it. If there are any further changes, I will mention them in the future.

Final update: The BT connection issue was resolved with some updates from OnePlus. However, based on my experience, newer versions of OnePlus have a high chance of having new bugs, so I would recommend that those who have a OnePlus device should not purchase them.
As for one of the considered downsides of the headphones, which is the multipoint function and simultaneous connection to two devices, Sony announced that they will add it with an update in winter 22/23. So another point in favor of the headphones.
Overall, I am very satisfied with them and I highly recommend them.

Update post-final: Changing phones from OnePlus to Samsung, there is no functional issue (connectivity or otherwise). The multipoint connection works flawlessly and there really is no reason (aside from ear anatomy reasons) to switch to a different type of headphone.

I also bought the headphones at the excellent Black Friday price of €179. I use them constantly and since the other reviews have covered me summarily, I will only note: the sound is very good and customizable, the noise-cancelling is very good, but the ambient sound pass-through is also incredibly useful for those who walk or run on the road - excellent. The connection rarely cuts off unnecessarily, with the option to choose between sound quality and connection stability that definitely never cuts off. They are not waterproof, but they are splashproof. However, it is known that waterproof ones that have been released lose in sound quality. The only negative point is the tips of the headphones, which you either get used to or, like I did, replace them.....

Update 28/09/2023
Unfortunately, after the latest updates, the battery life has dropped to half an hour with difficulty! For repair or replacement in general, so as not to bother the seller, it is difficult. Unacceptable condition! I'm very sorry, but with such a price, even with the discount I bought them at, I will not buy Sony again!

I got them on Black Friday discount for €179, which was an excellent price. It was important to me to have good ANC (active noise cancelling) since I constantly commute due to school. As soon as you put them on, you can hardly hear anything, even with music playing in the metro. The sound quality is excellent as it supports LDAC and has great bass and treble (it also has a regular equalizer in the app). The tip is made of memory foam, which is very comfortable and fits well even with a mask.

The surface is touch sensitive with commands that can be adjusted through the app. Due to the shape of the earphones, you can customize them to fit your ear if they move without accidentally pressing them.

The battery life is at least 4-4.5 hours with LDAC, DSEE (which corrects the sound quality in compressed files), and ANC, and the case charges them 2-3 times from empty (on a commute lasting 1-1.5 hours, it loses 20% at a sound level of 70 on Samsung). I haven't checked the charging speed, but generally, they say it charges quickly. With the case at 0% and the earphones also at 0%, it fully charges in 2.5-3 hours.

The connection speed is satisfactory (it connects within 3 seconds once I put them in my ear). The app used to adjust them is easy to use.

As for the negatives, in the 3 weeks that I have them, I noticed that the lid of the case plays a little and makes a noise if you shake it. After 3-4 hours, at least for me who is not used to this style of in-ear, it slightly bothers my ear. Lastly, in some stops on line 3, when both trains are at the station and the app's priority is set to sound quality, there were some small interruptions in the sound without disconnecting.

Other than that, it comes with 3 sizes of memory foam (small, medium, large) with the medium ones already placed, and a small charging cable. I am fully satisfied with my purchase. (The earphones are mainly used with a Samsung Galaxy S10+ phone)