How much is Is the great sound worth it to you? The best wireless earbuds from Sennheiser answer this question in more ways than one. The previous version, True Wireless 3, was praised by reviewers, but some users expressed issues such as battery drain and connection problems. According to Sennheiser, the Momentum True Wireless 4 aims to address these complaints with an all-new battery system alongside “over a dozen key upgrades.”
In this context, the two earbud dropouts I experienced in the first few days of testing the MTW4 were more noticeable than the usual jitters with new earbuds. Especially since the latest pair features the exact same exterior design as the MTW3, which looks downright chunky compared to the competition in 2024. Size aside, a firmware update appears to have fixed these connection issues, and I didn’t experience any further dropouts over several days of testing.
One thing that has never been questioned about Sennheiser is the sound quality. Despite their excellent sonic pedigree, the Momentum 4 surprised me with their clarity, their sensitivity and the sheer sweetness and tenderness with which they reproduce every note. They combine this with competitive noise cancellation and a solid app. The result is a package that deserves a little trust – especially for those who value great sound.
Not so spyware
If you’re familiar with Sennheiser’s long-running Momentum range, you’ll experience déjà vu with the fourth-generation version. The buds come in a boxy case that looks like the original Momentum from 2019. Compared to cases from Apple, Sony and others, it feels downright massive. Still, you have to admire Sennheiser’s style, covering it in elegant fabric straight from the James Bond Corduroy collection.
The buds have changed over time, but Sennheiser hasn’t made any external changes over the 2022 MTW3 to maintain their “timeless aesthetic.” They definitely look premium with their angled smoked chrome housing, but timeless or not, I would have liked to see a few ergonomic improvements.
With the standard band that bends around the main body, the earbuds barely clamp down in my medium-sized ears, but swapping them out for the smaller of two replacements kept them stable and relatively comfortable for a few hours. They still feel bulbous and a little intrusive, and at 6 grams per side, they don’t quite pull off the disappearing trick of Apple’s AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED recommends) or other favorites. Four ear tip sizes let you customize the fit even more, but those with smaller ears may want to try before buying.
Lots of goodies
Photo: Ryan Waniata
Beneath their enameled chassis, the MTW4s have undergone a relatively thorough redesign, from their new battery system (and firmware to optimize it) to support for the latest Bluetooth 5.4 protocol and a new low latency mode for gaming. They are now also dust-proof and have an IP54 rating.
The battery is arguably the most important upgrade, which also includes a new vendor to ensure improved reliability. Playback time is a respectable 7.5 hours per charge and 30 hours total with the charging case. This was consistent with my testing, with the headphones lasting around seven to eight hours per charge with noise cancellation turned on.
Call quality has been improved, and AI optimization provides improved clarity via the headphones’ new Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. I didn’t notice anything special, but I never received any major complaints from others, even when talking outdoors.