TechAudioHeadphonesPhilips Fidelio L4 review: over-ear indulgenceOver-ear ANC headphones aren’t short of competition, but Philips' Fidelio L4 can go head-to-head with the bestWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with stacks of features and highly accomplished sound then the Philips Fidelio L4 clearly hold their own against the key competition. However, they are on the larger side, so at-home use is preferential, while some disconnect issues hold them back from perfect. Still, the price is right against key Sony, Bose and Bowers competition.Reasons to buy+Big, warm sound & capable active noise-cancelling (ANC)+Nice accompanying app with customisation options+Love the touch-controlsReasons to avoid-Intermittent disconnection issues-Significant competition at this price-ANC when outdoors and Transparency less accomplishedWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechAudioHeadphonesPhilips Fidelio L4 review: over-ear indulgenceOver-ear ANC headphones aren’t short of competition, but Philips' Fidelio L4 can go head-to-head with the bestWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with stacks of features and highly accomplished sound then the Philips Fidelio L4 clearly hold their own against the key competition. However, they are on the larger side, so at-home use is preferential, while some disconnect issues hold them back from perfect. Still, the price is right against key Sony, Bose and Bowers competition.Reasons to buy+Big, warm sound & capable active noise-cancelling (ANC)+Nice accompanying app with customisation options+Love the touch-controlsReasons to avoid-Intermittent disconnection issues-Significant competition at this price-ANC when outdoors and Transparency less accomplishedWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Over-ear ANC headphones aren’t short of competition, but Philips' Fidelio L4 can go head-to-head with the best
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with stacks of features and highly accomplished sound then the Philips Fidelio L4 clearly hold their own against the key competition. However, they are on the larger side, so at-home use is preferential, while some disconnect issues hold them back from perfect. Still, the price is right against key Sony, Bose and Bowers competition.Reasons to buy+Big, warm sound & capable active noise-cancelling (ANC)+Nice accompanying app with customisation options+Love the touch-controlsReasons to avoid-Intermittent disconnection issues-Significant competition at this price-ANC when outdoors and Transparency less accomplished
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with stacks of features and highly accomplished sound then the Philips Fidelio L4 clearly hold their own against the key competition. However, they are on the larger side, so at-home use is preferential, while some disconnect issues hold them back from perfect. Still, the price is right against key Sony, Bose and Bowers competition.Reasons to buy+Big, warm sound & capable active noise-cancelling (ANC)+Nice accompanying app with customisation options+Love the touch-controlsReasons to avoid-Intermittent disconnection issues-Significant competition at this price-ANC when outdoors and Transparency less accomplished
T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with stacks of features and highly accomplished sound then the Philips Fidelio L4 clearly hold their own against the key competition. However, they are on the larger side, so at-home use is preferential, while some disconnect issues hold them back from perfect. Still, the price is right against key Sony, Bose and Bowers competition.
T3 Verdict
If you’re looking for a pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with stacks of features and highly accomplished sound then the Philips Fidelio L4 clearly hold their own against the key competition. However, they are on the larger side, so at-home use is preferential, while some disconnect issues hold them back from perfect. Still, the price is right against key Sony, Bose and Bowers competition.
Reasons to buy+Big, warm sound & capable active noise-cancelling (ANC)+Nice accompanying app with customisation options+Love the touch-controlsReasons to avoid-Intermittent disconnection issues-Significant competition at this price-ANC when outdoors and Transparency less accomplished
Reasons to buy+Big, warm sound & capable active noise-cancelling (ANC)+Nice accompanying app with customisation options+Love the touch-controls
Big, warm sound & capable active noise-cancelling (ANC)
Nice accompanying app with customisation options
Love the touch-controls
Reasons to avoid-Intermittent disconnection issues-Significant competition at this price-ANC when outdoors and Transparency less accomplished
Intermittent disconnection issues
Significant competition at this price
ANC when outdoors and Transparency less accomplished
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
If you’ve been considering buying a pair ofthe best active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphonesthen you’ll likely already know that the market isn’t short of competition. Philips needn’t shy away from itsSonyorBoseor Bowers competition, though, as its Fidelio L4 over-ears on review here have some seriously sophisticated features and deliver indulgent sound.
I’ve been using the Philips Fidelio L4 for a number of weeks, during which time I’ve been able to compare them against a number of key competitors (Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones,Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e) – both indoors and out, at the desk versus on public transport of various kinds – to see how Philips' altogether bulkier over-ears fit into the current crop ofbest headphones.
Philips Fidelio L4: Price & Availability
Today’s best Philips Fidelio L4 deals1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆$299.99$199.99ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Philips Fidelio L4 deals1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆$299.99$199.99ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Philips Fidelio L4 deals
1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆
1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆
$299.99$199.99View
$299.99$199.99View
$299.99$199.99View
$299.99$199.99View
$299.99$199.99
$199.99
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
The Fidelio L4 was due on sale towards the end of October 2023, but stock with retailers was clearly held back – when they do go on sale the price is expected to be £349/$349 (no AU$ price available at the time of writing).
That’s means the L4 see a UK price increase compared to their predecessors, but in the bigger context of the ANC headphones market it’s still competitive – after all theSony WH-1000XM5were £379 at launch, while Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones demand a lofty £449.
Philips Fidelio L4 review: What’s New?
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
If you were to place the Philips Fidelio L4 next to their older L3 equivalent then you’d not spot massive variations in appearance. However, the new model is marginally larger for an even better fit, with deeper earcups as a result to accommodate more types of ear shapes and sizes. Material changes see the weight drop from 360g to 330g, which is closer to 8% than the claimed 10%.
While both the Fidelio L4 and L3 both feature the same battery capacities (800mAh), the change from lithium-polymer in the older cans to lithium-ion in the newer model means a performance boost is possible. That’s on multiple fronts: battery life with ANC active is up from 32 to 40 hours – a massive 25% jump – while the new battery format means faster-charging too, so 15 minutes at the plug will give you 12 hours of ANC listening.
The active noise-cancelling system is also said to be improved in the Fidelio L4, largely down to microphone placement for better call quality and avoid wind tear when it’s windy outside. There’s a more robust Philips Headphones app to make ANC and equalisation (EQ) adjustments (and more) too.
Philips Fidelio L4 review: Design & Usability
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
The thing about the Fidelio L4 that’s going to be reason to buy or reason to avoid is their physical scale. While I wouldn’t call thesemassiveheadphones, having gotten used to wearing the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones means the Philips product feels much larger – because that’s the truth of the matter. For some this deeper earcup proposition will be the better solution, though, it simply depends on your preference.
For myself, I like wearing the Fidelio L4 most when at home, as they’re supremely comfortable. The comfort factor doesn’t dissipate when elsewhere, of course, but I’ve found when on the go that critical earcup positioning can slip around – these larger openings mean you need to ensure your ears sit in a relevant position to the 40mm drivers – and as wind tear with ANC active isn’t especially great at avoiding resulting distortions, I’ve found these to not be my favourite out-and-about headphones.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
From a control perspective the Fidelio L4 are kitted out with a trio of buttons: on/off on the left earcup; voice assistant control and ANC/Transparency controls on the right earcup (there’s a 2.5mm jack next to these for wired listening). The buttons are small and quite close together, but this avoids them getting in the way of an otherwise clean aesthetic.
Better than the physical buttons, and a personal preference of mine, is the touch-based controls. You can turn these off in the app if you don’t wish to use them, or find accidental touch an issue, but for me they’re firmly set to on. An easy tap on the right earcup can turn the volume up or down, while a swipe can skip through tracks in a playlist. I loved this in my oldBose 700 Headphonesand was sad the Bose QC Ultra Headphones dropped the feature – so hurrah to Philips.
Philips Fidelio L4 review: Features & Performance
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
The Philips Fidelio L4 house plenty of features, most of which are easily accessible and visible within the Philips Headphones app. There’s an extensive list of highlights: from LDAC enabling (for Hi-Res quality), to auto-play/pause, those touch controls, a Spatial Audio sound enhancer, ANC ‘Noise Control Settings’ adjustment, even access to the user manual and a quick-start guide to help you when running into difficulty.
The performance of the L4 does depend on a variety of factors though: namely you’ll want to have ANC switched on for the most engaged listening experience. It just brings the bass up a touch and makes everythingfeellike you’re more part of the music. If things are still too lightweight then a comprehensive six-band equaliser means you can adjust the sound profile as you wish (or pick from pre-sets instead).
The ANC is very effective at cancelling out external sounds when it’s active. However, I find its ‘Awareness’ option thins the sound, irrelevant of the five-level Transparency slider’s position within the app – for me this is one to avoid as it also sounds overprocessed. In total silence the ANC is also ‘fizzy’ and audible, so you can hear that these headphones are keenly processing at all times (perhaps overly keen – as I’ve had better experiences on planes, for example, with the Bose option (I took both long-haul to Los Angeles and the Philips didn’t win that fight in testing)).
(Image credit: Philips / Future)
(Image credit: Philips / Future)
However, there’s one irksome ‘but’ that I’ve found time and again – intermittently and unpredictably – is with connectivity issues. I’ve had Bluetooth disconnects whilst walking (auto-on/off sensor playing up?). I’ve had others whilst static on planes (too much surrounding interference?). This is from multiple sources and it’s the one thing holding these cans back from a full score.
Philips Fidelio L4 review: Verdict
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
If you’re looking for a pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with stacks of features and highly accomplished sound then the Philips Fidelio L4 clearly hold their own against the key competition.
Also consider
If you want a similarly large-scale product then the previous generation Fidelio L3 model will save you triple figures. Alternatively there’s theSennheiser Momentum 4 Wirelessat a similar price with superb battery life and ANC to boot. Or, again great for at-home, is theBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2– now at a great price because the S2e model has hit the shops.
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Philips Fidelio L3 and Philips Fidelio L4 dealsSony WH-1000XM5$399.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$250ViewSee all pricesSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$329.95ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L3$362ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L4$299.99$199.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Philips Fidelio L3 and Philips Fidelio L4 dealsSony WH-1000XM5$399.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$250ViewSee all pricesSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$329.95ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L3$362ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L4$299.99$199.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Philips Fidelio L3 and Philips Fidelio L4 dealsSony WH-1000XM5$399.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$250ViewSee all pricesSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$329.95ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L3$362ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L4$299.99$199.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers Wilkins PX7 S2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Philips Fidelio L3 and Philips Fidelio L4 deals
Sony WH-1000XM5$399.99$279.95ViewSee all pricesBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$250ViewSee all pricesSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$329.95ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L3$362ViewSee all pricesPhilips Fidelio L4$299.99$199.99ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM5$399.99$279.95ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM5$399.99$279.95ViewSee all prices
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony WH-1000XM5
$399.99$279.95View
$399.99$279.95
$279.95
See all prices
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$250ViewSee all prices
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2$399$250ViewSee all prices
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
$399$250View
$399$250
$250
See all prices
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$329.95ViewSee all prices
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$329.95ViewSee all prices
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
$329.95View
$329.95
$329.95
See all prices
Philips Fidelio L3$362ViewSee all prices
Philips Fidelio L3$362ViewSee all prices
Philips Fidelio L3
Philips Fidelio L3
$362View
$362
$362
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Philips Fidelio L4$299.99$199.99ViewSee all prices
Philips Fidelio L4$299.99$199.99ViewSee all prices
Philips Fidelio L4
Philips Fidelio L4
$299.99$199.99View
$299.99$199.99
$199.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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