Head to head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds vs Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds leads 3 to 0 on the 3 rankable specs. Most of the 14 attributes tracked here are descriptive rather than numeric.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 0 to 3
Buy the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds.
- Leads 3 of 3 rankable overall specs.
- Weight: 11.8 g vs 15.4 g
- Battery life: 8 hours listening time with ANC on vs 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Same list price, so the spec lead is the whole story.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · No (charging case)Trips:Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds · No (compact pocket case)
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 6 hours listening time on single chargeTrips:Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds · 8 hours listening time with ANC on
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Bose
15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case
Sony
11.8 g (0.42 oz) earbuds total (5.9 g each) / 39 g charging case
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bose
Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration)
Sony
Yes (Integrated Processor V2 + HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e with dual feedback mics)
Battery life
Bose
6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case
Sony
8 hours listening time with ANC on (12 hours ANC off) / up to 24 hours total with case
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Bose: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Sony: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 1-0| Type | In-ear true wireless earbuds with silicone stability bands | In-ear true wireless earbuds with noise-isolation foam tips |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case | 11.8 g (0.42 oz) earbuds total (5.9 g each) / 39 g charging case (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (charging case) | No (compact pocket case) |
| Carrying case | Pocket-sized hard shell charging case (USB-C) | Qi wireless charging compatible case with USB-C |
| IP rating | IPX4 sweat and water resistant | IPX4 splash and sweat resistant |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | High-performance proprietary dynamic transducers | 8.4 mm Dynamic Driver X |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration) | Yes (Integrated Processor V2 + HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e with dual feedback mics) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) | Yes (Ambient Sound mode with Quick Attention and Speak-to-Chat) |
| Supported codecs | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | LDAC, LC3, AAC, SBC (Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified) |
| Microphones | 4 microphones in each earbud (8 mics total for ANC and voice pickup) | 3 microphones per earbud with bone conduction sensors and AI noise reduction |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint connectivity) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint for 2 devices simultaneously) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case | 8 hours listening time with ANC on (12 hours ANC off) / up to 24 hours total with case (wins this row: higher) |
| Charging time | 2 hours full charge (20 min quick charge gives 2 hours); USB-C wired | 1.5 hours full charge (3 min quick charge gives 60 mins playback); Qi wireless or USB-C (wins this row: lower) |
Ownership
0 differences| Warranty | 1 year manufacturer warranty | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Premium true wireless earbuds with world-class noise cancellation, CustomTune personalized sound, and Bose Immersive Audio spatialized sound.
- Benchmark active noise cancellation that silences low and mid-frequency ambient noise
- CustomTune technology calibrates sound and ANC to your ear canal shape on every insertion
- Bose Immersive Audio provides spatialized audio regardless of source or platform
What you give up
- Wireless charging case cover is sold as an optional accessory (USB-C wired standard)
- Battery life drops to 4 hours with Immersive Audio turned on (6 hours standard)
Pick this one if
Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds
Flagship true wireless earbuds with Integrated Processor V2, HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e, Dynamic Driver X, and LDAC Hi-Res Audio Wireless.
- Dual processors (QN2e + V2) provide stellar active noise cancellation across all frequencies
- Dynamic Driver X delivers wide frequency response and deep rich bass with LDAC Hi-Res support
- Compact 25% smaller and 20% lighter design than previous XM4 generation with polyurethane foam tips
What you give up
- Polyurethane noise-isolation foam tips require a rolling squeeze technique to fit properly
- Glossy edge finish can make earbuds slightly slippery to grip from case
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
For flights & commutes, buy the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets. Only battery life is rankable here.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ↗ · Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds?
Both list at the same price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds?
Both has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds?
For flights & commutes, buy the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds. Leads 2 of 2 rankable flights & commutes specs. Battery life: 8 hours listening time with ANC on vs 6 hours listening time on single charge
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 11 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.