Head to head
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
They split the 4 rankable specs evenly, so cost decides it: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $49 less.
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 WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Bose 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 WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Bose 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: 2 to 2
Tied overall. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is cheaper.
- The 4 rankable overall specs split 2 to 2.
- Saves $49 at list price.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Sony WH-1000XM4 · Yes (collapsible foldable headband)Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · No (charging case)
- Clear:Sony WH-1000XM4 · 30 hoursTrips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Trips:Sony WH-1000XM4 · No official IP ratingClear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · IPX4 sweat and water resistant
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Sony
254 g (8.95 oz)
Bose
15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Sony
Yes (HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 with Dual Noise Sensor)
Bose
Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration)
Battery life
Sony
30 hours (ANC on) / 38 hours (ANC off)
Bose
6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case
Comfort, Clamp & Travel Fit Check
Ergonomic factors that affect daily comfort, glasses wearers, and luggage space.
Folding & Travel Packability
Folds flat & inward (ultra-compact zippered case)
Standard folding earcups
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Gentle clamp force (~4.2 N, comfortable with glasses)
Standard headphone clamp
Weight & Crown Pressure
254g (lightweight plastic composite)
Standard headphone weight
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Sony: What to watch for
- Hardware Quirk
Microphones struggle significantly in windy outdoor conditions.
- Ergonomics
Shallow earcups cause ear cartilage to touch inner driver grille.
Bose: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
5 differences| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | In-ear true wireless earbuds with silicone stability bands |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 254 g (8.95 oz) | 15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | Yes (collapsible foldable headband) (wins this row: has it) | No (charging case) |
| Carrying case | Compact hard-shell zippered carrying case included | Pocket-sized hard shell charging case (USB-C) |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | IPX4 sweat and water resistant |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 40 mm dome type (CCAW Voice coil) | High-performance proprietary dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 with Dual Noise Sensor) | Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Ambient Sound Control with Quick Attention) | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) |
| Supported codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | Precise Voice Pickup Technology with 5 microphones | 4 microphones in each earbud (8 mics total for ANC and voice pickup) |
Connectivity & Battery
3 differences| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.0 multipoint for 2 devices) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint connectivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 hours (ANC on) / 38 hours (ANC off) (wins this row: higher) | 6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case |
| Charging time | 3 hours full charge (10 min quick charge gives 5 hours) | 2 hours full charge (20 min quick charge gives 2 hours); USB-C wired (wins this row: lower) |
Ownership
1 differences| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Sony WH-1000XM4
Popular folding noise-cancelling headphones with LDAC high-resolution audio, DSEE Extreme, and 30-hour battery.
- Folding headband hinges collapse smaller than the newer XM5
- Supports high-res LDAC streaming and DSEE Extreme upscaling
- Superb value with industry-tested noise cancellation
What you give up
- Microphone voice isolation trails newer XM5 in windy conditions
- Cannot use LDAC while 2-device Bluetooth multipoint is enabled
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)
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
For flights & commutes, buy the Sony WH-1000XM4.
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: Sony WH-1000XM4 ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $49 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
For flights & commutes, buy the Sony WH-1000XM4. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds takes 1. Battery life: 30 hours vs 6 hours listening time on single charge
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 10 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.