Head to head
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
The two best noise cancelling headphones, and a genuinely close call.
The short answer
Sony for flights and engine drone, Bose if you wear them all day and comfort matters more than the last few decibels.
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- 9.2 out of 10 · from $288
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- 8.9 out of 10 · from $369
Sony
Sony WH-1000XM5
Best-in-class cancellation and comfort, let down only by a case that no longer folds flat.
Performance9.4
Value for money8.7
Design and build8.6
Reliability8.9
Pros
- Class-leading low-frequency noise cancellation
- Thirty hours of battery life
- Excellent call quality
Cons
- Case no longer folds flat
- Build feels cheap for the price
8.9
Bose still wins on comfort and spatial audio, and trades a little battery life to get there.
Performance9.0
Value for money8.3
Design and build9.1
Reliability8.7
Pros
- The most comfortable fit in the category
- Immersive Audio is genuinely worth using
- Best cancellation of sudden sounds
Cons
- Shorter battery life than the Sony
- No wired lossless option
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