Sony and Bose have dominated premium noise-cancelling headphones for a decade. Both now have updated flagship models — the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen — both priced at $449. Here is what actually separates them.

Sony WH-1000XM6 — TechRadar 4.5/5 · The Verge: Editor's Choice Award

The Sony WH-1000XM6 (May 2025, $449) redesigned the hinge from the XM5 — it now folds flat, which was the XM5's most criticised weakness. Noise cancellation is improved, call quality microphones are better, and LDAC codec support gives Android users access to hi-res wireless audio. Battery life is a consistent Sony strength — the XM5 predecessor lasted nearly 32 hours with ANC on in independent testing. TechRadar awarded 4.5/5 and The Verge gave it an Editor's Choice Award.

🛒 Sony WH-1000XM6 on Amazon 🟦 Best Buy

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen — GearLab 88/100 · RTINGS: "Remarkable noise isolation"

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen (October 2025, $449) adds lossless USB-C audio — a genuine first for Bose — alongside Cinema Mode for dialogue clarity and an improved adaptive ANC algorithm. GearLab awarded 88/100 and RTINGS praised the "remarkable noise isolation." The earcups are the most comfortable of any headphone we have encountered — the kind of comfort that makes a long journey feel short. Bose's Immersive Audio spatial sound is also more convincing than Sony's equivalent.

🛒 Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen on Amazon 🟦 Best Buy

What about earbuds?

Both brands make flagship earbuds worth considering. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen ($299) earned TechRadar 5/5 and PCMag Editors' Choice. The Sony WF-1000XM6 ($299) earned TechRadar 4/5 and RTINGS 8.1/10. For earbuds specifically, Bose leads on ANC performance in 2026.

🛒 Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen 🛒 Sony WF-1000XM6

The Verdict

Both headphones cost $449 and both perform at the top of the category. The gap between them is real but narrow — which side you fall on depends on what you value most day to day.

Our Choice: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen

This is a genuinely close call — and we want to be honest about that. But for most people, headphones are worn for hours at a stretch, and the Bose earcups are in a different class for extended wear. There is a point on a long flight where Sony headphones start to press uncomfortably, and the Bose ones do not. The lossless USB-C audio is a meaningful addition for desk listening. And Cinema Mode — which clarifies dialogue over background sound — is more useful than it sounds. Sony wins on battery life and Android codec support, and if those matter to you, the XM6 is the right call. But if you plan to wear these for hours without thinking about them, Bose is the one you will reach for first.

Sources: TechRadar, The Verge, GearLab, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, SoundGuys.