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Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: Battle of the ANC heavyweights
May 15, 2025
Sony’s WH-1000XM-series headphones have dominated the noise canceling conversation for years, and the WH-1000XM6 enters the ring with a slew of refinements. Meanwhile, Bose isn’t letting its crown slip quietly, with the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones standing in the red corner as a powerful contender, boasting aptX Lossless, Snapdragon Sound, and personalized tuning designed to lead the charge into the next wave of wireless audio.
Both headphones bring premium sound quality, impressive ANC, and future-ready wireless features — all for over $400. We’ve tested both extensively and compared everything from comfort and connectivity to battery life, microphones, and sound. So, which pair is actually worth your hard-earned money? Let’s break it down.
This article was originally published on May 15, 2025, and this is the first version.
What’s it like to use the Sony WH-1000XM6 compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
In terms of day-to-day wear, Bose wins the comfort round hands down. Their name isn’t just branding — the QuietComfort Ultras really are ultra-comfortable. They have ample, plush padding and a spacious earcup design that’s easy to wear for hours, even on long flights. I’ve slept in them on the plane without issue. Sony, by comparison, uses thinner, more rigid padding and shallower earcups. The ANC mic even protrudes from the mesh coverings inside the earcups, which can rub against your ear — and yes, that gets uncomfortable fast.
That said, Sony clearly took notes from Bose’s playbook with the XM6 design. Gone is the old lay-flat format — the XM6 now folds just like the QuietComfort Ultra and fits nearly identically in its carrying case. Control-wise, both headphones use swipe gestures, though in different spots: Sony uses the right earcup’s outer panel, while Bose tucks a touch-sensitive strip underneath the earcup edge. Both take a bit of practice, but are easy enough once you get used to them. There’s no IP rating for either headphones, so you’ll want to keep them dry.
| INPUT | Right earcup surface |
|---|---|
Double tap | Play / pause |
Long press | Voice assistant |
Swipe up / Down | Volume up / down |
Swipe forward / back | Track forward / back |
Cup hand | Passthrough mode |
| Action | Multi-function button | Bluetooth / Power button | Volume strip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action Single tap | Multi-function button Play / pause | Bluetooth / Power button Battery level check | Volume strip N/A |
| Action Double tap | Multi-function button Track forward | Bluetooth / Power button N/A | Volume strip N/A |
| Action Triple tap | Multi-function button Track backward | Bluetooth / Power button N/A | Volume strip N/A |
| Action Long press | Multi-function button ANC mode change | Bluetooth / Power button On / off | Volume strip Shortcut (define in app) |
| Action Swipe | Multi-function button N/A | Bluetooth / Power button N/A | Volume strip Volume up / down |
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have more features?
If you’re all about tweaking and customizing your experience, Sony’s Connect app blows Bose’s Music app out of the water. You get a 10-band EQ, spatial audio tuning, head gesture controls, DSEE Extreme, a volume limiter, and much more. It’s a playground for audio nerds and power users.
Bose takes a simpler route. You get a basic 3-band EQ, immersive audio modes, and some shortcut customization — but not a lot more. For most users, that may be fine, but if you want more granular control, Sony gives you far more room to fine-tune your audio experience.
How do the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones connect?
Both headphones use Bluetooth 5.3 and support Auracast, which is becoming increasingly relevant for public LE Audio broadcasts. You’ll also get LE Audio and all the standard codecs — SBC and AAC — but the real split comes down to high-resolution wireless.
Sony supports LDAC, which works best with many Android phones for detailed, higher-bitrate playback. Bose, on the other hand, supports aptX Lossless and Snapdragon Sound, which may be preferable depending on your phone. Unfortunately, neither headphone supports wired USB-C audio, but both offer a 3.5mm analog connection (2.5mm on the Bose side).
Is battery life better on the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
Battery life is a clear win for Sony. The XM6 clocked in at 37 hours and 14 minutes in our testing — nearly 10 hours more than Bose’s 27 hours and 37 minutes. That extra headroom makes a big difference on longer trips or if you don’t want to charge your headphones often.
Fast charging also tilts in Sony’s favor. Just 3 minutes gets you 3 hours of playback, whereas Bose needs 15 minutes for 2.5 hours. Both use USB-C for charging, but Sony’s quicker top-up is definitely more convenient.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones block noise better?
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Sony and Bose both rank among the best in the ANC game, but the XM6 takes a slight lead. In our measurements, the Sony headphones reduced average loudness by 87%, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra achieved 85%. Realistically, that’s not a dramatic difference — both will muffle train screeches, airplane hum, and noisy cafes without breaking a sweat.
Fit plays a huge role here. Sony’s thinner pads and shallow cups may compromise the seal for some users, particularly if you wear glasses. Bose’s larger, better-padded design generally creates a more consistent seal, which means you’re more likely to get great ANC performance out of the box.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 sound better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
From a listening perspective, this one’s close. If you’re a bass lover, Bose has a bit more sub-bass rumble that makes music feel more physical. Sony plays it a bit safer with a more neutral default tuning, and thanks to its 10-band EQ, you can shape the sound pretty much however you want.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
Both headphones scored high across the board, with Sony taking a slight edge in distortion handling (3.6 vs. 3.2). Bose scores nearly identically in Timbre and Immersiveness, though. Hence, it’s a bit of a wash depending on your preferences.
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
Objective Measurements
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Looking at the frequency response graph, Bose pushes more energy into the sub-bass, while Sony tracks more closely to the SoundGuys’ preference curve in the mids and treble. That means Sony may sound cleaner and more balanced, while Bose leans into warmth and impact. Again, neither tuning is “wrong” — it depends on your taste.
Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have a better microphone?
Both headphones perform well in calls and virtual meetings, but Sony’s mic system gets a small edge thanks to its AI-powered beamforming. It handles noisy backgrounds with a little more finesse. That said, we recommend you listen to our microphone demos on the site — your ears might disagree, and mic quality can be surprisingly subjective.
Sony WH-1000XM6 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Bose QC Ultra Headphones microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Sony WH-1000XM6 microphone demo (Windy conditions):
Bose QC Ultra Headphones microphone demo (Windy conditions):
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Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: Price and availability
The Sony WH-1000XM6 retails at $449.99, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones list for $429. That $20 difference may not mean much on its own, but the Bose headphones go on sale more often, making them the better value if you can snag them at a discount.
Should you get the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
If you want a feature-rich set of ANC headphones that nail the fundamentals and offer deep customization, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is hard to beat. Between its excellent sound quality, robust app controls, industry-leading noise canceling, and marathon battery life, it’s one of the most complete headphone packages available today. Auracast support and LDAC give it a future-forward edge, even if the lack of USB-C audio and thinner padding might be a sticking point for some.
Sony is the best all-rounder right now, but Bose might sound better depending on your phone — and your ears
That said, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones make a strong case for themselves — especially if comfort and effortless listening matter most. With aptX Lossless and Snapdragon Sound, they deliver high-fidelity wireless playback that’s especially appealing for Android users. Their fit is more forgiving, their bass response more full-bodied out of the box, and they’re easier to enjoy without tweaking. Add in Auracast and LE Audio support, and they’re just as ready for what’s next in wireless.