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Head-to-head · Best Wireless Earbuds

Bose QC Earbuds Ultra vs Sony WF-1000XM6

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Bose QC Earbuds Ultra comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Best ANC — class-leading silence with weighty bass — read the strengths below before deciding.

Bose QC Earbuds Ultra
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Wireless Earbuds
Bose QC Earbuds Ultra
$299as of Apr 17

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are widely praised as the best noise-cancelling earbuds available, offering exceptional comfort, powerful bass, and top-tier ANC. However, potential buyers should note that enabling the immersive audio feature drastically reduces battery life and the case does not support wireless charging. Despite the high price tag, they remain a top choice for those prioritizing sound quality and silence.

Strengths
  • — Delivers punchy, musical sound with solid, weighty bass
  • — Provides excellent active noise cancellation that outperforms rivals
  • — Offers a comfortable, secure fit with a design similar to the QuietComfort Earbuds II
Watch-outs
  • — Using Immersive Audio significantly slashes battery life
  • — Lacks wireless charging support for the charging case
  • — High MSRP of $299 makes them expensive compared to some competitors
$299 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Sony WF-1000XM6
Ranked #4 in Best Wireless Earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM6
$329as of Apr 17

The Sony WF-1000XM6 represents a meaningful upgrade over the XM5 with superior noise cancellation, clearer call quality, and a more secure fit due to its redesigned shape. However, the $329.99 price tag is steep, especially since battery life and codecs are unchanged, making it a hard sell for current XM5 owners unless they can find a sale. It remains the best choice for those upgrading from older models or seeking top-tier ANC and call performance.

Strengths
  • — Significantly improved Active Noise Cancellation and isolation compared to previous models
  • — Enhanced microphone quality with AI beamforming for clearer calls
  • — New elongated oval design with matte finish provides a more secure and consistent fit
Watch-outs
  • — High price point of $329.99 offers limited value for owners of the previous XM5 model
  • — Sound quality noticeably changes when Active Noise Cancellation is turned off
  • — Battery life and supported audio codecs remain unchanged from the previous generation
$329 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Specs side-by-side

SpecBose QC Earbuds UltraSony WF-1000XM6
Driver6mm8.4mm Dynamic Driver X
Weight0.37 oz (10.5g) per earbud5.9g per earbud
ANCActive Noise CancellationIndustry-leading ANC
CodecSBC, AACLDAC, AAC, SBC
Water ResistanceIPX4IPX4
Battery Life6 hours (ANC on)Up to 8 hours (ANC on)
← See the full ranking of best wireless earbuds