Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Extremely: I in comparison with flagship headphones

A pair of headphones with robust noise-canceling capabilities is important for anybody who wants to sometimes tune out the world round them. If noise cancellation is on the prime of your “must-haves” when shopping for a pair of over-ear headphones, two choices provide the perfect of the perfect.

Additionally: Finest headphones of 2025: Bose, Sony, Beats, and extra

The brand new Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Extremely provide the business’s greatest noise cancellation. Nonetheless, there are many variations in model, battery life, and software program options between the 2 that you must contemplate earlier than paying $400+ for both pair. Let’s go over them.

Specs

You can purchase the Sony WH-1000XM6 if…

1. You need a longer battery life

The Sony XM6 promise 30 hours of battery life with noise cancellation enabled, whereas the Bose QC Extremely promise 24. You may prolong the XM6’s battery life to 40 hours by turning off noise cancellation, whereas Bose does not provide an choice to show off the characteristic, capping the QC Extremely’s battery at 24 hours.

Overview: Sony WH-1000XM6

Nonetheless, each headphones provide proprietary spatial audio know-how that depletes battery life faster when turned on. Noise cancellation, quantity ranges, and cellphone name frequency have an effect on battery efficiency, so energy customers could drain their batteries sooner than the offered numbers. On the finish of the day, your mileage will fluctuate throughout each pairs, however the specs lean in favor of Sony.

2. Sound high quality is a excessive precedence

Though Bose’s QC Extremely are the corporate’s best-sounding client headphones, Sony’s XM6 pay extra consideration to sound high quality. The XM6 are geared up with Sony’s DSEE Excessive upscaling know-how that guarantees to reinforce compressed digital audio high quality, like those you hearken to on Spotify.

Moreover, the XM6 have Sony’s higher-quality Bluetooth codec, LDAC, which permits for higher-quality audio transmission by way of Bluetooth. The XM6 additionally debuted with the LC3 Bluetooth codec, which prioritizes environment friendly energy consumption. Choose Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy customers can reap the benefits of the XM6’s LC3 compatibility. 

3. You need newer audio tech

Sony’s XM6 debuted in 2025, whereas Bose’s flagship headphones launched in late 2023. Sony guarantees extra superior applied sciences for its noise-canceling processing algorithm, spatial audio protocol, and sound engineering. 

Additionally: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs WH-1000XM5: Do you have to improve to the latest headphones?

Moreover, Sony’s XM6 debuted with a brand new Head Gestures characteristic that enables customers to just accept or deny incoming cellphone calls by nodding or shaking their head. 

You can purchase the Bose QuietComfort Extremely if…

1. You worth color and style

Sony’s flagship WH-1000X sequence headphones have a famously nondescript design, omitting flashy accents or brightly coloured, accented finishes. Bose’s QC Extremely headphones are sometimes rereleased in new colours and have aluminum accents on the headscarf hinges, creating an elevated but informal and sporty look.

2. You need a extra adjustable ANC

Bose and Sony present customers with robust and efficient noise cancellation, however generally you’re feeling like Goldilocks: You do not wish to hear every little thing, however you additionally do not wish to not hear something. It must be good. 

Overview: Why these Bose headphones are nonetheless the perfect I’ve listened to – regardless that they seem to be a 12 months outdated

Sony solely permits customers to regulate the Ambient Noise setting, which dictates how a lot exterior noise you’ll be able to hear. Nonetheless, there is not any choice to regulate noise cancellation, and being in public with this robust of ANC is not at all times very best.

Bose’s companion app means that you can create listening modes and customise noise cancellation ranges relying in your location, duties, or temper. Moreover, Bose’s ActiveSense characteristic acts as adaptive noise cancellation, using noise-canceling methods in case your atmosphere will get too loud.

3. You are purchasing on a price range

At full worth, Bose’s flagship headphones are the identical worth as Sony’s XM6, however the QC Extremely are sometimes discounted to as little as $349 throughout main sale occasions like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.

I at all times advocate shopping for any headphones at a sale worth, and it will likely be a number of months earlier than the XM6 see their first low cost. 

Alternate options to contemplate