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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize comfort and use during air travel, the Bose 700 might be a better choice due to its higher comfort and noise isolation scores. However, if portability and newer technology are more important to you, and you're looking for earbuds that are more suited for exercise, the Sony WF1000XM5 would be preferable since they're lighter, sweatproof, and come with wireless charging capability. It's also worth considering that the Bose 700 is better for calls and meetings according to their score, while the Sony earbuds may have an edge with their longer overall battery life. Keep in mind, both models have active noise canceling and are at a similar price point with the Bose 700 being slightly more expensive. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose 700
- Very good for phone calls
- Best in class for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for music
Key differences
Music
7.5
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Bose 700 is good.
Phone Calls
8.3
5.0
The Bose 700 is very good for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.8
4.9
The Bose 700 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Battery
20.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bose 700 has 20 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Bose 700 has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.3
5.1
The Bose 700 and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
5.4
The Bose 700 and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose 700 to be excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is very good.
Cost
$299
$298
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose 700 has a price of $299 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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How the Bose 700 and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose 700 | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2019 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.3/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.5/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 20 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 263 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose 700
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Adam Molina | June 2023
"Bose took active noise canceling and made it mainstream but eventually, the market caught up. Well, it seems like Bose was listening, because the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is a complete redesign of its iconic product. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have a new design, improved sound quality, a touch-sensitive gesture pad for playback controls, and even USB-C charging."
Sony WF1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."
Get a great deal on the Bose 700 or the Sony WF1000XM5
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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