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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are less expensive and have excellent noise isolation, making them great for air travel and use during exercise. They're praised for comfort but have average microphone quality. Consider the Sony WF1000XM4 if you want higher overall sound quality, better app control customization, and virtual surround sound which can enhance your experience with movies and gaming. However, they come at a premium price and do not offer a significant advantage in noise isolation or comfort compared to the Bose. 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 Quiet Comfort Earbuds
- The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has no clear advantages over the Sony WF1000XM4.
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
Key differences
Music
7.1
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are both best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Sony WF1000XM4 is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is very good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$220
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.6
5.6
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
6.6
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are both only fair for phone calls.
TV and Video
6.0
6.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are both only fair for TV and video.
Build Quality
8.9
8.9
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and Sony WF1000XM4 both have very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2023
"The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is a great do-it-all option for anyone, so long as you can afford it. This is a great alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. You can choose the degree of noise canceling, and enjoy premium features like automatic ear-detection. These earbuds merit an IPX4 rating, making them a fine workout companion."
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds or the Sony WF1000XM4
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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