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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds offer a more comfortable fit, better noise isolation, and are great for air travel, with a lower midrange price compared to the Sony WF1000XM5. However, the Sony earbuds provide a longer battery life, wireless charging, and support the LDAC codec for high-resolution audio streaming, which might be more suited for audiophiles looking for a premium listening experience at a slightly higher price. Neither option has a significant advantage in overall sound quality, but the Bose has a larger design which may not be ideal for those with smaller ears or who prefer a more compact look. 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
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for music
Key differences
Music
7.1
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good.
Phone Calls
6.6
5.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
4.9
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
6.0
5.4
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$298
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.6
5.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for gaming.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds to be excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is very good.
Build Quality
8.9
8.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and Sony WF1000XM5 both have very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 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 | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 6 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 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 Quiet Comfort Earbuds 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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Why trust us
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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