A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If prioritizing comfort and noise isolation for air travel and quiet environments, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones excel with top-tier comfort and active noise canceling. They're heavier and bulkier, making them less convenient for exercise. Their dynamic drivers with AptX Adaptive support assure high-quality wireless audio, though the high cost is a factor. Alternatively, Sony WF1000XM4 earbuds provide great sound and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, lighter for active use, and have an earbud carry size for portability. Despite their stemless form and good soundstage, they're limited by poorer mic quality and lack of active noise canceling for travel compared to the Bose. Choose based on your main activities: Bose for noise-canceling and comfort in static environments; Sony for a blend of quality sound and mobility at a lower price point. 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 Ultra Headphones
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.3
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good.
Gaming
9.3
5.6
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.3
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair.
TV and Video
9.0
6.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is very good.
Battery
29.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$429
$220
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 29 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7.4/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
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 Ultra Headphones 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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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
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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