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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize active noise cancelling for frequent air travel and prefer an immersive experience for TV and video with the ability to connect wirelessly and wired, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are a solid choice, though they are pricier. They offer longer battery life, fast charging, and virtual surround sound. However, for portability and use during exercise, the Sony WF1000XM5 Earbuds are more suitable due to their sweatproof certification and stemless, lightweight design. They have a shorter charging time and support wireless charging, but they lack wired connectivity and are not recommended for calls and meetings or gaming due to poorer microphone quality and lack of low latency. 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 WF1000XM5
- The Sony WF1000XM5 has no clear advantages over the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones.
Key differences
Gaming
9.3
5.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
4.9
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
5.4
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Battery
29.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$429
$298
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.3
8.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Sony WF1000XM5 are both very good for music.
Phone Calls
5.3
5.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for phone calls.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones to be excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is very good.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 29 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 6 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 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 Ultra Headphones 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
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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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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