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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Sony WF1000XM4, consider the following tradeoffs. The Bose earbuds are known for their excellent comfort and noise isolation, which makes them great for air travel and exercise. They also have a higher score for their built-in controls. On the other hand, the Sony earbuds provide a superior overall sound quality and a better soundstage, which may enhance your music listening experience. They also have a longer battery life and support for a high-quality LDAC codec, which is beneficial for Android users seeking better audio fidelity. The Sony pair includes features like virtual surround and faster charging, but they are usually more expensive than the Bose. If microphone quality is important, neither excel in that area. Remember, both earbuds have active noise cancelling and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Phone Calls
5.1
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.3
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WF1000XM4 is very good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.6
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
6.2
6.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Sony WF1000XM4 are both only fair for TV and video.
Build Quality
9.2
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM4 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 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 | 6.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Sony WF1000XM4
See more
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II 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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