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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize comfort and are looking for earbuds that are highly portable and provide excellent noise isolation for different environments such as during exercise or air travel, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are suitable. They are a little less pricey and ideal for active use, but you may find the mic quality to be moderate. On the other hand, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones offer superior overall and music sound quality with better mic performance, which is better for calls. They are slightly more expensive and come with a longer battery life, but they are bulkier and less suitable for exercise. Both have active noise canceling for a great listening experience. 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 WH-1000XM5
- Very good for music
Key differences
Music
7.4
8.2
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
40.3 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$398
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.6
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1
5.5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
6.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Sony WH-1000XM5 are both only fair for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
6.2
5.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to be only fair for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
9.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Sony WH-1000XM5 are both excellent for noise reduction.
Build Quality
9.2
8.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to have excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $398 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 40.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 249.4 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 WH-1000XM5
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | February 2023
"The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best Sony Bluetooth headphones so far and one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth headphones around. Look no further if you need class-leading ANC with a mostly inoffensive sound signature. Just be ready to pony up the price premium."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Sony WH-1000XM5
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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