Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 — We Put Both to the Test

Jonathan Zavaleta

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Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2

Sony; Bose

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There are few rivalries fiercer in the headphone world than the one between Sony and Bose. The two brands make some of the best noise-canceling over-ear headphones and wireless earbuds, and they’ve historically followed a pretty similar release schedule, too.

Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones debuted in May 2025. Bose followed up with the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones just a few months later, in October. While that competition is probably stress-inducing for their respective engineering teams, who have to find new ways to one-up each other, it’s good news for headphone enthusiasts.

Each model has meaningful upgrades over their predecessor, but how do they compare to each other? We’ve been using both over the past year, trying them in settings ranging from flights to the office to commutes to see how they stack up.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 Headphones: Review

Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones

$459.99

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Pros: Plenty of features, great audio and call quality, intuitive controls Cons: Pricey, bulky look, padding is somewhat thin

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) Headphones

$449.00

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Pros: Customizable ANC, auto-wake when worn, comfortable fit Cons: Pricey, not as customizable as others

Sony WH-1000XM6
List Price: $459.99
Release Date: May 2025
Stated Battery Life: 30 hours
Colors: Black, Midnight Blue, Platinum Silver, Sand Pink

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2)
List Price: $449.00
Release Date: Oct. 2025
Stated Battery Life: 30 hours
Colors: Black, Desert Gold, Midnight Violet, Driftwood Sand, White

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Design and Construction

In terms of design, Sony’s headphones feature a decidedly modern look, with an angular shape and availability in understated, monochrome colors. Bose took a different tack, adding flashy metal accents and leather detailing.

Design-wise, Sony made a major improvement to its flagship headphones by bringing back rotating earcups. Previously, the earcups rotated inward, but didn’t fold, making the case awkwardly large. The redesigned hinges allow them to fold more compactly, and the case is smaller, too. Bose’s case is a faux leather design with a zippered closure, while Sony’s has a magnetic clasp and a heathered fabric outer. Both cases match the headphones’ colorway and include storage for accessories such as audio and charging cables.

Left to right: Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone

Comfort-wise, Bose’s headphones have an advantage. While both are fit for hours of wear, the more amply padded earcups and headband on the Bose headphones fatigue more slowly than Sony’s, which have somewhat thin padding.

Aesthetically, the QuietComfort Ultras arguably feel more luxe, though the loud branding won’t appeal to everyone, and some will prefer the modern look of the XM6s.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Features and Controls

Both brands added new features to their headphones, but it’s Bose’s latest power-management innovation that’s my favorite. The second-gen QC Ultras now feature an auto-sleep feature that puts the headphones into a low-power mode when you remove them.

Unlike similar features from Apple and Sennheiser, you don’t need the case to use the low-power mode — lay the headphones flat, and they’ll automatically disconnect from Bluetooth and power down. Put them back on, and they wake up and reconnect (if you don’t want them to disconnect, setting them down without unfolding them will keep them powered on). It’s the kind of genuinely useful, non-gimmicky feature that comes in handy for day-to-day use. I’ve also left the headphones in the case for weeks at a time in low-power mode with only minimal battery loss.

Both headphones have fairly straightforward controls Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone

Sony’s headphones have impressive features as well, including a speak-to-chat mode that automatically pauses the music and turns on ambient mode when you start talking. You can also cover the earcup to temporarily switch to ambient mode, a handy touch when listening for gate announcements at the airport, for example.

Both headphones use a mix of tap controls and physical buttons; Bose has a touch volume slider and a physical power and multifunction button on the right earcup. Sony has physical power and multifunction buttons, while the right earcup has touch controls to adjust volume and skip tracks. Sony’s design is arguably better executed; the large sensor on the right earcup makes it easy to make quick volume adjustments, while the small strip on Bose’s headphones can require a more delicate touch.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Sound Quality and ANC

Both headphones deliver excellent active noise-canceling (ANC) performance, capably cutting out loud distractions like jet engines and vacuum cleaners, as well as voices and ambient electrical noise.

In terms of noise-canceling, I’d give the edge to Bose for two reasons. First, Bose’s passive noise-canceling is slightly better; the ear cushions are better padded, preventing sound leakage. Second, the ANC is easily customizable. You can set multiple personalized modes depending on your setting, whether you’re commuting and need some awareness or on a plane and want total silence. While you can adjust the transparency level of Sony’s XM6 headphones, you need to do so in Sony’s cluttered Sound Connect app.

Sony’s app has plenty of features, but not all of them are equally useful

Bose’s app is bare-bones, but easy to navigate and use

As for sound quality, Sony has an edge. Both headphones have enjoyable, engaging audio, but Sony’s more neutral response is better suited for discerning listening sessions, compared to the slightly bass-forward profile Bose favors. Sony’s Sound Connect app also has more in-depth EQ controls, with full 10-band EQ, compared to Bose’s three-band EQ. That means you can more easily adjust the sound to your liking, but Sony’s headphones sound great right from the moment you put them on.

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Verdict

Overall, Bose has the edge in comfort, thanks to the ample yet breathable ear pads and the cushioned headband. Bose also leads with noise cancellation; not only is the noise canceling superb at cutting out distractions, but the ability to create custom ANC modes is a huge plus that few rivals offer. The clever auto-wake feature also adds convenience for anyone who forgets to turn their headphones off.

Sony, meanwhile, is the more feature-rich option. The XM6 headphones have a dizzying array of customization options in the app, plus more responsive touch controls on the earcup. Sony also has a slight edge in sound quality, with a neutral but customizable sound profile and an impressively wide soundstage that immerses you in audio.

Both headphones offer excellent sound quality, class-leading ANC, and identical battery life. That means deciding between the two largely comes down to what features you prioritize.