Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Sony WF-1000XM4: which are better?

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Sony WF-1000XM4 are the reputable brands' flagship wireless earbuds and some of the best pairs we've ever tested, offering cutting-edge active noise cancellation (ANC) technology and class-leading sound. Both have our rubber-stamped approval, not only evident by a five-star review but also a 2022 What Hi-Fi? Best Buy Award. So if you are in the market for a premium pair, how do you possibly choose between the two?

Well, that's where we come in. To help you pick the best wireless earbuds for you, we have road-tested both, assessing everything from design and build to battery life and sound quality, and presented the pros and cons of both below.

So without further ado, let's see who comes out on top in the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II  vs Sony WF-1000XM4 debate... 

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Sony WF-1000XM4: price

Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds

(Image credit: Sony)

The QuietComfort Earbuds II are Bose's latest flagship wireless earbuds. They arrived in September 2022 and command an asking price of £280 / $299 / AU$429, which is pretty much as high as the asking prices for true wireless earbuds get. For reference, the five-star Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 debuted this year at £219 / $250 / AU$400.

The class-leading Sony WF-1000XM4 debuted at £250 / $280 / AU$450 back in June 2021. As is often the case when earbuds have been around a while, their price has since dropped a fair bit, so you should be able to pick them up for at least 25 per cent less now. Today's cheapest prices on both prices are below.

**Winner** Sony WF-1000XM4

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Sony WF-1000XM4: design

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II unpacked

(Image credit: Bose)

The second-gen QuietComfort Earbuds are around a third smaller than the originals and come with a wide range of soft ear tips. They also feature new 'stability bands' (which replace the old rubber wings) for improved grip.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 come with a comparatively limited choice of firmer foam ear tips and tend to sit deeper in your ear canal. They're slightly heavier (7.3g vs 7g) than the Bose buds, too, and not quite as comfortable. That said, as they plug your ear canals they do provide very good levels of noise isolation.  

Like to brave the elements? Both these wireless in-ears are rated IPX4 water-resistant, meaning they're protected from the odd splash of rain or sweat.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II**

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Sony WF-1000XM4: battery life

Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds

(Image credit: Sony)

The Sony WF-1000XM4 promise eight hours of battery life from a single charge, with the carry case providing another 16 hours of juice for a total battery life of 24 hours. In a hurry but have a flat battery? Five minutes of wall charging will give you up to an hour of playback.

You might expect the Bose QC Earbuds II to have more endurance considering they are newer, but no dice. They offer six hours of battery from a single charge, plus three extra charges from the charging case for the same total battery life of 24 hours. A 20-minute quick-charge can offer around two hours of playtime.

Note too that the Bose's charging case cannot be wirelessly charged, whereas Sony's can be with a compatible Qi wireless charger. It can even be boosted by being placed on the back of a compatible Qi smartphone.

**Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4**

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Sony WF-1000XM4: features

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II pictured with companion app

(Image credit: Bose)

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II promise "the world’s best noise cancellation from any headphone – banded or in-ear". A bold claim perhaps, but Bose's noise-cancelling is more than a match for Sony's and does a great job of removing rumbles without the intense vacuum-sucking sensation you get from some earbuds.

That's not to say that the Sony buds don't block noise well; it is extremely effective, although you do get a bit of that ‘vacuum’ feeling when it’s turned on.

Like many wireless earbuds, both the Boses and Sonys have companion control apps. The Sony Headphones Connect app lets you customise the sound and noise-cancelling effect, run a 'fit' test to see just how good your seal is, and remind you when the case's battery life drops below 30 per cent.

Bose's app offers even greater flexibility when it comes to noise-cancelling adjustment. It also features Bose's CustomTune sound calibration tech, which uses a microphone to measure your ear canal’s acoustic response and optimise ANC performance accordingly.

The Bose buds support a more current version of Bluetooth (5.3 vs 5.2), but the Sonys are due a software upgrade that will add support for multipoint connectivity, which allows the wearer to be connected to two Bluetooth sources simultaneously. 

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II**

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Sony WF-1000XM4: sound quality

Sony WF-1000XM4

(Image credit: Sony)

The WF-1000XM4 feature Sony's DSEE Extreme engine, which upscales low-quality audio files and supports hi-res audio including Sony's own LDAC codec, meaning you can listen to files up to 32-bit/96kHz over Bluetooth at up to 990kbps.

Performance-wise, the XM4 offer clarity across the board and a fantastic sense of rhythmic precision. They are musical, dynamic and detailed performers that offer plenty of bass and oodles of detail, sounding pleasingly smooth and full-bodied.

The newer Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are a little more tonally balanced. They ooze even more sonic sophistication, offering new levels of detail from wireless earbuds. In fact, they are now our go-to recommendations at this extreme end of the market.

Slightly disappointing, however, is that the Bose buds lack support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such as LDAC and aptX HD, and call quality is nothing special. The Sony XM4 are better at suppressing blustery winds.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II**

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Sony WF-1000XM4: verdict

Bose’s flagship buds are the more expensive option, but they offer stellar noise-cancelling, sound impressively refined and detailed, and come with a wider range of ear tips that provide added comfort. If you're working with a healthy budget, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are a magnificent choice.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 might not sound quite as sophisticated or block noise as effectively, but they still deliver a wonderfully musical performance – and wireless charging, better earbud battery life and support for higher-quality Bluetooth transmission are the other big plug points. The Sonys have a strong argument for being the best value pair of the two at their now-reduced price, though those who can meet either asking price have a difficult decision on their hands and should go with the pair that best meets their priorities.

MORE:

See what else is available: best wireless earbuds

Bose vs Bose: QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Quiet Comfort Earbuds

Out with the old? Sony WF-1000XM4 vs WF-1000XM3: which are better?

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Tom is a journalist, copywriter and content designer based in the UK. He has written articles for T3, ShortList, The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, Elle Deco, The Sunday Times, Men's Health, Mr Porter, Oracle and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include mobile technology, electric vehicles and video streaming.

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  • rohit
    Using WF-1000XM4 and the battery on the left ear piece has died after one year, can't hold charge for more than 15min. Multiple people on reddit Sony forums reported same, spoke to customer care and they told they have seen multiple issues like so but they won't fix mine as warranty expired 3 weeks after one year. My Jabra 75t are running strong after 2 years. Will not recommend Sony
    Reply
  • L.C.
    rohit said:
    Using WF-1000XM4 and the battery on the left ear piece has died after one year, can't hold charge for more than 15min. Multiple people on reddit Sony forums reported same, spoke to customer care and they told they have seen multiple issues like so but they won't fix mine as warranty expired 3 weeks after one year. My Jabra 75t are running strong after 2 years. Will not recommend Sony
    I have to agree with that. Mine also had battery issues as soon as warranty expired, like many people did, and Sony wouldn't do a thing, not even paid repairment as there is no local center fixing headphones in London. So think of WF-1000XM4 as a 1-year service for 200pound, vs Bose with 2 year warranty and good out-of-warranty fix options for 280pound.
    Reply
  • Junglist724
    L.C. said:
    I have to agree with that. Mine also had battery issues as soon as warranty expired, like many people did, and Sony wouldn't do a thing, not even paid repairment as there is no local center fixing headphones in London. So think of WF-1000XM4 as a 1-year service for 200pound, vs Bose with 2 year warranty and good out-of-warranty fix options for 280pound.
    Yep my battery now only lasts 10 minutes. I'm 3 months out of warranty.
    Reply