Sony
Sony WF-1000XM5
$300
Released 2023-06
Best Wireless Earbuds · head-to-head
Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) is cheaper at $299. Every spec and price links to its source.
Bose
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
$299Cheaper
Released 2025-06
Which is better: the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?
The Sony WF-1000XM5 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) is the cheaper at $299. Get the Sony WF-1000XM5 for the stronger spec sheet, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) to spend less.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $300 | $299 |
| Brand | Sony | Bose |
| Released | 2023-06 | 2025-06 |
| ANC | Yes | Yes |
| Driver (mm) | 8.4 | — |
| Battery buds hr | 8 | 6 |
| Battery case hr | 24 | 24 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| IP rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Weight per bud (g) | 5.9 | 7.3 |
| Release | 2023-06 | 2025-06 |
Sources — Sony WF-1000XM5: digitaltrends.com (verified 2026-06-15). Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): bose.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.
- Battery buds hr: Sony WF-1000XM5 8 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) 6
- Codecs: Sony WF-1000XM5 SBC, AAC, LDAC vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Weight per bud (g): Sony WF-1000XM5 5.9 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) 7.3
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Sony WF-1000XM5
No sourced tester review yet.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Two whitelisted outlets (SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi) both hands-on tested these and rate them a strong premium pick at an unchanged $299 / £299: class-leading noise cancelling and a comfortable, secure fit via Bose's stability bands. SoundGuys measured 85% external-noise reduction and a below-average 5h34m battery, and knocks the poor 3-band EQ. Verdicts split on sound: What Hi-Fi awards five stars for richer, punchier tuning, while SoundGuys' reviewer personally dislikes the bass/treble-heavy signature and calls the refresh minor enough to just buy the cheaper 1st-gen on sale. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Class-leading active noise cancellation; Comfortable, secure fit aided by stability bands; No price increase, still $299 / £299.
Flagged: Battery is a relative weak point (below average per SoundGuys; heavily drained by Immersive Audio per What Hi-Fi); Minor, iterative upgrade over the 1st-gen buds; Poor, limited 3-band EQ tuning options.