Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen)
The Sony XM5 leads on isolation and battery, so it's the pick for daily commutes; the lighter Bose QuietComfort trades a little of both for long-haul comfort over hours.
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At a glance
| Attribute |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Premium Active Noise Cancelling with personalized Spatial Audio, Up to 30hr Battery Life, Bluetooth Headphones, BlackEight mics with the QN1 processor, strong steady isolation | Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) - Wireless Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging and Lossless Audio, Up to 24 Hours of Play time, White SmokeActive over-ear cancelling with mic; the XM5 leads on isolation |
| Battery life | Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Premium Active Noise Cancelling with personalized Spatial Audio, Up to 30hr Battery Life, Bluetooth Headphones, BlackUp to 30 hours with cancelling on | Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) - Wireless Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging and Lossless Audio, Up to 24 Hours of Play time, White SmokeUp to 24 hours of playback |
| Audio | Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Premium Active Noise Cancelling with personalized Spatial Audio, Up to 30hr Battery Life, Bluetooth Headphones, BlackPersonalised Spatial Audio widens the soundstage | Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) - Wireless Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging and Lossless Audio, Up to 24 Hours of Play time, White SmokeImmersive Audio with lossless audio support |
| Weight and portability | Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Premium Active Noise Cancelling with personalized Spatial Audio, Up to 30hr Battery Life, Bluetooth Headphones, BlackCups do not rotate flat, less packable than the XM4 | Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) - Wireless Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging and Lossless Audio, Up to 24 Hours of Play time, White SmokeLighter than the XM5 for long-haul wear |
Which should you choose?
Buy this if Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Premium Active Noise Cancelling with personalized Spatial Audio, Up to 30hr Battery Life, Bluetooth Headphones, Black
You want the strongest cancelling and the longest battery in this pair for daily commutes and open-plan offices, and you don't need to pack small.
Buy this if Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) - Wireless Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging and Lossless Audio, Up to 24 Hours of Play time, White Smoke
You want the lighter pair for long-haul comfort over hours, with USB-C and lossless audio support, and you can trade a little isolation and battery for it.
How we compared
We synthesized this
Which to choose
Both are capable wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling — the split is isolation and stamina versus weight and comfort. Choose the Sony WH-1000XM5 if you want the strongest cancelling in this pair and the longest battery: eight microphones feed the QN1 processor for steady quiet on a train or across an open-plan office, and up to 30 hours covers a week of commutes. Choose the Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) if comfort over hours matters more — it's lighter than the XM5, so it stays easy on your head across a long-haul flight, with USB-C and lossless audio support along for the ride.
The honest trade-offs
Neither wins on every axis. The Sony's cups don't rotate flat, so it packs bigger than a folding pair. The Bose gives up a little isolation and battery to the XM5 — its own notes say as much. If you pack light and want quiet as a daily tool, take the Sony; if you wear headphones for hours and want the lighter fit, take the Bose. Our read synthesises each maker's documented specs rather than a hands-on cancelling test — see how we test.
Frequently asked questions
Which cancels noise better, the Sony XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort?
The Sony XM5 leads on isolation — its eight microphones and QN1 processor give strong, steady cancelling, and the Bose's own notes concede the XM5 is ahead here. The Bose still cancels well; it simply trades a little isolation for lighter, long-haul comfort.
Which has the longer battery life?
The Sony XM5 does, at up to 30 hours with cancelling on, against up to 24 hours on the Bose QuietComfort. Both cover a week of commutes between charges for most people; the Sony just gives you more headroom before the next top-up.