Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 16 published reviews

Sony

WH-1000XM4

A top-tier travel-friendly headset with excellent noise cancellation, strong sound, and long battery life, though touch controls and tuning remain polarizing.

Best for: Travelers prioritizing top-tier noise cancellation and long battery life.
Skip it if: You need neutral sound, reliable touch controls, or a compact design.

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Sony WH-1000XM4

Bose

QuietComfort Headphones

Comfortable, travel-friendly headphones with very effective ANC and solid everyday performance, though premium pricing, mixed call quality, and limited customization weaken the value.

Best for: Travelers and all-day listeners prioritizing comfort and noise cancellation
Skip it if: Those prioritizing low price, pristine calls, sport use, or flagship ANC

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Bose QuietComfort Headphones

Affiliate link · we may earn a commission

Specs side by side

Spec	Sony WH-1000XM4	Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Fit	Over-ear	Over-ear
Connection	Wireless	Wireless
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Best for	Music, Travel, Work & calls	Music, Travel, Work & calls
Microphone	Built-in mic	Built-in mic
Ear cups	Closed-back	Closed-back

Rows where the two differ come first.

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Sony WH-1000XM4

Excellent noise cancellation suppresses travel and environmental noise effectively. 1 2 3 4
Rich, detailed sound works well across most genres. 1 2 5 6
Around 30 hours per charge; ten minutes adds five hours. 1 2 7 8
Comfortable, lightweight fit works well for long sessions. 3 4 5 6
Multipoint, EQ, touch controls, and wired listening add flexibility. 1 2 3 4
High price and aging design may weaken value. 3 5 7 8
Touch controls and Speak-to-Chat can trigger inconsistently. 2 3 6
Non-neutral tuning may disappoint listeners seeking flat sound. 1 5 6 7
Bulky fit may hinder portability, walking, or sleeping. 5 6 8

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

Generally comfortable for long sessions, travel, and glasses wearers 1 2 3 4
Very effective ANC against engines, street noise, and voices 1 3 4 5
Audio is generally balanced and clear, with prominent bass 2 4 5 6
Solid battery life for everyday use, though not class-leading 1 3 4 6
Reliable wireless performance with useful transparency controls 2 5 6 8
Premium pricing offers limited value against competing models 1 2 3 4
Call quality varies, with noise leaking into noisier conversations 1 2 6 8
Limited EQ customization and no high-resolution codec support 1 2 3 7
ANC and sound trail the higher-end QuietComfort Ultra 2 3 7

Ranked in our guides

Guide	WH-1000XM4	QuietComfort Headphones
Best soundproof headphones	–	#8

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 16 published reviews, read on October 21, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.