Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Long-term testing reveals trade-offs
ZDNET's months-long test of Sony's WH-1000XM6 ($430) and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra 2 ($400) confirms what spec sheets don't: both excel at different jobs.
What matters for enterprise deployments
Sony delivers 30-hour ANC battery life versus Bose's 24 hours—meaningful for multi-leg travel or back-to-back video calls. The WH-1000XM6's 10-band EQ (versus Bose's 3-band) matters if your team includes audiophiles or podcast producers who'll actually use it. Sony's app integration with 360 Reality Audio and improved hinge durability (a weak point in the XM5) address previous concerns.
Bose counters with superior long-wear comfort and faster ANC response to sudden noise—relevant for open offices or co-working spaces. The trade-off: less EQ granularity and a bass profile that varies by fit, according to RTings testing.
The fine print
Both models target the $15B premium ANC headphone market, which grew 12% YoY in 2025. Neither has seen major updates in the past seven days (as of early February 2026). Reviews from RTings, Tom's Guide, and What Hi-Fi? converge on similar conclusions: Sony for power users, Bose for comfort-first buyers.
What Hi-Fi? ranks Sony's balanced sound/ANC combination first; Tom's Guide calls Sony the "clear winner" for usability. Contrarian view: Esquire critiques Bose's sound as lagging rivals, while some users report Sony's headband causes discomfort after extended wear—contradicting Sony's technical advantages.
Worth noting
Call quality matters for remote teams. Sony's microphone quality edges ahead in voice clarity comparisons, though both handle typical video conferencing adequately. Durability holds up over months for both models.
The real question: Are you deploying for users who'll spend time in settings menus, or users who want to unbox and go? The answer determines which $400+ investment makes sense.
Bottom line: Sony rewards tinkering. Bose rewards simplicity. Neither is wrong—they're solving different problems.