Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black
Over-ear · 2017
Sony WH-1000XM3
Over-ear · 2018
Sony WH-1000XM3 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black lands at 84 and Sony WH-1000XM3 at 86. That puts Sony WH-1000XM3 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick Sony WH-1000XM3 if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sony WH-1000XM3Tuning, detail, and staging
Sony WH-1000XM3 leads on sound (86 vs 84).
Noise cancelling
Sony WH-1000XM3ANC strength for commute and travel
Sony WH-1000XM3 leads on anc (84 vs 82).
Comfort
Sony WH-1000XM3Long-session wearability
Sony WH-1000XM3 leads on comfort (85 vs 83).
Value for money
TieSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black | Sony WH-1000XM3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Release year | 2017 | 2018 |
Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
Sony WH-1000XM3
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
FAQ: Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black vs Sony WH-1000XM3
Which is better, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sony WH-1000XM3? +
Sony WH-1000XM3 scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black worth the price? +
At $349, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in sound.
Is Sony WH-1000XM3 worth the price? +
At $349, Sony WH-1000XM3 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in sound.
Does Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sony WH-1000XM3 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for sound quality, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sony WH-1000XM3? +
Sony WH-1000XM3 — leads on sound (86 vs 84). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Bose QC 35 II · Midnight Black or Sony WH-1000XM3? +
Sony WH-1000XM3 — leads on anc (84 vs 82). ANC strength for commute and travel.