Skip to content
Specdex
Compare now
Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White — Over-ear · 2020
Sony

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White

Over-ear · 2020

90
/ 100
From $349
VS
Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White wins by 2
Bose QC45 — Over-ear · 2021
Bose

Bose QC45

Over-ear · 2021

88
/ 100
From $329
Specdex verdict

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White lands at 90 and Bose QC45 at 88. That puts Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Bose QC45 if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Share this comparison: Share to Reddit X / Twitter

Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White leads on sound (90 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White leads on anc (88 vs 86).

Comfort

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White

Long-session wearability

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White leads on comfort (89 vs 87).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White 90
vs
88 Bose QC45

Score breakdown

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White
90
anc 88
sound 90
comfort 89
battery 82
features 86
Bose QC45
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84

Specs side-by-side

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White versus Bose QC45 — full spec comparison
Spec Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White Bose QC45
Type
Over-ear
Over-ear
Release year
2020
2021

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

Bose QC45

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

FAQ: Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White vs Bose QC45

Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White or Bose QC45? +

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White worth the price? +

At $349, Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in sound.

Is Bose QC45 worth the price? +

At $329, Bose QC45 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Does Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White or Bose QC45 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, Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White or Bose QC45? +

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White or Bose QC45? +

Sony WH-1000XM4 · Arctic White — leads on anc (88 vs 86). ANC strength for commute and travel.