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Sony WH-1000XM4 — Over-ear · 2020
Sony

Sony WH-1000XM4

Over-ear · 2020

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

Bose QC45

Over-ear · 2021

88
/ 100
From $329
Specdex verdict

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

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

Pick Sony WH-1000XM4 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)
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Winner by scenario

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

Sound quality

Sony WH-1000XM4

Tuning, detail, and staging

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

Noise cancelling

Sony WH-1000XM4

ANC strength for commute and travel

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

Comfort

Sony WH-1000XM4

Long-session wearability

Sony WH-1000XM4 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 90
vs
88 Bose QC45

Score breakdown

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

Sony WH-1000XM4

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 vs Bose QC45

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

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

Is Sony WH-1000XM4 worth the price? +

At $349, Sony WH-1000XM4 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 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 or Bose QC45? +

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

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

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