Sony
Sony WH-1000XM6
LDAC · 30 h · 12-mic ANC with QN3
95
/ 100
From $449
VS
Sony WH-1000XM6 wins by 2
Bose
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive
93
/ 100
From $429
Specdex verdict
Sony WH-1000XM6 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sony WH-1000XM6 lands at 95 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra at 93. That puts Sony WH-1000XM6 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sony WH-1000XM6 if…
- ✓Best sound quality in ANC class
- ✓LDAC + multipoint + Auracast support
- ✓Excellent EQ app and ANC tuning
Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra if…
- ✓Best comfort in class
- ✓Excellent ANC
- ✓Immersive Audio spatial feature
Sony WH-1000XM6 95
vs 93 Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Score breakdown
Sony WH-1000XM6
95 anc 94
sound 96
comfort 92
battery 88
features 96
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
93 anc 96
sound 92
comfort 98
battery 86
features 90
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sony WH-1000XM6 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 30 mm dynamic | 35 mm dynamic |
| ANC | Hybrid · 12-mic with QN3 HD Noise Cancelling Processor | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 LE | — |
| Codecs | LDAC + LC3 + AAC + SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Battery | ▲ 30 h (24 with ANC on) | 24 h (Immersive Audio off) / 18 h (on) |
| Charging | USB-C, 3 min for 3 h | — |
| Weight | 254 g | ▲ 253 g |
Sony WH-1000XM6
Pros
- +Best sound quality in ANC class
- +LDAC + multipoint + Auracast support
- +Excellent EQ app and ANC tuning
Cons
- −ANC marginally trails Bose QC Ultra
- −Plastic build vs premium rivals
- −No higher-res codecs above LDAC
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Pros
- +Best comfort in class
- +Excellent ANC
- +Immersive Audio spatial feature
Cons
- −Bose app fiddly
- −No USB-C audio (3.5 mm + Bluetooth only)
- −No LDAC support
FAQ: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +
Sony WH-1000XM6 scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony WH-1000XM6 worth the price? +
At $449, Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.
Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra worth the price? +
At $429, Bose QuietComfort Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in comfort.
Does Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra 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.