Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Quick take: The Sony WF-1000XM5 costs $1 less; the Sony WF-1000XM5 lasts longer per charge (8 hrs).
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $248 | $249 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (19,000) | 4.3★ (2,500) |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 8 hrs | 6 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 24 hrs | 24 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 3 min = 1 hr | 20 min = 2 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 8.4 mm | — |
| Weight | 5.9 g | 7.7 g |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Sony WF-1000XM5
- ✓LDAC delivers genuine hi-res from any Android phone
- ✓Rich warm 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X sound out of box
- ✓8 hours with ANC on beats Bose Ultra by two
- ✓Foam tips seal so well ANC feels stronger than measured
- ✓3-minute quick charge buys an hour
- ✓XM6 launch keeps pushing street prices down
- ✗Call quality falls apart in wind
- ✗Polished case scratches almost immediately
- ✗Some owners report uneven bud drain after a year
- ✗Enabling multipoint silently disables LDAC hi-res
- ✗App buries EQ settings three menus deep
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
- ✓Strongest earbud ANC anywhere — low rumble just vanishes
- ✓CustomTune calibration adapts silencing to your ears
- ✓Gen 2 finally adds a wireless-charging case
- ✓Multipoint finally arrives in the second generation
- ✓AI suppression fixed gen one's mediocre call quality
- ✓aptX Adaptive on supported Android phones
- ✗6-hour battery trails Sony XM5 and Technics AZ100
- ✗Immersive Audio drops runtime near 4 hours
- ✗Chunky 7.7g buds fatigue smaller ears
- ✗No LDAC, and EQ is a basic three-band
- ✗Wind overwhelms the ANC outdoors, owners report