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Which headphones are better? The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the safer choice if you want a slight edge in measured isolation, more comprehensive touch controls, and the sound that What Hi-Fi judged better overall. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is the stronger alternative if you prefer Bose’s physical-button operation, find its noise-cancelling effect more immediately noticeable, or want lossless audio over USB-C and Cinema Mode. The difference is close enough that your preferred fit and sound tuning can matter more than the logo.
This comparison covers the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), announced by Bose on September 10, 2025. It is a different product from the first-generation QuietComfort Ultra, so older reviews should not be treated as direct tests of the current Bose model.
Quick verdict: choose according to your priority
| Priority | Better starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum isolation in current independent testing | Sony WH-1000XM6 | RTINGS found a small Sony advantage, while stressing that the difference is close. |
| An ANC effect that feels especially obvious | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | What Hi-Fi described the Bose effect as more obvious in its current-generation comparison. |
| All-round sound quality according to a current review | Sony WH-1000XM6 | What Hi-Fi favored Sony overall; RTINGS says the final choice still depends heavily on tuning preference. |
| Lossless wired listening from a USB-C source | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Bose lists lossless USB-C audio as a second-generation feature. |
| Touch controls and broad gesture control | Sony WH-1000XM6 | RTINGS describes Sony’s touch controls as more comprehensive. |
| Physical-button operation | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | RTINGS notes that some users may prefer Bose’s buttons. |
| Comfort | No universal winner | Head shape, glasses, ear contact, clamp, heat and listening time can reverse individual preferences. |
Neither model wins every category. Sony has the clearer case for isolation, controls and the review verdict on all-round sound. Bose counters with a distinctive ANC presentation, button controls and newer wired and cinema features. A return policy or in-person try-on is particularly valuable because comfort and tonal preference are personal.
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Bose announced the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) on September 10, 2025. The original QuietComfort Ultra remains a separate model. A comparison written before the second-generation launch may contain useful information about Sony, but its Bose-specific conclusions apply to the first-generation headset unless it explicitly says otherwise.
#1 Best Overall
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The second-generation Bose changes documented by Bose include lossless USB-C audio, a new adaptive noise-cancellation algorithm, Cinema Mode, extended battery life, faster on-head detection and startup, and automatic Bluetooth standby with a low-energy deep-sleep mode. These are manufacturer-described additions; they do not, by themselves, prove that Bose cancels more noise or sounds better in every test.
Noise cancellation: close result, different impressions
Sony’s measured edge is modest
In its comparison updated August 31, 2026, RTINGS assessed both as flagship active-noise-cancelling headphones and found the Sony WH-1000XM6 had somewhat stronger noise-isolation performance. RTINGS also emphasized that the result was quite close. That is best read as a small advantage in that test, not a guarantee that Sony will block every sound better for every listener.
Neither the RTINGS summary nor the other supplied comparisons provides an apples-to-apples attenuation number that can be quoted as a universal decibel winner. Seal quality, the frequencies in a particular environment, and the way a reviewer evaluates residual sound all affect the outcome.
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What Hi-Fi’s comparison of the current QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Sony reaches a different-sounding but compatible conclusion: it calls Bose’s ANC effect more obvious. “More obvious” describes the reviewer’s listening impression, whereas RTINGS’ “somewhat stronger isolation” describes its comparative test result. Those phrases should not be flattened into one measurement.
Rank #2
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On a train or aircraft, the two may feel nearly indistinguishable once low-frequency engine rumble is reduced. Voices, keyboard clicks, sudden sounds, wind and the sensation of pressure can make one headset seem better to you. A listener who values the first reduction in cabin noise may prefer Bose’s presentation; someone comparing residual isolation in a controlled test may see the small Sony advantage reported by RTINGS.
Which ANC behavior suits you?
- Frequent flights and rail travel: start with Sony if the smallest possible reduction in steady background noise is your main objective, but audition Bose if its presentation feels more immediate in your normal travel environment.
- Offices and shared rooms: test both against nearby speech and intermittent sounds rather than relying on an aircraft-style impression.
- Outdoor use: pay attention to wind and pressure sensation. A technically strong result can still feel unpleasant if the fit or processing bothers you.
- Transparency and awareness: Sony’s official UK specifications list ambient sound mode, Auto Ambient Sound, Quick Attention and an Adaptive NC Optimizer. These features let you switch between isolation and awareness without removing the headphones.
The practical tie-breaker is to wear each model in the place where you will use it. ANC is close enough here that comfort and seal can outweigh a small laboratory or reviewer difference.
Comfort and fit: do not assume a universal winner
The available current-generation comparisons do not establish that either headset is more comfortable for every wearer. Over-ear comfort depends on the relationship between the headphone and your head, not just the material list or a product photograph.
Variables that change the result
- Head shape and clamp: a firm seal can improve isolation but may create pressure at the temples or jaw after a long session.
- Ear size and pad contact: ears that touch the inner grille or sit partly outside the pads can become sore even when the headset feels soft at first.
- Glasses: spectacle arms can break the seal and add pressure, changing both comfort and perceived bass.
- Heat: generous padding may still become warm during extended listening, especially in a heated room or while commuting.
- Session length: a pair that feels excellent for a 20-minute shop demonstration may be tiring after a three-hour flight.
- Movement: walk, turn your head and adjust the headband. A stable fit reduces the need to tighten the clamp.
How to make a fair comfort comparison
- Set both headbands to the same neutral position before fine adjustment.
- Wear one model for at least 30 minutes while sitting, walking and looking down at a phone or laptop.
- Check whether your ears touch the internal surfaces and whether glasses create a gap in the pads.
- Repeat with ANC on and off. Processing pressure or altered low frequencies can affect perceived comfort.
- After removing the headset, note hotspots at the crown, temples, jaw and ear rims rather than judging only the first impression.
- Use a retailer’s return window when possible; a short home trial is more informative than a universal comfort claim.
Because no robust evidence here names a comfort champion, choose the pair that fits your head and remains comfortable for your longest normal listening session.
Rank #3
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Sound quality: Sony wins one review, preference still decides
What the independent comparisons say
RTINGS characterizes the XM6’s default tuning as somewhat more excited. In practical terms, that means its out-of-box balance may sound more energetic rather than strictly neutral. RTINGS’ overview also says personal preference determines much of the decision.
What Hi-Fi’s current-generation comparison goes further and judges Sony to have better all-round sound quality. That is What Hi-Fi’s editorial verdict from its own testing, not a claim that every listener will prefer Sony or that Bose is inaccurate.
How to listen for the differences
- Vocals: use a familiar acoustic or spoken-vocal recording. Listen for whether the singer stays clear when bass and cymbals enter.
- Bass: choose a track with sustained kick drum and double bass. Decide whether you want more impact, tighter control or less emphasis.
- Treble: cymbals and strings reveal whether the presentation feels lively or fatiguing over time.
- Complex mixes: orchestral or layered rock tracks show whether instruments remain separated when several frequencies compete.
- Low-volume listening: compare both quietly. A tuning that sounds exciting at a high level may not remain balanced when played softly.
Listen to the same tracks at matched volume. Even a small loudness difference can make one headphone seem more detailed or powerful.
Features that affect the sound decision
Bose says the second-generation model adds lossless USB-C audio. This is useful when you connect directly to a compatible USB-C source and want a wired digital path, but it is a feature description rather than proof that Bose sounds better over Bluetooth.
Rank #4
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Bose also adds Cinema Mode, which it describes as making video more lifelike with clearer dialogue. The mode is aimed at film and television rather than ordinary stereo music, so judge it with the content you actually watch. Bose’s press release describes the changes this way: “The next-gen QC Ultra Headphones deliver upgrades in both audio and noise cancellation, including lossless USB-C audio for crystal-clear, low-latency sound; a new algorithm for more precise adaptive noise cancellation; and the addition of Cinema Mode to make video content more lifelike with clearer dialogue.”
Sony’s official UK support specifications list Bluetooth 5.3, an Adaptive NC Optimizer, Quick Attention, ambient sound mode and Auto Ambient Sound. Those controls and processing options give Sony a broad set of ways to tailor how much outside sound you hear, even if they do not guarantee a preferred musical balance.
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Sony: broader touch control
RTINGS describes Sony’s touch controls as more comprehensive. Gestures can be convenient when your hands are occupied, and Sony’s Quick Attention and ambient features are designed for quickly changing your awareness level. Touch panels can, however, be sensitive to hats, hair or accidental contact, so test the gestures you will use most.
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Bose: buttons for predictable presses
RTINGS notes that some users may prefer Bose’s physical buttons. A button provides a tactile confirmation and can be easier to operate without searching for a touch area, especially in cold weather or while wearing gloves. The trade-off is that button layouts require learning and may offer fewer gesture-style shortcuts than Sony.
Best Value
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Choose based on how you operate headphones in real life: commuters who frequently switch modes may value Sony’s touch interaction, while listeners who dislike accidental touches may prefer Bose’s button feel.
Battery, charging and portability
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM6 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published battery figure | 30 hours, listed by What Hi-Fi in 2025 | Up to 30 hours, listed in Bose’s support specification | These are not a controlled head-to-head endurance test and may use different conditions. |
| Quick charge | Not stated in the supplied comparison evidence | Up to 3 hours from a 15-minute charge; up to 2 hours with Immersive Audio | Bose’s figure is a stated maximum and depends on the operating mode. |
| Weight | 254 g, listed by What Hi-Fi in 2025 | Not stated in the supplied evidence | Weight alone does not predict comfort because balance, clamp and pad shape also matter. |
What Hi-Fi’s 2025 listing gives the Sony 30 hours and 254 g. That article compared Sony with the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra, so the Sony figures are product facts but its Bose conclusions are not second-generation testing.
Bose’s support specification lists up to 30 hours for the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), with up to three hours of playback after a 15-minute charge, or up to two hours when Immersive Audio is active. “Up to” is important: actual endurance changes with volume, wireless conditions, ANC and immersive features. Since the Sony and Bose figures come from different sources and no identical test method is shown, do not infer that they will last exactly the same time in daily use.
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Choose the Sony WH-1000XM6 if…
- You want the small isolation advantage reported by RTINGS.
- You prefer a more comprehensive touch-control system.
- You are drawn to the more energetic default tuning described by RTINGS.
- You value the current What Hi-Fi verdict favoring Sony’s all-round sound quality.
- You want Sony’s listed ambient, Quick Attention and Auto Ambient Sound functions.
Choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if…
- You find Bose’s ANC effect more immediately convincing in your own listening, as What Hi-Fi did.
- You prefer physical buttons over touch gestures.
- You need or want lossless USB-C audio from a compatible source.
- You watch a lot of films and want to evaluate Cinema Mode and its dialogue-focused presentation.
- You prefer Bose’s fit after a direct try-on, even if another test gives Sony a small isolation edge.
If you are undecided
Buy or borrow both under conditions that match your routine. Start with ANC on during a commute or in a noisy room, then listen to familiar music at matched volume. Finish with a long comfort session and several mode changes. Keep the pair that solves your daily annoyances, not the one that wins a single isolated specification.
Common mistakes when comparing these headphones
- Mixing generations: do not use a first-generation QuietComfort Ultra review as evidence about the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).
- Treating “up to” battery life as guaranteed: maximum claims are not normal-use measurements.
- Equating ANC impressions: “more obvious” and “slightly stronger isolation” describe different evaluation frames.
- Choosing from weight alone: a lighter headset can still create pressure or heat in the wrong places.
- Assuming a review’s sound winner is universal: music preference, hearing, fit and volume all influence the result.
- Ignoring seal: glasses, hair and ear position can reduce isolation and bass on either model.
Bottom line
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the better all-round starting point for most buyers who prioritize measured isolation, touch controls and the sound balance favored by What Hi-Fi. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is not a lesser copy: it offers a different ANC presentation, button controls, lossless USB-C audio and Cinema Mode. If Bose fits your head better or its sound and controls suit you, those advantages are more meaningful than Sony’s modest test lead. Treat the generation label, a real comfort trial and your own listening as decisive.
Quick Recap
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