Comparison between Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 and Sony WF-1000XM5: Which ANC headphones are better?
What features do the new mid-range headphones from Bose have compared to the premium models from Sony?
Bose QuietComfort In-Ear Headphones (2024)
Bluetooth : 5.3 (SBC, AAC)
Wireless charging : Yes
Battery life : 8.5 hours (+21 hours with charging case)
Weight : 8.5 g (per earphone)
At their regular price, these headphones deserve a five-star rating. And with the current discount, the purchase becomes even more affordable. With their excellent sound quality, elegant design and useful features, the Bose headphones are perfect for everyday use. Their sound is a bit more dynamic than that of the XM5, and their battery life is longer.
Advantages :
- Comfortable seat
- Good battery life
- Deep, musical sound
- Effective noise cancellation
Disadvantages :
- Not as perfect as Bose's flagship QC Ultra
- Form may not suit everyone
- No aptX support
- The call quality leaves much to be desired
Sony WF-1000XM5
Bluetooth : 5.3 (SBC, AAC, LDAC)
Wireless charging : Yes
Battery life : 8 hours (+16 hours with charging case)
Weight : 5.9 g (per earphone)
The XM5 are the better headphones of the two, albeit with minor differences. We particularly like their fine sound and extensive functionality. While they could be more comfortable and stable in the ear, their battery life is a little worse and their price is a little higher.
Advantages :
- Best-in-class detail and musicality
- Many useful functions
- Comfortable and elegant design
Disadvantages :
- lack of bass
- Could sit more securely in the ear
- Shorter battery life
Sony and Bose have long been rivals in the headphone market, and each year the competition between the two brands only gets fiercer, with both releasing at least one new model each year.
Bose's latest model is an update to the QuietComfort Earbuds 2024, a successor to the 2020 model of the same name. As you'd expect from Bose, these headphones offer excellent active noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, and excellent sound quality—all at a more affordable price than the flagship QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Not surprisingly, they earned five stars in our review.
However, like any model in the premium and mid-range segment, they have a strong competitor: the Sony WF-1000XM5. These headphones have taken the lead since their release in 2023, and their price has dropped significantly since then, making them even more attractive, especially when compared to Bose's cheaper models.
So which headphones should you choose - Sony or Bose? Let's take a look.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: Price
Since Bose is a mid-range model and Sony is a top-of-the-range model, you would expect a significant price difference. In practice, however, the prices are much closer than you would expect.
The Bose headphones went on sale in September 2024 with a price of 18,500 rubles, but have already been reduced to around 13,000 rubles.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 came out a year earlier, in July 2023, and started with a price tag of 31,000 rubles. However, at the time of writing, they are already on sale for 22,000 rubles. So the price difference between the two models is only about 9,000 rubles.
Nonetheless, Bose remains the cheaper model on the market, making them a popular choice among buyers.
Test winner: Bose QuietComfort 2024 earplugs
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: Design
Test winner: Bose QuietComfort 2024 earplugs
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: Design
Bose headphones tend to have a fairly large and striking design, in keeping with the brand's ambitious and confident style. Externally, they resemble the more expensive QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, only with shorter stems, giving them a more oval shape. The unit is made from a combination of matte and glossy plastic and comes with three sizes of mounts and ear pads for a comfortable fit.
These elements help the headphones stay securely in place without feeling overly bulky like the Sony WF-1000XM5. The QuietComfort may seem a little too big for people with smaller ears, but that depends on individual preference.
The XM5 are much more compact than their predecessors, the older but still stylish XM4. Despite their smaller size compared to Bose, they have a similar combination of matte and glossy plastic. Like the Bose headphones, they are IPX4 water resistant.
Our testers found that the Bose headphones offered a more stable fit thanks to their stabilizing strips. In contrast, the XM5 headphones only use polyurethane fasteners, which, while providing a good seal, are not as firm. This can make the headphones seem like they're about to fall out easily, and you have to insert them deeper into your ear canal to get a secure fit, which can create more pressure than the Bose headphones.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: Features
Bose also scores points when it comes to battery life: the headphones last up to 8.5 hours on a single charge and up to 29.5 hours in total, including charging via the charging case. This beats the Sony WF-1000XM5, which lasts 8 hours on a single charge and 24 hours with the charging case.
Both models feature Bluetooth 5.3 and support SBC and AAC codecs, but Sony offers its own LDAC format with higher sound quality. Bluetooth multipoint support means both models can connect to two devices at once and easily switch between them without the need for re-pairing - handy if, for example, you're listening to music from your phone but need to take a call from your laptop.
In addition, both models support wireless charging.
As expected, both companies' headphones are compatible with the apps developed by the manufacturers. But Bose surprised everyone by offering a brand new app for its QuietComfort Earbuds. Instead of using the standard app for all wireless headphones, Bose has developed an app called Bose QCE because the new earbuds use updated hardware and firmware not found in other models. Interestingly, Bose says it has no plans to make this app available for other headphones from the brand.
The app includes all the basic features like touch control settings, multi-point connections, five-band EQ and sound presets, as well as a low latency mode for better sync with videos. There is also a feature that allows you to activate the camera shutter on the phone using headphones.
It's also worth mentioning that Bose headphones will feature Immersive Audio surround sound technology next year, which is a great addition for a mid-range device, but it's not a necessary feature at the moment.
Sony's XM5 headphones, on the other hand, feature DSEE Extreme technology, which improves the quality of low-bitrate music files by restoring details. They also support 360 Reality Audio with dynamic head tracking for deeper and more spatial sound.
In addition, Sony's headphones again feature Adaptive Audio Control and Speak-to-Chat features. The former automatically adjusts the level of outside noise to suit your surroundings, while the latter reduces the volume of your music when you start speaking, letting the outside noise through so you can have a conversation without having to take the headphones off.
Test winner: Sony WF-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: ANC and call quality
Bose was the first manufacturer to introduce noise-canceling technology in headphones and has long been a leader in this field. Although the QuietComfort Earbuds are mid-priced, they effectively suppress outside noise.
Without the CustomTune technology found on the more expensive QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, they're not quite as effective, but they still do a good job of canceling out mid and low frequencies. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is simpler on these earbuds than on the Ultra: you can easily turn Aware mode on or off, so you can hear ambient noise when you need it without having to remove the earbuds.
The Sony XM5s use three microphones in each earcup for noise cancellation, as well as an integrated V2 processor and a QN2e HD noise cancellation processor. This makes the noise cancellation more pronounced than the Bose headphones and also less intrusive during longer listening sessions. It's worth noting, however, that the XM5s are a little worse at cancelling out some external noises as they are allowed through the mesh.
However , in terms of call quality, the Sony XM5 are a clear winner. They protrude less from the ears, which reduces wind noise, and have an improved noise cancellation system with artificial intelligence that learns from noise data. In addition, the headphones use a bone conduction sensor to detect when you are speaking, making calls clearer. You can also accept a call with a nod or reject it by shaking your head.
On the other hand, calls through the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds sound good, but not as clear, dynamic and balanced as through the Sony XM5.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: Sound
Now let's look at the basic comparison. Bose and Sony are both high-end headphones, and both pairs deserve five stars for their excellent sound quality. However, their sound profiles are quite different.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer a more powerful and dynamic sound. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer a more powerful and dynamic sound. They feature pronounced bass frequencies, which means the bass is deep and tight, but still has excellent detail. The midrange is bright and punchy, while the highs are controlled. These headphones are capable of reproducing complex songs, such as Radiohead's 15 Step, with excellent cohesion. While the soundstage isn't as spacious as the more expensive QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds , they offer great sound for the price, with rich bass and energy.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 , on the other hand, offer a more neutral and precise sound. While their bass is not as deep as Bose's, it is better controlled and provides a more balanced sound. The Sony emphasizes precision and detail, which makes them sound more analytical, but they do not lack rhythm - their drive is crisp and precise. The XM5 's soundscape is more open and transparent, with a high level of clarity and texture that has been rare in wireless headphones until now.
It's a juxtaposition between the decisive, powerful approach of Bose and the more refined and precise style of Sony . Despite the similar level of quality, the Sony delivers a more refined and precise sound, making it the first choice for those who appreciate detailed and balanced sound.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5: Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 are very close in terms of sound quality, and both have their own strengths. The Bose headphones are cheaper (though not by much), have better noise cancellation, longer battery life, and a sturdier fit, making them a good choice for users who value comfort and durability.
The Sony XM5 , on the other hand, are more compact in size and therefore more suitable for people with smaller ears. They also offer more features, better call quality and, in our opinion, a slightly more satisfying sound with more precision and detail.
If your budget allows, we recommend the Sony XM5 as they offer more features and better call quality. However, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds also have many advantages and are ideal for those who want excellent noise cancellation and longer battery life. In any case, both models are a great choice and will meet the expectations of their owners.