✦ SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARE

QuietComfort Ultra vs Aonic 50 Gen 2 vs WH-1000XM4 vs WH-1000XM5: which is better?

QuietComfort Ultra, Aonic 50 Gen 2, WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5 compared side by side across 73 specs and 13 scored categories — every winner highlighted, so the right pick is obvious.

4 PRODUCTS · 73 SPECS · 13 SCORED CATEGORIES · LIVE RE-RANKING

COMPARING

4 / 4

HEADPHONES

Add or remove products — every chart and spec row re-ranks live.

BOSE

QuietComfort Ultra

$429

WINS COMFORT

SHURE

Aonic 50 Gen 2

$349

BEST FOR AUDIO

SONY

WH-1000XM4

$348

BEST VALUE

← TOP PICK

SONY

WH-1000XM5

$399

BEST OVERALL

⚡ COMPARZONE VERDICT

The WH-1000XM5 takes the overall win.

Highest composite at 9.0/10 — 0.1 ahead of the QuietComfort Ultra. Tightest race: sound, just 0.2 apart. Scroll for the category-by-category breakdown.

View best price →

CATEGORY WINS · 13 SCOREDTIES SHOWN GREY

SOUN

NOIS

COMF

BATT

FEAT

VALU

AUDI

CONN

DESI

FEAT

SOUN

NOIS

BATT

QuietComfort Ultra×1

Aonic 50 Gen 2×4

WH-1000XM4×4

WH-1000XM5×4

Bose QuietComfort Ultra HeadphonesWINS COMFORT

Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling HeadphonesBEST FOR AUDIO

Sony WH-1000XM4BEST VALUE

Sony WH-1000XM5BEST OVERALL

01 · SCORE RADAR

Performance profile

CLICK A PRODUCT TO ISOLATE ITS SHAPE

LARGEST GAPAudio — Aonic 50 Gen 2 leads by 9.5

TIGHTESTSound — only 0.2 between the top two

02 · CATEGORY BREAKDOWN

Category showdown

QUIETCOMFOGEN 2WH 1000XM4WH 1000XM5

SoundiWH-1000XM5 · +0.2

QUIETCOMFO9.0

GEN 20.0

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM59.2

Noise CancellingiWH-1000XM5 · +0.2

QUIETCOMFO9.3

GEN 29.0

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM59.5

ComfortiQuietComfort Ultra · +0.5

QUIETCOMFO9.5

GEN 20.0

WH 1000XM48.7

WH 1000XM59.0

BatteryiAonic 50 Gen 2 · +0.7

QUIETCOMFO8.2

GEN 29.8

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM59.1

FeaturesiWH-1000XM5 · +0.5

QUIETCOMFO8.8

GEN 28.8

WH 1000XM48.8

WH 1000XM59.3

ValueiWH-1000XM4 · +0.7

QUIETCOMFO8.3

GEN 28.0

WH 1000XM49.2

WH 1000XM58.5

AudioiAonic 50 Gen 2 · +9.5

QUIETCOMFO0.0

GEN 29.5

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM50.0

ConnectivityiAonic 50 Gen 2 · +8.5

QUIETCOMFO0.0

GEN 28.5

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM50.0

DesigniAonic 50 Gen 2 · +9.0

QUIETCOMFO0.0

GEN 29.0

WH 1000XM40.0

WH 1000XM50.0

FEATURESiWH-1000XM5 · +0.5

QUIETCOMFO8.8

GEN 28.8

WH 1000XM48.8

WH 1000XM59.3

Sound QualityiWH-1000XM4 · +8.6

QUIETCOMFO0.0

GEN 20.0

WH 1000XM48.6

WH 1000XM50.0

Noise CancellationiWH-1000XM4 · +9.0

QUIETCOMFO0.0

GEN 20.0

WH 1000XM49.0

WH 1000XM50.0

Battery LifeiWH-1000XM4 · +8.5

QUIETCOMFO0.0

GEN 20.0

WH 1000XM48.5

WH 1000XM50.0

03 · VALUE MAP

Price vs performance

TOP-LEFT IS THE SWEET SPOT

SCORE PER $100 · RANKED

01WH-1000XM42.50BEST DEAL

02Aonic 50 Gen 22.49

03WH-1000XM52.26

04QuietComfort Ultra2.07

Map shows current starting prices · trends show tracked street prices. Check live deals before deciding.

04 · THE FULL SHEET

Full specifications

73 SPECS · ALL SHOWN

SPECS

QuietComfort Ultra$4290W8.9

Aonic 50 Gen 2$3492W8.7

WH-1000XM4$3480W8.7

WH-1000XM5$3992W9.0

Typei

Over-ear closed-back

Over-ear, Wireless

Over-ear

Over-ear closed-back

Driver SizeMMi

35 mm

50 mm← BEST +25%

40 mm

30 mm

Frequency Responsei

Tuned, undisclosed

20 Hz - 22 kHz

4 Hz - 40 kHz

4 Hz – 40 kHz

Codec Supporti

aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC

aptX Adaptive, LDAC, AAC, SBC

SBC, AAC, LDAC

LDAC / AAC / SBC

Hi-Res AudioiSAME

Yes

Spatial AudioiSAME

Yes

Battery Life (ANC)HRi

24 hr

45 hr← BEST +50%

30 hr

Quick Chargei

15 min = 2.5 hours

15 min for 5 hours

10 min = 5 hours

3 min = 3 hours

Has A WirediSAME

—

Has A WirelessiSAME

—

Bluetooth VersioniSAME

—

Has Aptx AdaptiveiSAME

—

Has AptxiSAME

—

Has LdaciSAME

—

Has LdhciSAME

—

Has Bluetooth Le AudioiSAME

—

Has Aptx Low LatencyiSAME

—

Has Aptx HdiSAME

—

Has Aptx LosslessiSAME

—

Has AaciSAME

—

Has AuracastiSAME

—

Audio LatencyiSAME

—

Maximum Bluetooth RangeMiSAME

—

Has Fast PairingiSAME

—

Supports Bluetooth Pairing Using NfciSAME

—

MultipointiSAME

Yes

FitiSAME

—

Has A Detachable CableiSAME

—

Is Designed for KidsiSAME

—

Can be FoldediSAME

—

Has a Tangle Free CableiSAME

—

Travel Bag is IncludediSAME

—

Has an Open-Back DesigniSAME

—

Cable LengthMiSAME

—

Has Stereo SpeakersiSAME

—

WeightGi

254 g

334 g

254 g

250 g← 2% lighter

Water Resistancei

IPX4

—

None

Build Qualityi

—

Sound Qualityi

—

9.5

—

Release DateiSAME

—

Has A Noise-Canceling MicrophoneiSAME

—

Has Ambient Sound ModeiSAME

—

Has In/On-Ear DetectioniSAME

—

Number Of MicrophonesiSAME

—

Has A Mute FunctioniSAME

—

Multipoint CountiSAME

—

Has A Control Panel On The DeviceiSAME

—

Can Be Used As A HeadsetiSAME

—

Has An In-Line Control PaneliSAME

—

Value-for-MoneyiSAME

—

Warranty PeriodYEARSiSAME

—

Noise IsolationiSAME

—

ComfortiSAME

—

Active Noise CancellationiSAME

Yes

ANC Microphonesi

—

8← BEST +33%

Battery LifeHOURSiSAME

—

Charge TimeiSAME

—

Has Usb Type-CiSAME

—

Has A Battery Level IndicatoriSAME

—

Has Wireless ChargingiSAME

—

Battery PoweriSAME

—

Has A Solar Power BatteryiSAME

—

Has A Rechargeable BatteryiSAME

—

Has A Removable BatteryiSAME

—

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)iSAME

—

Lowest FrequencyHZiSAME

—

Highest FrequencyHZiSAME

—

Driver Unit SizeMMiSAME

—

ImpedanceOHMSiSAME

—

Supports Spatial AudioiSAME

—

Sound Pressure LevelDB/MWiSAME

—

Has A Neodymium MagnetiSAME

—

Has Passive Noise ReductioniSAME

—

ROW WINS

05 · WHICH ONE IS FOR YOU

Pick by persona

RE-RANKS LIVE AS YOU ADD OR REMOVE PRODUCTS

THE ALL-ROUNDER

Best overall

WH-1000XM5SONY9.0

ALL GROUPSEQUAL WEIGHT

Best total score across weighted category factors.

RUNNER-UP · QuietComfort Ultra (8.9)

FOR VALUE SEEKERS

Best bang for buck

WH-1000XM4SONY8.7

SCORE ÷ PRICELIVE PRICES

Strongest score-to-price ratio from the available price data.

RUNNER-UP · Aonic 50 Gen 2 (2.5)

PRIORITY · AUDIO

Best for audio

Aonic 50 Gen 2SHURE9.5

AUDIO WEIGHTEDCONF 91%

Best visible score in the audio category group.

RUNNER-UP · QuietComfort Ultra (0.0)

PRIORITY · DESIGN

Best for design

Aonic 50 Gen 2SHURE9.0

DESIGN WEIGHTEDCONF 86%

Best visible score in the design category group.

RUNNER-UP · QuietComfort Ultra (0.0)

06 · BOTTOM LINE

Why pick each

STRENGTHS · AND ONE HONEST TRADE-OFF

#2BOSE0.0

QuietComfort Ultra

“The comfort-and-immersion pick: plush all-day fit, excellent ANC, and Bose Immersive spatial audio.”

Comfort 9.5

Noise Cancelling 9.3

Wins Active Noise Cancellation

Wins Hi-Res Audio

TRADE-OFF24-hour battery trails rivals

WINS COMFORTBest price →

#3SHURE0.0

Aonic 50 Gen 2

“The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 are premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones delivering exceptional audio fidelity and immersive spatial sound ”

Battery 9.8

Audio 9.5

Wins Battery Life (ANC)

Wins Build Quality

TRADE-OFFPremium price point

BEST FOR AUDIOFull review →

#4SONY0.0

WH-1000XM4

“The still-excellent previous-gen Sony flagship, offering top-tier ANC and smart features at a now-mid-tier price.”

Value 9.2

Noise Cancellation 9.0

TRADE-OFFCall quality trails the newer XM5

BEST VALUEBest price →

#1SONY0.0

WH-1000XM5

“The all-round ANC benchmark: class-leading noise cancelling, rich tunable sound, and excellent call clarity.”

Noise Cancelling 9.5

Features 9.3

Wins ANC Microphones

Wins Weight

TRADE-OFFNo longer folds flat

BEST OVERALLBest price →

Still deciding? The WH-1000XM5 is the safest pick.

COMPOSITE 9.0/10 · WINS 4 OF 13 CATEGORIES

Buy the winner →

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: which is best?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is our overall pick, scoring 9.0/10 against 8.9/10 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — a 1% edge. Current starting prices span $348–$429. The score weighs category-specific headphones attributes, spec wins, price signals, and data confidence — not sponsorships.

Sony WH-1000XM5 leads overall with a 9.0 total score.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones wins 4 comparable specs with a 6% weighted win rate.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones has the strongest high-impact advantage in Battery Life (ANC).
Sony WH-1000XM4 has the best visible score-to-price balance based on available starting price.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones8.9/10

The comfort-and-immersion pick: plush all-day fit, excellent ANC, and Bose Immersive spatial audio.

Pros

+ Best-in-class comfort
+ Excellent noise cancellation
+ Immersive spatial audio
+ Folds at the hinge for travel

Cons

− 24-hour battery trails rivals
− Expensive
− Immersive mode reduces battery

Best for: Long listening sessions · Comfort-first buyers · Spatial audio fans

“The most comfortable premium ANC headphone with excellent noise cancelling and engaging spatial audio. Battery life trails Sony and the price is high.”

Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones8.7/10

The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 are premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones delivering exceptional audio fidelity and immersive spatial sound for discerning listeners.

Pros

+ Exceptional Hi-Res audio quality
+ Excellent active noise cancellation
+ Impressive 45-hour battery life
+ Comfortable, premium build

Cons

− Premium price point
− Not very compact when folded
− No official water resistance

Best for: Audiophile listening · Long-haul travel · Critical home listening

“<p><strong>Verdict:</strong> The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 headphones are an outstanding choice for audiophiles and premium users who value exceptional sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and a robust feature set. While a significant investment, their…”

Sony WH-1000XM48.7/10

The still-excellent previous-gen Sony flagship, offering top-tier ANC and smart features at a now-mid-tier price.

Pros

+ Excellent, class-leading-for-its-era ANC
+ Folds flat for compact travel
+ Rich feature set with Speak-to-Chat and adaptive control
+ Great value at current discounted prices

Cons

− Call quality trails the newer XM5
− No aptX support, LDAC only on Android
− Touch controls less reliable in cold weather

Best for: Bargain hunters wanting flagship ANC · Travelers who need foldable headphones · Android users who want LDAC

“The XM4 is one of the best value propositions in audio: near-flagship ANC and a rich feature set at a price that now sits well below newer rivals. It lacks the XM5's improved mics and the latest LDAC refinements feel marginal, but for most listeners it…”

Sony WH-1000XM5WINNER 9.0/10

The all-round ANC benchmark: class-leading noise cancelling, rich tunable sound, and excellent call clarity.

Pros

+ Class-leading noise cancellation
+ Rich, customizable sound with LDAC
+ Excellent call clarity
+ 30-hour battery with quick charge

Cons

− No longer folds flat
− Premium price
− Not water resistant

Best for: Frequent travelers · Office and focus work · Hi-res music listeners

“The best all-rounder for most people: superb ANC, customizable sound, and the clearest calls in the class. It no longer folds flat and the price stays premium.”

Frequently asked questions

Which is best: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones, Sony WH-1000XM4 or Sony WH-1000XM5?

By ComparZone's weighted scoring of category-specific headphones specs, the Sony WH-1000XM5 scores highest overall (9.0/10, 0.1 points ahead of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones). It is the better all-round pick, but the right choice depends on your priorities — the spec table above shows exactly where each one wins.

What are the main differences between these headphones?

The biggest measurable differences are Battery Life (ANC), Codec Support, Type — with the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones leading on Battery Life (ANC). The grouped spec sheet above marks the winner of every comparable spec.

Can I compare other headphones on ComparZone?

Yes — ComparZone supports dynamic comparison pages for any 2 to 4 headphones from the same category, with verified specs, transparent scores, and live prices. See the related comparisons below or build your own from the category page.

More headphones comparisons

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony INZONE H6 Air Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones vs Sony INZONE H6 Air Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones vs Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sony INZONE H6 Air Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e All headphones →Best headphones 2026