✦ SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARE

QuietComfort Ultra vs WH-1000XM4: which is better?

QuietComfort Ultra and WH-1000XM4 compared side by side across 73 specs and 9 scored categories — every winner highlighted, so the right pick is obvious.

2 PRODUCTS · 73 SPECS · 9 SCORED CATEGORIES · LIVE RE-RANKING

COMPARING

2 / 4

HEADPHONES

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

← TOP PICK

BOSE

QuietComfort Ultra

$429

BEST OVERALL

SONY

WH-1000XM4

$348

BEST VALUE

Add product

2 AVAILABLE

⚡ COMPARZONE VERDICT

The QuietComfort Ultra takes the overall win.

Highest composite at 8.9/10 — 0.2 ahead of the WH-1000XM4. Dead heat on features. Scroll for the category-by-category breakdown.

View best price →

CATEGORY WINS · 9 SCOREDTIES SHOWN GREY

SOUN

NOIS

COMF

BATT

FEAT

VALU

SOUN

NOIS

BATT

QuietComfort Ultra×4

WH-1000XM4×4

Bose QuietComfort Ultra HeadphonesBEST OVERALL

Sony WH-1000XM4BEST VALUE

01 · SCORE RADAR

Performance profile

CLICK A PRODUCT TO ISOLATE ITS SHAPE

LARGEST GAPNoise Cancelling — QuietComfort Ultra leads by 9.3

TIGHTESTFeatures — dead heat between the top two

02 · CATEGORY BREAKDOWN

Category showdown

QUIETCOMFOWH 1000XM4

SoundiQuietComfort Ultra · +9.0

QUIETCOMFO9.0

WH 1000XM40.0

Noise CancellingiQuietComfort Ultra · +9.3

QUIETCOMFO9.3

WH 1000XM40.0

ComfortiQuietComfort Ultra · +0.8

QUIETCOMFO9.5

WH 1000XM48.7

BatteryiQuietComfort Ultra · +8.2

QUIETCOMFO8.2

WH 1000XM40.0

FeaturesiTIED AT 8.8

QUIETCOMFO8.8

WH 1000XM48.8

ValueiWH-1000XM4 · +0.9

QUIETCOMFO8.3

WH 1000XM49.2

Sound QualityiWH-1000XM4 · +8.6

QUIETCOMFO0.0

WH 1000XM48.6

Noise CancellationiWH-1000XM4 · +9.0

QUIETCOMFO0.0

WH 1000XM49.0

Battery LifeiWH-1000XM4 · +8.5

QUIETCOMFO0.0

WH 1000XM48.5

03 · VALUE MAP

Price vs performance

TOP-LEFT IS THE SWEET SPOT

SCORE PER $100 · RANKED

01WH-1000XM42.50BEST DEAL

02QuietComfort 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$4291W8.9

WH-1000XM4$3482W8.7

Typei

Over-ear closed-back

Over-ear

Driver SizeMMi

35 mm

40 mm← BEST +14%

Frequency Responsei

Tuned, undisclosed

4 Hz - 40 kHz

Codec Supporti

aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC

SBC, AAC, LDAC

Hi-Res AudioiSAME

Yes

Spatial AudioiSAME

Yes

Battery Life (ANC)HRi

24 hr

30 hr← BEST +25%

Quick Chargei

15 min = 2.5 hours

10 min = 5 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

—

WeightGiSAME

254 g

Water Resistancei

IPX4

None

Build QualityiSAME

—

Sound QualityiSAME

—

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

6← BEST +20%

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

QuietComfort UltraBOSE8.9

ALL GROUPSEQUAL WEIGHT

Best total score across weighted category factors.

RUNNER-UP · WH-1000XM4 (8.7)

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 · QuietComfort Ultra (2.1)

PRIORITY · NOISE CANCELLING

Best for noise cancelling

QuietComfort UltraBOSE9.3

NOISE CANCELLING WEIGHTEDCONF 89%

Best visible score in the noise cancelling category group.

RUNNER-UP · WH-1000XM4 (0.0)

PRIORITY · SOUND

Best for sound

QuietComfort UltraBOSE9.0

SOUND WEIGHTEDCONF 86%

Best visible score in the sound category group.

RUNNER-UP · WH-1000XM4 (0.0)

06 · BOTTOM LINE

Why pick each

STRENGTHS · AND ONE HONEST TRADE-OFF

#1BOSE0.0

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 ANC Microphones

TRADE-OFF24-hour battery trails rivals

BEST OVERALLBest price →

#2SONY0.0

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

Wins Battery Life (ANC)

Wins Driver Size

TRADE-OFFCall quality trails the newer XM5

BEST VALUEBest price →

Still deciding? The QuietComfort Ultra is the safest pick.

COMPOSITE 8.9/10 · WINS 4 OF 9 CATEGORIES

Buy the winner →

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM4: which is better?

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is our overall pick, scoring 8.9/10 against 8.7/10 for the Sony WH-1000XM4 — a 2% edge. Current starting prices span $348–$429. The score weighs category-specific headphones attributes, spec wins, price signals, and data confidence — not sponsorships.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones leads overall with a 8.9 total score.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones wins 6 comparable specs with a 8% weighted win rate.
Sony WH-1000XM4 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 HeadphonesWINNER 8.9/10

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.”

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…”

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Sony WH-1000XM4?

By ComparZone's weighted scoring of category-specific headphones specs, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones scores highest overall (8.9/10, 0.2 points ahead of the Sony WH-1000XM4). 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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sony WH-1000XM4?

The biggest measurable differences are Battery Life (ANC), Codec Support, Type — with the Sony WH-1000XM4 leading on Battery Life (ANC). The grouped spec sheet above marks the winner of every comparable spec.

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones better value than the Sony WH-1000XM4?

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones starts around $429 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 around $348. Weigh the score gap against the price gap: a small score lead rarely justifies a large premium unless it comes from the specs you personally care about.

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.

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