Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Get the Bose QC Ultra 2. The strongest quiet, the comfiest fit for long flights, and it folds into a bag. The XM5 is the cheaper deal, with a hinge owners say cracks.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
We may earn a commission from these links.
Which one is for you?
Sony XM5
Sony sound for less, a deal you can't ignore, gentle hands? The XM5.
Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 worth it?Bose QC Ultra 2
Lots of flying, all-day wear, in and out of a bag every day? Then it's the QC Ultra 2.
Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) worth it?Key differences
Noise cancelling
Comfort
Lossless over USB-C
Price
What owners say
Verified buyers only; every 1–3 star review read by us. How we do this
Sony XM5
Owners love the noise cancelling, the sound and the comfort. The main complaint is noise cancelling that falls short of the hype, and the plastic hinge cracking comes up again and again.
- Excellent noise cancelling
- Great sound
- Comfortable for long wear
- Unreliable Bluetooth, random pauses or switching off, touch controls misfiring
- The hinge or headband joint cracked or snapped
Bose QC Ultra 2
Owners love the sound, the comfort and the noise cancelling. A few find the sound flat or short on bass for the price.
- Great sound
- Comfortable for hours
- Strong noise cancelling
- Sound flat or short on bass
- Too expensive for what you get
Related pages
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the Sony XM5: 2,044 verified buyer ratings at Currys, Target (US), LDLC (France) and Takealot (South Africa), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the Bose QC Ultra 2: 133 verified buyer ratings at Currys, Target (US), Otto (Germany), Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), Takealot (South Africa) and Costco (Canada), read November 2026.