Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones to Buy in 2026
The Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the two noise cancelling headphones most people shortlist, and in 2026 both are newer than many comparisons assume: Sony launched the XM6 in 2025, and Bose followed with a 2nd-gen QC Ultra later that year.
This guide compares them spec by spec and explains who each one suits, then covers three alternatives: the Sennheiser Momentum 4 for battery life, the AirPods Max for Apple users and the JBL Tour One M3 for value.
What is in this guide
Quick comparison
| Model | Best for | Battery (ANC on) | Standout feature | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Best ANC overall | Up to 30 h | 12-mic ANC, LDAC, folds | Premium |
| Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) | Comfort, long flights | Up to 30 h | Comfort, USB-C lossless | Premium |
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 | Battery life | Up to 60 h | aptX Adaptive | Mid-range |
| Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) | Apple users | Up to 20 h | Spatial audio, Apple switching | Premium |
| JBL Tour One M3 | Value alternative | Up to 40 h | Smart Tx transmitter option | Mid-range |
Battery figures are the makers’ own ratings. Real-world numbers vary with volume, codec and features such as spatial audio.
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra: head to head
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery, ANC on | Up to 30 h | Up to 30 h (less with Immersive Audio) |
| Quick charge | 3 min for ~3 h | 15 min for ~2.5 h |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Wired listening | 3.5 mm cable | 3.5 mm cable, lossless USB-C |
| Multipoint | 2 devices | 2 devices |
| Spatial audio | 360 Upmix for video and games | Immersive Audio (any source) |
| Folding design | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | Touch panel | Buttons and touch strip |
Noise cancelling
Both are at the top of the category, and the gap between them is small enough that fit matters more than the spec sheet. Independent reviews tend to give the Sony a slight edge with voices and office chatter, while the Bose handles low engine rumble just as well and feels gentler on long flights. If you can try both on, do.
Sound
The Sony is tuned warm with a strong low end; the Bose is a little brighter and airier, with Immersive Audio for a speaker-like effect. Both apps have an EQ, so neither default is a deal-breaker. Android users who stream high-resolution files get more from the Sony’s LDAC; iPhone users get AAC on both.
Comfort and design
The Bose is the comfort pick for most heads, with softer pads and a lighter clamp. The Sony is close and now folds again. The Bose uses physical buttons plus a touch strip for volume, which some people prefer to Sony’s all-touch ear cup.
Calls and extras
The Sony’s 12 microphones make it one of the better over-ears for calls in noisy places. The Bose adds Cinema Mode and lossless USB-C listening, handy with a laptop. Both connect to two devices at once.
Which one?
Choose the Sony if you want the strongest all-round ANC, better calls and LDAC. Choose the Bose if comfort over many hours is the priority or you watch a lot of video on the go. You will not go wrong with either.
The five ANC headphones compared
Sony WH-1000XM6
Best overall noise cancelling
- Battery: Up to 30 hours ANC on, 40 hours ANC off
- Quick charge: 3 minutes for about 3 hours
- Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
- Microphones: 12 (for ANC and calls)
- Bluetooth: 5.3, multipoint (2 devices)
- Weight: About 254 g
- Price tier: Premium
The WH-1000XM6 is Sony’s current flagship, released in 2025. It uses 12 microphones and a new processor for noise cancelling that adjusts to your surroundings in real time, and it brings back a folding hinge, which the XM5 dropped. That makes it easier to pack than its predecessor.
Sony rates the battery at up to 30 hours with ANC on, and a 3-minute charge gives about 3 hours of playback. LDAC support matters if you use an Android phone and stream high-resolution files; on an iPhone you get AAC either way. The Sony Sound Connect app has a 10-band EQ, so the default warm tuning is easy to adjust.
Pros
- Class-leading ANC and 12-microphone call pickup
- Folds again, with a compact case
- LDAC and a detailed EQ in the app
Cons
- Battery is shorter than the Sennheiser and JBL
- Touch controls only, no physical volume buttons
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Best for comfort on long flights
- Battery: Up to 30 hours ANC on (Bose figure; less with Immersive Audio)
- Quick charge: 15 minutes for about 2.5 hours
- Wired audio: Lossless over USB-C
- Bluetooth: 5.4, multipoint (2 devices)
- Extras: Immersive Audio, Cinema Mode
- Price tier: Premium
Bose refreshed the QC Ultra in late 2025. The 2nd Gen keeps the light, plush fit that made the original the comfort pick, and adds the things owners asked for: longer battery life, lossless wired audio over a USB-C cable, a Cinema Mode for video, auto on and off when you put them on or take them off, and the option to switch noise cancelling off completely.
Noise cancelling is in the same league as the Sony, and many listeners find the Bose more comfortable over a full workday or a long-haul flight because of its softer clamp. Immersive Audio, Bose’s spatial mode, is fun for films but shortens battery life noticeably. The original 2023 QC Ultra is still sold in places; it is rated for about 24 hours and lacks the USB-C audio mode.
Pros
- Very comfortable for hours at a time
- ANC on par with the Sony
- Lossless USB-C audio and Cinema Mode
Cons
- Immersive Audio cuts battery life
- No LDAC
Check Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) price on Amazon
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Best battery life
- Battery: Up to 60 hours ANC on
- Quick charge: 5 minutes for about 4 hours
- Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- Weight: About 293 g
- Price tier: Mid-range
The Momentum 4 is the pick if charging is the thing you most want to stop thinking about. Sennheiser rates it at up to 60 hours with noise cancelling on, roughly twice the Sony and the Bose, so a week of commuting or a round-trip long-haul flight fits on one charge.
Its noise cancelling is good but a step behind the two flagships, especially with voices and higher-pitched noise. The sound is balanced with a bass lift, and aptX Adaptive gives Android users a higher-quality Bluetooth link. It is an older model now (2022), which is why it usually sits a tier below the flagships.
Pros
- Up to 60 hours with ANC on
- aptX Adaptive for Android
- Balanced, adjustable sound
Cons
- ANC is a step behind Sony and Bose
- Does not fold up, so the case is bulkier
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)
Best for iPhone and Mac users
- Battery: Up to 20 hours with ANC
- Chip: Apple H1 in each ear cup
- Wired audio: Lossless over USB-C
- Features: Personalized Spatial Audio, Transparency mode
- Weight: About 385 g
- Price tier: Premium
The AirPods Max make sense mainly if you live on Apple devices. Pairing is instant, they switch between your iPhone, iPad and Mac automatically, and Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking works well with films and Apple Music. The 2024 refresh moved to USB-C, and a later update added lossless audio over a USB-C cable.
They are the heaviest pair here at about 385 g, battery life is rated at 20 hours, and the Smart Case covers only the ear cups. On Android they work as ordinary Bluetooth headphones and lose most of what makes them worth buying.
Pros
- Seamless with iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Excellent Transparency mode and spatial audio
- Aluminum and steel build
Cons
- Heaviest pair here
- Shortest battery life, minimal case
- Little reason to buy on Android
JBL Tour One M3
Best value flagship alternative
- Battery: Up to 40 hours ANC on, 70 hours ANC off
- Quick charge: 5 minutes for about 5 hours
- Microphones: 8 for adaptive ANC
- Bluetooth: 5.3, multipoint (2 devices)
- Weight: About 278 g
- Price tier: Mid-range
JBL’s Tour One M3 is the newest model in this list after the Sony and the Bose, and it is the most practical alternative to them for most buyers. JBL rates it at up to 40 hours with noise cancelling on, it folds, and it supports two-device multipoint.
The adaptive ANC uses eight microphones and is strong for the money, though not quite at the level of the Sony or Bose. A Smart Tx edition comes with a small transmitter with a touchscreen, which can be cabled to an in-flight entertainment system or a TV and send its audio to the headphones wirelessly.
Pros
- Up to 40 hours with ANC on
- Strong ANC for the tier
- Optional Smart Tx transmitter
Cons
- ANC and calls a notch below Sony and Bose
- Heavier than the Sony
How to choose noise cancelling headphones
Where you will use them
For flights and trains, low-frequency noise is the main target, and every pair here handles it well; comfort and battery life decide the rest. For open offices, voices are harder to cancel, which is where the Sony and Bose pull ahead. For commuting on foot, a good Transparency mode matters as much as ANC.
Your phone
iPhones use AAC over Bluetooth, so LDAC and aptX Adaptive bring no benefit there; the AirPods Max add Apple-only conveniences. On Android, the Sony (LDAC) and the Sennheiser or Bose (aptX Adaptive on supported phones) can stream at higher quality.
Battery life
Thirty hours covers most trips. If you hate charging or travel for a week at a time, the Sennheiser (60 hours) and the JBL (40 hours) go much longer. Spatial audio modes reduce battery life on every model.
Over-ear or earbuds?
Over-ears cancel noise better and are more comfortable for hours, but they are bulky. If you want something for the gym or a pocket, see our best wireless earbuds and AirPods alternatives guides, or our LinkBuds Open vs Bose Ultra Open comparison for open-ear options.
For more over-ear options, see our premium headphones and headphones for working from home guides. Flying with them? A USB-C travel adapter charges headphones and phone from one socket. Headphones are also one of the most popular picks in our Christmas tech gifts and Black Friday tech deals guides.
Sony XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra FAQ
Which has better noise cancelling, Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QC Ultra?
They are very close. Many reviews give the Sony a slight edge with voices and mixed noise, while the Bose matches it on engine rumble. Fit and comfort make more difference day to day than the small gap in ANC.
Which has better battery life?
Both are rated for up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on. The Bose drops noticeably with Immersive Audio enabled. If battery life is the priority, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 (up to 60 hours) and JBL Tour One M3 (up to 40 hours) last longer.
Is the Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen worth it over the original?
If you are buying new, yes: it adds longer battery life, lossless USB-C audio, Cinema Mode, auto on and off and the ability to turn ANC fully off. If you already own the original, the upgrade is modest.
Are the Sony or Bose better for iPhone?
Both work well with iPhones over AAC; LDAC on the Sony does not apply. If you want automatic switching between Apple devices and spatial audio with head tracking, the AirPods Max are the better fit.
Can you use them wired on a plane?
Yes. Both include a 3.5 mm cable for in-flight entertainment systems, and the Bose can also play lossless audio over USB-C from a laptop or phone.
Final verdict
Final verdict
The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the best all-round noise cancelling headphone for most people, with top-tier ANC, strong call quality and LDAC. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is the one to pick if comfort over long flights or workdays matters most. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 wins on battery life, the AirPods Max belong with Apple users, and the JBL Tour One M3 is the best value alternative to the two flagships.
- Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6
- Most comfortable: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Best battery life: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
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