I compared flagship earbuds from Sony and Bose in 2026 – and the winner was a tough choice

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

If you're looking for top-tier wireless earbuds and you're not in Apple's ecosystem, you're likely deciding between the latest earbuds from Bose or Sony -- either the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds. Both earbuds sound great and offer exceptional noise cancellation, but Sony offers more detailed sound and customization, while Bose offers a simple, easygoing experience.

Also: I tested Sony and Bose's best headphones for months - how my buying advice has changed in 2026

So which ones should you buy? The answer to that question lies in your personal preferences. Both have a lot to offer, but they're not exactly the same. Here's how to decide between the two.

Specifications

You should buy the Sony WF-1000XM6 if...

1. You want better audio quality

Sony says that it worked with Grammy-winning audio engineers for its latest earbuds, and it shows -- they sound excellent. They consistently delivered a rich, detailed, well-balanced listening experience that pulls ahead of what the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) can do. 

The bass is smooth and present without steamrolling everything else, the highs are detailed and balanced, and instrument separation is excellent throughout. There's a nice roundness to the sub-bass that gives tracks genuine fullness and weight.

Also: The best Sony headphones and earbuds: Expert tested and reviewed

The Bose earbuds sound great, too, but their tuning leans more sculpted, with bass and highs that are pushed forward. Some people will gravitate toward Bose's V-shaped sound signature, but the Sony buds go for a more neutral, natural response. If you care about audio accuracy and balance, the WF-1000XM6 are the way to go. 

And if you want to shape the sound even further, Sony's app gives you way more room to work with (more on that below).

2. You want more customization

Sony's Sound Connect app offers access to a huge range of features and settings. You can control noise modes, touch controls, location-based settings, and a full 10-band EQ that spans 31Hz to 16kHz. That's more than enough flexibility for most people to really get the sound exactly how they want it, and it's far more capable than anything Bose offers in its software. 

The Bose app works fine and is easy to navigate, but its EQ offers just three bands labeled bass, mids, and treble. You get some ability to shape the sound, but it's not in the same ballpark as Sony's.

Also: Spotify vs. Apple Music: I've tried both and my choice is clear

Outside of EQ, Sony's app also lets you remap touch controls in ways the Bose app can't match, and it offers a wide range of additional listening features and settings to dig into. It can get overwhelming with just how much Sony has packed in there, but honestly, that's a much better problem to have than feeling limited. 

If you're someone who likes to tinker and fine-tune your listening experience, the Sony WF-1000XM6 paired with Sound Connect is hard to beat.

3. You care about hi-res audio

When it comes to high-resolution audio support, Sony has a meaningful advantage. The WF-1000XM6 supports LDAC and LC3 codecs, in addition to the standard SBC and AAC. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) support aptX Adaptive (including aptX Lossless), which is a solid codec in its own right, but LDAC and LC3 are more widely supported across devices and streaming services. 

If you've built up a hi-res music library or you're paying for a lossless streaming tier, the Sony earbuds are better equipped to reproduce that content.

Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the latest standard is changing audio right before our eyes

That said, keep in mind that for most listeners, the gap between high-quality AAC and LDAC is pretty subtle, and a lot depends on your source material and where you're listening. If you're on a noisy commute, you're almost certainly not going to hear the difference. But if you're the type of person who cares about this kind of thing, Sony gives you more to work with.

You should buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) if...

1. You want better ANC

I was hoping Sony's latest earbuds would offer the same generational leap in ANC as its over-ear counterparts, but that didn't quite happen. Instead, ANC is an area where Bose retains the crown. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) deliver the best active noise cancellation available in any wireless earbud right now.

Also: I listened to earbuds with Bose's AI noise cancelling, and can't go back to regular ANC

Bose's earbuds reduce overall ambient sound volume more effectively than the Sony WF-1000XM6 and do a better job zeroing in on the specific frequencies that actually disrupt your listening, such as background chatter.

The ANC in the WF-1000XM6 is very good -- and it is a step up from the WF-1000XM5 -- but it doesn't quite close the gap with Bose. Across multiple testing environments, the Bose earbuds came out on top every time.

2. You want a more relaxed fit

Comfort is always personal and subjective, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) deliver a more secure, comfortable fit for most people. The stem-based design distributes weight differently than Sony's rounded bud-style approach, and the Bose earbuds sit more securely without the fiddling and readjusting that the Sony WF-1000XM6 can sometimes require.

A stable, comfortable fit matters for more than just comfort during long listening sessions; seal quality is a major factor in how well noise cancellation performs, and a more secure fit translates directly into more consistent ANC results.

Also: I tested Sony and Bose's best headphones for months - how my buying advice has changed in 2026

The Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds are noticeably bigger than the previous generation, and while Sony says the redesigned shape was meant to better follow the natural contours of your ear, the larger body means the buds don't nestle as securely as you might hope, particularly during movement.

To be fair, neither pair of earbuds is uncomfortable. The Sony buds work perfectly fine for most listening sessions once you get the fit locked in. But if you're sensitive to how earbuds feel or plan to wear them for hours at a time, Bose's earbuds are the safer choice.

3. You like a boosted bass experience

Not everyone wants to have to tweak an EQ to get the sound they're looking for. Yes, the Sony earbuds offer a more refined response, and you can still get big, deep bass from them with the built-in EQ. But if you want a V-shaped EQ with boosted bass and scaled-back mids, then the Bose earbuds have you covered.

Writer's choice

I like both the Sony WF-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), but generally prefer the Sony buds. I find that they sound better, plus I like being able to customize the audio response more finely. While the Bose buds have better ANC, I use over-ear headphones on long flights, so the still-very-good ANC of the Sony earbuds is more than enough for me.

Featured reviews