Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs. Sony WF-1000XM5 vs. Apple AirPods Pro 2: Which Buds Are Best?

Price: A Wider Gap Than Before

Bose isn’t rocking the boat with pricing; its new earphones cost the same as the old ones. The QuietComfort Ultra Earphones (2nd Gen) will cost you $299. Meanwhile, Sony has been forced to respond to current trade-related tariffs by increasing the price of its WF-1000XM5 earphones from $299.99 to $329.99.

Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 have been $249 since their 2022 debut. Apple’s buds now cost $80 less than Sony’s, while the Bose hold the middle ground.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

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Design: From Minimal to Maximal

No two of these three pairs of earbuds look alike at all. Although both the Bose and Apple earbuds have stems, Bose has a slightly more complex and busier design than Apple’s signature minimalistic white look. Technically, the AirPods Pro 2 are slightly taller than the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, but the Bose earbuds have a much wider stem and look a bit chunkier overall. The WF-1000XM5 earbuds don’t have a stem; they’re the only pair of the three without one. Instead, they stick to a bud-style design with a nozzle that fits deeper in your ear canal.

Left to right: Apple AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) (Credit: Christian de Looper)

Given their size and complexity, the QuietComforts’ design is a little over the top for my tastes. I don’t mind the look of XM5 earbuds, but I think the minimalism of the AirPods Pro 2 makes them the best-looking of the three.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

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Comfort: A Bud for Every Ear

All three earbuds offer a relatively comfortable design, but they take slightly different approaches. The Bose are a little large, and while they don’t put too much pressure on your ears, you can still feel that extra size as you move around with them in your ears.

Although the Sony earbuds are more stem-like, they are pretty small and lightweight. As a result, the earbuds are mostly comfortable. The AirPods Pro, however, fit best in my ears and offer a better weight distribution than either of the other pairs.

We all have different ears, and not every bud feels good in every ear. Thankfully, none of the three pairs of earbuds is uncomfortable.

Winner: Tie

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Charging Cases: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

All three of the buds’ charging cases are small enough to fit in your pocket. The Bose case, however, is noticeably larger than those for the AirPods and the XM5s. To be clear, the Bose case is still relatively pocketable, but you absolutely feel it against your leg more if you stuff it into your jeans. If you prefer a smaller case, then it’s worth considering the AirPods Pro or the WF-1000XM5 for size alone.

Left to right: AirPods Pro 2, Sony XM5, QuietComfort Ultra (Credit: Christian de Looper)

It’s worth mentioning that the Bose case and earbuds are finicky companions. Successfully retrieving the QuietComforts from the case is a chore. You’ll eventually get used to gripping the earbuds, but it’s much easier to remove the AirPods and XM5s from their cases.

Another thing to consider: Bose has added wireless charging to the second-gen case, which isn’t just a helpful feature in 2025; it’s table stakes. All three models support wireless charging, and all three support the Qi wireless charging standard, which is good. However, Apple goes a step further with MagSafe support and the ability to use its Apple Watch charger. If it weren’t for these admittedly minor extras, Apple and Sony would tie here. But ease-of-use matters, so Apple wins this round.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

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Bluetooth and Codecs: Two Stand Out

All three pairs use the Bluetooth 5.3 spec to connect to your phone, tablet, or laptop, and each supports the basic AAC and SBC codecs. Beyond that, however, there are some differences.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 buds support the high-quality LC3 and LDAC codecs, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultras support aptX Adaptive (including aptX Lossless). These allow the Sony and Bose to stream higher fidelity files, so your music sounds better. Technically, the AirPods Pro support lossless audio, but only when connected to an Apple Vision Pro.

Both the Sony and Bose earbuds support Bluetooth multipoint for connecting with up to two devices at a time. Apple goes several steps further within its own ecosystem. With the AirPods Pro, you can automatically and seamlessly switch from and connect to any Apple device that’s signed in to your iCloud account, such as an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.

Sony wins here for its high-resolution LC3 and LDAC support, which are more widely available on source devices than aptX Adaptive, but Apple gets bonus points for its easy device switching.

Winner: Tie (Apple and Sony)

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Battery Life: A Near-Level Field

The battery life of wireless earbuds has been getting better with each passing year, and thankfully, none of these earbuds have terrible battery life.

Left to right: AirPods Pro 2, Sony XM5, QuietComfort Ultra (Credit: Christian de Looper)

The Bose QuietComfort Ultras offer 6 hours of continuous listening with active noise cancellation (ANC) on, and you get a total of 24 hours when you include the charging case. Both Sony and Apple improve on this, but in different ways. The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds get 8 hours of continuous listening with ANC on, but with the charging case still get a total of 24 hours. In other words, you get two recharges compared with the Bose’s three. The AirPods Pro 2 earbuds provide 6 hours of continuous listening with ANC on, but with the charging case, extend the total time to 30 hours. You’ll get a bit more battery life from each set if you turn ANC off.

You’ll have to decide for yourself if you want longer total battery life (buds and case combined) or the ability to listen for longer in single listening sessions. I never listen to my buds for more than a few hours at a time, so the total listening time is more helpful for me. However, that’s a personal preference; this is a two-way tie. 

Winner: Tie (Apple and Sony)

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Mobile App: The House Always Wins

The buds’ software experience varies considerably. The AirPods Pro 2, for example, don’t have a dedicated app; instead, they are deeply integrated with your iPhone’s settings. Some controls are in the Bluetooth settings menu, while others are found in the Control Center (and only when the buds are connected). You have a granular level of control over many of the AirPods’ behaviors. One major drawback? Apple doesn’t offer a user-adjustable EQ. Your iPhone has about a dozen preset EQs from which to choose, but you can’t dial in your own curve. That may be a deal-breaker for some buyers.

The Bose app (available for Android and iOS) is pretty easy to navigate. With your earbuds connected, it provides access to a range of features, including different modes. It allows you to customize some controls and set an EQ. Unfortunately, the EQ is basic and only includes three bands (bass, mids, and highs). At least you get some control over the audio response.

The Sony Sound Connect app is more advanced than the Bose app. It allows you to set noise modes, customize controls, and even access settings based on your location. It has a comprehensive EQ with 10 bands that range from 31Hz to 16kHz, giving it a huge sound-shaping advantage over Apple and Bose.

Despite the missing EQ, neither Bose nor Sony can match the AirPods’ deep level of control.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

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Active Noise Cancellation: The Sound of Silence

Noise cancellation is one area where these three earbuds compete the most. All three offer amongst the best noise cancellation you can get from true wireless earphones right now—and a clear winner exists.

Left to right: Sony XM5, QuietComfort Ultra, AirPods Pro 2 (Credit: Christian de Looper)

The original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds bested the Sony and Apple earphones, and the second-generation model takes things to another level. Bose has widened the gap between itself and the competition. Put the new QuietComforts in your ears and the rest of the world simply falls into blissful silence. It’s really quite something to experience. The Bose QuietComforts are simply better at preventing unwanted noise from across the frequency range from reaching your ears. They easily handle consistent background sounds, like what you experience on an airplane, and inconsistent sounds, such as the unexpected noises you encounter while walking down a city block.

The AirPods Pro 2 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds aren’t bad at noise cancellation. The AirPods Pro 2 seem to have gotten better through updates over time, and the adaptive noise cancellation is excellent at tailoring itself to your environment. Apple probably has the smartest noise cancellation tech in that regard; it’s just that even at its best, it’s not as good as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

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Transparency Mode: Can I Hear You Now?

All three models also offer excellent transparency modes. No matter which earbuds you use, you’ll get a relatively natural representation of audio happening around you when listening through the earphones. The AirPods Pro 2 earbuds provide the most natural-sounding transparency mode. Moreover, the AirPods’ deeply integrated controls allow you to fine-tune and tweak the transparency modes to best suit your environment. The Bose and the Sony earbuds introduce a layer of hiss to the audio, which detracts from how natural their transparency modes sound. They’re good, but not as good as Apple. 

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

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Sound Quality: In the Ear of the Behearer

No matter which pair of earphones you choose, you’ll get great audio. Each set processes sound a little differently, though, and the minutiae may be what matters to your ears.

The AirPods Pro 2 offer a relatively balanced sound, with decent detail and bass response. Many people find the audio signature to be bright and engaging. The Sony XM5 earbuds can play higher-quality files thanks to their support for advanced Bluetooth codecs. They also step up the detail in the higher frequencies and create a wider soundstage that helps separate instruments. Meanwhile, the Bose QuietComforts have a more sculpted sound, which means that the bass and highs are slightly more pronounced than the mids. I would put Bose and Sony on par with each other when it comes to audio quality, with Bose delivering a more exciting signature while Sony’s buds are slightly more natural-sounding. The AirPods Pro 2 may be in third place, but they’re certainly not far behind. 

Winner: Tie (Bose and Sony)

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Mic Quality: You Said, I Said

The microphones in Apple, Bose, and Sony earphones are more than adequate to be used for phone calls. Those you speak with should have no trouble hearing what you say unless you’re in spectacularly noisy environments.

Left to right: AirPods Pro 2, Sony XM5, QuietComfort Ultra (Credit: Christian de Looper)

The microphones of the Bose earbuds are slightly more bass-heavy and make my voice sound a little richer; however, the result isn’t as impressive as the AirPods Pro 2 when it comes to high frequencies, which help my voice sound a little crisp. The Sony earbuds are right down the middle. They sound fine, but not as impressive in the bass as Bose or in the high-end as Apple. This category is a three-way tie.

Winner: Tie (Apple, Bose, Sony)

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Verdict: Which Are the Right Headphones for You?

Choosing the right earphones requires a complicated calculus that includes variables such as price, fit, comfort, features, and performance. With the above factors in mind, here’s what we recommend.

• If you want the absolute best noise cancellation and great audio, no matter what type of device you use, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) win for their stunning ANC and improved sound.

• If superb, natural-sounding audio that you can control matters most to you, the Sony WF-1000XM5s should be your first choice, thanks to their pleasing sound profile and support for advanced Bluetooth codecs.

• If you use an iPhone and other Apple products, the AirPods Pro 2 integrate across the ecosystem better than the others and have excellent noise cancellation and sound.

Keep in mind that the Bose buds are brand new, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are three years old and ready to be replaced, and the Sony WF-1000XM5s are more than two years old and may be updated sooner rather than later. Given how well each of these earphones performs, you’ll be happy no matter which you choose.