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Sony, Bose, and Apple have all released the latest generation of their over-ear headphones within the past year. With Apple's release of the AirPods Max 2, the trifecta is complete. If you're ready to upgrade your over-ear headphones and are weighing your options between Sony's WH-1000XM6, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), and Apple's AirPods Max 2, you have some serious decisions to make.
Also: I replaced my Sony WH-1000XM6 with the AirPods Max 2 for a week - and didn't miss a beat
I've worn all three, and each has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Generally, Bose offers the most versatility, Sony offers the most audio customization, and Apple offers the best experience for Apple users.
If you don't have Apple devices, consider yourself lucky that your options are down to Sony and Bose. You can find our detailed comparison between the QC Ultra 2 and WH-1000XM6 here. If you have at least an iPhone, let's get into a three-way comparison.
Here's how to determine which one you should buy, based on how each model excels and falls flat in the real world.
Specifications
Apple AirPods Max 2 Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Battery life 20 hours 30 hours 30 hours Wired connectivity USB-C 3.5mm jack USB-C; 3.5mm jack Codec support SBC, AAC SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 SBC, AAC, AptX Adaptive Audio modes ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive ANC ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, Adaptive Sound Control ANC, Aware Mode, ActiveSense Spatial audio Yes (Spatial Audio with Head Tracking) Yes (360 Reality Audio) Yes (Immersive Audio) Additional features Live Translation, Siri Interactions, Conversation Awareness, studio-quality audio recording, low-latency audio editing Speak-to-Chat, Windows Swift Pair, Google Fast Pair, LE Audio, Head Gestures CustomTune, auto low-power mode, Cinema Mode Price $ 549 $ 459 $ 449
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