Head-to-head

Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) vs Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

Sony WH-1000XM6

9.5 $398

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

9.4 $399

Apple AirPods Pro 3

9.3 $199.99

Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

8.8 $169.99

Verdict

Sony WH-1000XM6

Still the pair to beat for silence. The XM6 top the field on noise cancellation, take calls cleanly, and last 30 hours. Sound is a refinement of the XM5, not a leap, and the build feels plasticky for $400, but for travel and focus nothing tops them.

Bose

The comfort and noise-cancelling champ. Lighter and quieter than almost anything, now with USB-C lossless audio and a 30-hour battery. The app is basic and it costs $50 more than the Sony XM6, but for long flights and all-day wear, nothing is comfier.

Apple AirPods Pro

If you have an iPhone, just buy these. The Pro 3 leap past the Pro 2 on noise canceling, fit more ears with new foam tips, and add a heart-rate sensor and a hearing test, all with effortless Apple switching. Audiophiles may prefer something more neutral.

Soundcore Liberty

Anker built these around one trick and nailed it: your voice cuts through subways, wind, and crowds, with a Guinness record to back it up. Add strong ANC, IP55 sweat resistance, and a touchscreen case at $170, no Apple tax. Battery's a modest 6.5 hours with ANC.

Best for

Sony WH-1000XM6

Travelers and focused workers who want class-leading noise cancellation and all-day over-ear comfort.

Bose

Frequent flyers and all-day listeners who want the comfiest over-ear fit and the most complete noise cancelling — and don't mind paying a premium or living with a basic companion app.

Apple AirPods Pro

iPhone users who want excellent noise cancellation in a pocketable case with seamless switching across Apple devices.

Soundcore Liberty

Mixed-device or Android buyers who want compact ANC earbuds with strong call focus, flexible controls, and better value than flagship ecosystem earbuds.

Avoid if

Sony WH-1000XM6

You want the most pocketable earbuds, or you mainly need open-ear awareness while running or cycling.

Bose

You want the best value or deep app and EQ customization — the Sony XM6 does both for less — or you need a sweat-rated pair for workouts.

Apple AirPods Pro

You're mainly on Android or Windows and want full features, or you prefer over-ear comfort and longer battery life.

Soundcore Liberty

you're Apple-first and want the easiest device switching, or you want maximum long-flight isolation from over-ear headphones.

Score breakdown

value

Sony WH-10

8.3

Bose

7.9

Apple AirP

8.5

Soundcore

9.0

mic calls

Sony WH-10

9.0

Bose

8.5

Apple AirP

9.2

Soundcore

8.7

comfort fit

Sony WH-10

9.0

Bose

9.7

Apple AirP

8.8

Soundcore

8.3

noise control

Sony WH-10

9.5

Bose

9.6

Apple AirP

9.0

Soundcore

8.3

sound quality

Sony WH-10

9.0

Bose

8.8

Apple AirP

8.5

Soundcore

8.2

battery features

Sony WH-10

9.0

Bose

8.4

Apple AirP

8.0

Soundcore

8.5

Specs

anc

Adaptive hybrid ANC with Sony's HD noise-cancelling processor

Best-in-class ActiveSense adaptive ANC (now switchable fully off)

Active Noise Cancellation + Adaptive Transparency (improved over Pro 2)

Adaptive ANC 4.0 with 8-mic array and Anker Thus AI chip

type

Over-ear closed-back wireless

In-ear true wireless (ANC)

codecs

SBC, AAC, LDAC

SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive; USB-C wired audio up to 24-bit/48kHz

—

colors

Black, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, Platinum Silver

Black, White Smoke, Midnight Violet, Driftwood Sand, Desert Gold

—

battery

Up to 30 hours with ANC; USB-C quick charge

Up to 30h ANC on, 45h ANC off, ~23h with Immersive Audio

Up to ~8 hours with ANC; USB-C / Qi charging case

6.5 hours with ANC on; ~28 hours with case; USB-C

drivers

30 mm dynamic

Not disclosed by Bose

—

features

10-band EQ, 360 Reality Audio, speak-to-chat, replaceable earpads

Immersive Audio with Cinema mode, CustomTune ANC, 10 mics, lay-flat auto-off

Live Translation (Apple-Intelligence iPhone required), spatial audio with head tracking

HearID 5.0 personalized EQ, Guinness-certified call quality, touchscreen charging case

connectivity

Bluetooth multipoint

Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint

—

weight

—

~250 g

—

fit

—

Foam-infused silicone tips, 5 sizes (XXS-L)

—

health

—

In-ear heart-rate sensor, hearing test, hearing-aid and hearing-protection modes

—

ecosystem

—

Best with iPhone and Apple devices

Android-friendly; works across mixed devices

price

—

$169.99

water resistance

—

IP55 (sweat and splash resistant)

Buy →Buy →Buy →Buy →

	Sony WH-1000XM6	Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) Bose	Apple AirPods Pro 3	Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
Score	9.5	9.4	9.3	8.8
Price	$398	$399	$199.99	$169.99
Verdict	Still the pair to beat for silence. The XM6 top the field on noise cancellation, take calls cleanly, and last 30 hours. Sound is a refinement of the XM5, not a leap, and the build feels plasticky for $400, but for travel and focus nothing tops them.	The comfort and noise-cancelling champ. Lighter and quieter than almost anything, now with USB-C lossless audio and a 30-hour battery. The app is basic and it costs $50 more than the Sony XM6, but for long flights and all-day wear, nothing is comfier.	If you have an iPhone, just buy these. The Pro 3 leap past the Pro 2 on noise canceling, fit more ears with new foam tips, and add a heart-rate sensor and a hearing test, all with effortless Apple switching. Audiophiles may prefer something more neutral.	Anker built these around one trick and nailed it: your voice cuts through subways, wind, and crowds, with a Guinness record to back it up. Add strong ANC, IP55 sweat resistance, and a touchscreen case at $170, no Apple tax. Battery's a modest 6.5 hours with ANC.
Best for	Travelers and focused workers who want class-leading noise cancellation and all-day over-ear comfort.	Frequent flyers and all-day listeners who want the comfiest over-ear fit and the most complete noise cancelling — and don't mind paying a premium or living with a basic companion app.	iPhone users who want excellent noise cancellation in a pocketable case with seamless switching across Apple devices.	Mixed-device or Android buyers who want compact ANC earbuds with strong call focus, flexible controls, and better value than flagship ecosystem earbuds.
Avoid if	You want the most pocketable earbuds, or you mainly need open-ear awareness while running or cycling.	You want the best value or deep app and EQ customization — the Sony XM6 does both for less — or you need a sweat-rated pair for workouts.	You're mainly on Android or Windows and want full features, or you prefer over-ear comfort and longer battery life.	you're Apple-first and want the easiest device switching, or you want maximum long-flight isolation from over-ear headphones.
Score breakdown
value	8.3	7.9	8.5	9.0
mic calls	9.0	8.5	9.2	8.7
comfort fit	9.0	9.7	8.8	8.3
noise control	9.5	9.6	9.0	8.3
sound quality	9.0	8.8	8.5	8.2
battery features	9.0	8.4	8.0	8.5
Specs
anc	Adaptive hybrid ANC with Sony's HD noise-cancelling processor	Best-in-class ActiveSense adaptive ANC (now switchable fully off)	Active Noise Cancellation + Adaptive Transparency (improved over Pro 2)	Adaptive ANC 4.0 with 8-mic array and Anker Thus AI chip
type	Over-ear closed-back wireless	Over-ear closed-back wireless	In-ear true wireless (ANC)	In-ear true wireless (ANC)
codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC	SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive; USB-C wired audio up to 24-bit/48kHz	—	—
colors	Black, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, Platinum Silver	Black, White Smoke, Midnight Violet, Driftwood Sand, Desert Gold	—	—
battery	Up to 30 hours with ANC; USB-C quick charge	Up to 30h ANC on, 45h ANC off, ~23h with Immersive Audio	Up to ~8 hours with ANC; USB-C / Qi charging case	6.5 hours with ANC on; ~28 hours with case; USB-C
drivers	30 mm dynamic	Not disclosed by Bose	—	—
features	10-band EQ, 360 Reality Audio, speak-to-chat, replaceable earpads	Immersive Audio with Cinema mode, CustomTune ANC, 10 mics, lay-flat auto-off	Live Translation (Apple-Intelligence iPhone required), spatial audio with head tracking	HearID 5.0 personalized EQ, Guinness-certified call quality, touchscreen charging case
connectivity	Bluetooth multipoint	Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint	—	—
weight	—	~250 g	—	—
fit	—	—	Foam-infused silicone tips, 5 sizes (XXS-L)	—
health	—	—	In-ear heart-rate sensor, hearing test, hearing-aid and hearing-protection modes	—
ecosystem	—	—	Best with iPhone and Apple devices	Android-friendly; works across mixed devices
price	—	—	—	$169.99
water resistance	—	—	—	IP55 (sweat and splash resistant)
	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →

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