#98

The Noise-Canceling Headphone Crown

audioApril 7, 2026
Winner
Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony

Sony WH-1000XM6

$399

Buy Now
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2

Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2

$429

Buy Now
AirPods Max 2

Apple

AirPods Max 2

$549

Buy Now

Tale of the Tape

Sony WH-1000XM6
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
AirPods Max 2
Noise Canceling
9/10
10/10
8/10
Sound Quality
9/10
8/10
8/10
Comfort
8/10
9/10
6/10
Battery
10/10
8/10
5/10
Features
9/10
8/10
7/10

The Breakdown

Noise Canceling

Bose still holds the ANC crown—the Ultra 2 silences airplane engines and chatter better than anything else. Sony is excellent, just a hair behind. Apple is good but over-relies on the seal.

Sound Quality

Sony LDAC support delivers actual hi-res audio that makes a difference. Bose sounds pleasant but safe. Apple tuning is bass-heavy and spatial audio is gimmicky for music.

Comfort

Bose wins for long-haul flights—these disappear on your head. Sony is comfortable but ear cups run warm. Apple is a heavy metal clamp that hurts after an hour.

Battery

Sony crushes with 30 hours of playback. Bose gets a day, Apple struggles to reach 20 and still uses Lightning.

Features

Sony multipoint and customization are unmatched. Bose has solid app control. Apple locks features behind its ecosystem wall.

The Verdict

The Winner
S

Sony WH-1000XM6

The Sony WH-1000XM6 wins because it is the complete package—best-in-class battery, hi-res audio, and ANC that is close enough to Bose.

You do not buy headphones for one feature, you buy them for the daily experience. Sony gives you 30 hours of listening, LDAC for actual quality audio, multipoint that works with everything, and ANC that handles 95% of situations. It is $30 cheaper than Bose and $150 cheaper than Apple. This is the rational choice for rational people.

But consider:But consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 if you fly constantly—the comfort and slightly better ANC make 12-hour flights bearable.
Buy Sony WH-1000XM6

Quick Specs