Overall Score 8.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 7.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Sony WF 1000XM4 | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
weight | 7.1g | 12.5g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
wingtips included | ✗ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 6mm | 9.3mm | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 40,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
sound pressure level | 105dB/mW | ✗ | |
POWER | battery life | 8hours | 6hours |
battery life of charging case | 16hours | 18hours | |
charge time | 1.5hours | 2hours | |
has wireless charging | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5.2 | v5.3 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
has ldac | ✓ | ✗ | |
has aptx adaptive | ✗ | ✓ | |
has aptx hd | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 4only | 8only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✓ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | 2only | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
IP ratings refer to the rating of protection given by an enclosure, against solids and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value means protection against solids such as dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Scoring IPX4, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's rating is read as, the first number of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second number of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.
Compared to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, Sony WF 1000XM4 have a rating of IPX4 meaning that
we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust)
and that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a weight of 12.5g . We prefer a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to move with.
Sony WF 1000XM4, at 7.1g
weigh less than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by -5.4g
True wireless devices have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are true wireless for this case since they have no wires. This is an important difference since wireless earbuds have cables linking the pair of earbuds .
Sony WF 1000XM4 also is true wireless since it has no wires connecting the two earbuds .
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have wingtips, these are reserved for earbuds for workouts and are usually an optional add-on to the separate silicone ear tip for a better fit.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are resistant to sweat
Sony WF 1000XM4's resistance to sweat makes both devices good for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 also have stereo speakers
Active noise cancellation makes use of advanced kind of tech to actively cancel noise. ANC works when, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and then inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. In simple terms, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) then adding -1 (inverted noise) to make zero thus "diluting" the noise.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, good for your ears since you don't have to crank up the earbuds volume to overcome background sounds.
Sony WF 1000XM4 too have Active Noise Cancellation making both devices ideal for plane rides and rush hour travels. Each operate with different noise cancellation settings, pick the mode that you prefer for commute or that suites your chill time.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 stay well in place, creating an acoustic covering that tones down your environment noise well as preventing the device music from leaking out at the same.
Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which means that they tone down ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a unit size of 9.3mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the earbuds, the unit size determines the sound produced by the earbuds.
Sony WF 1000XM4 driver unit is 6mm in diameter,
which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 3.3mm
, a common assumption that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so it's true that, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they deliver better quality sound.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component generates low audible frequencies and if it alters the signal on its way through.
Sony WF 1000XM4's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that
both devices can make sound with equal bass
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response tells how well a particular audio component generates high recognizable frequencies and if it changes to the signal on its way through.
Sony WF 1000XM4's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this implies that
Sony WF 1000XM4 produce a clearer and crispier treble than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
SPL, is the level of pressure of sound, measured in decibels, dB, Sony WF 1000XM4's measurement is 105dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.
Sony WF 1000XM4's battery life is
more than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 2 hours
. Each time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.
The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's case has a charge of 18 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go several times before recharging the case itself.
Sony WF 1000XM4's charging case has a battery life of 16 hours,
less than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 2 hours
It takes 2 hours to fully charge the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's battery. It is recommended to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for extended periods.
Sony WF 1000XM4 takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery,
less than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 0.5 hours
Sony WF 1000XM4, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you simply put down on a supported charging pad.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights display the charging state of your device and case.
Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you determine the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or having a low battery.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.
Sony WF 1000XM4 too have USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current electronics.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have Bluetooth version of 5.3, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Sony WF 1000XM4 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
older than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth.
Sony WF 1000XM4 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 will work well with your iPad. If you intend on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 support LDAC, a codec developed by Sony which allows streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth connections at up to 990 kbps at 32 bit/96 kHz. It can reach a high bitrate of 990kbps, providing high-resolution audio.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).
The Sony WF 1000XM4 support APTX HD, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It supports high-quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have 8 microphones.
Sony WF 1000XM4 microphones are 4,
less than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 4
. More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out noise.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are designed to reduce noise from the earbuds' sound.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 too use a noise-canceling type of microphone. This is useful in noisy areas.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient noises to still be heard even when wearing the earbuds
The Sony WF 1000XM4 support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music while being aware of what’s happening around you, say you’re having a jog but would still want to be able to hear traffic.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears .
The Sony WF 1000XM4 too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears saving battery life.
If misplaced in a room, or can't be found in your bag, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a find earbuds feature.
Sony WF 1000XM4 too have the find earbuds feature. Simply use the device app on your phone to play a sound from your device to help you locate them.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support fast charging. Usually, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the time it takes to fully charge a device.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 have a multipoint count of 2,
equal to that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
. Bluetooth multipoint comes in handy when you can be on one call and not miss notifications coming from another device.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a mute function, they support the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 too have this function. It means that you are in position turn off the earbuds' microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.
Sony WF 1000XM4 also have a control panel on them.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support voice prompts. Automatically receive information through audio messages, like if there is an issue with the connection.
The Sony WF 1000XM4 too support voice prompts meaning the device notifies you when the battery is low, and you need to recharge them.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 come with a special pouch. Carrying earphones without a case, or putting them inside your bag without a cover may easily put them at risk of getting damaged.
Sony WF 1000XM4 also have a case included, which offers safe transportation.