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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• BOSE QuietComfort 35 — biggest strength: three adjustable levels of active noise cancellation, so you can dial in how much of the world you block out instead of settling for a single on/off setting.
• BOSE QuietComfort 35 — biggest trade-off: 20 hours of battery life and an older Bluetooth 4.2 radio, which trails the Sony on both counts.
• Sony — biggest strength: up to 35 hours of playback with noise cancelling on, in a design Sony describes as its lightest wireless noise-cancelling headband model.
• Sony — biggest trade-off: its noise cancelling is a single active mode rather than the BOSE's tiered system, so you get less fine control over how much ambient sound leaks in.
• Who each is for: the BOSE QuietComfort 35 suits frequent flyers and commuters who want granular control over cancellation and Alexa built in; the Sony suits long-haul listeners, students and remote workers who care most about stamina and a featherweight fit.
The QuietComfort 35 (Series II) is built around one idea: give the listener control over their own quiet. Instead of a binary noise-cancelling switch, it offers three levels of active noise cancellation, which means you can go full isolation on a plane and then ease off when you're walking a busy street and still want to hear traffic. That graduated approach is genuinely useful in the real world, where "block everything" isn't always what you want.
The feature list leans heavily on voice and convenience. Alexa is built in, so you can ask for music, information and other requests without reaching for your phone. Pairing runs through Bluetooth 4.2 with NFC for quick taps, and the Bose Connect app handles personalized settings and future updates. A dual-microphone system with noise rejection is there for calls and voice pickup, and there's a 3.5 mm jack so you can go wired when you'd rather not rely on Bluetooth at all. The over-ear design uses premium materials in black, weighs about 8.32 ounces, and is aimed at adult users. Battery life is rated at 20 hours.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, this is the pick for the traveller or open-plan-office worker who wants to actively manage how much noise gets through, and who likes the idea of talking to their headphones rather than tapping at them. The three-level cancellation plus Alexa is the whole pitch, and it's a coherent one.
Who should skip it? If battery life is your number one metric, look elsewhere — 20 hours is respectable but not class-leading. And if you want the newest wireless standard, Bluetooth 4.2 is a generation behind what the Sony offers. This is a renewed unit, so it ships with a 90-day limited warranty listed on the product details, alongside the 1-year warranty mentioned in the feature list — worth reading carefully before you commit.
The Sony WH-CH720N takes the opposite approach: instead of giving you knobs to turn, it gives you endurance and lightness. Sony rates battery life at up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on, and describes this as its lightest wireless noise-cancelling headband model — the listing puts it at 192 g, which is noticeably lighter than the BOSE. If you wear headphones for a full workday, that difference is the kind of thing you feel by hour four.
The audio side is handled by Sony's Integrated Processor V1 paired with the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, which the listing frames as producing natural vocals and balanced tuning. There's an EQ in the Sony Headphones Connect app if you want to shape the sound yourself, and the model is 360 Reality Audio certified, with the app able to analyse your ear shape for a more immersive presentation. The driver is dynamic, with a stated frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
On the practical side, you get Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint connection so two devices can stay paired at once, Swift Pair and Fast Pair for quick setup, and voice control. Calls get Precise Voice Pickup Technology, a wind noise reduction structure and beamforming mics. Noise cancelling is active and single-mode, and there's an adjustable Ambient Sound mode plus Adaptive Sound Control that tailors the mix to your surroundings. A 3.5 mm jack is included for wired listening, and a full charge takes about 3.5 hours. The earcups use a fabric finish in blue.
Buy it if you want to put headphones on in the morning and forget about charging until tomorrow, and if a light clamp force matters more to you than tinkering with cancellation levels. Skip it if you specifically want tiered noise cancellation or a built-in voice assistant on the headset itself.
• Best for battery life → Sony. Up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on versus 20 hours on the BOSE.
• Best for adjustable noise cancellation → BOSE QuietComfort 35. Three distinct levels let you fine-tune isolation; the Sony offers one active mode plus an ambient setting.
• Best for all-day comfort on weight → Sony. Its 192 g construction is the headline here, and Sony calls it its lightest noise-cancelling headband model.
• Best for built-in voice assistant → BOSE QuietComfort 35. Alexa is integrated directly, so requests don't require your phone.
• Best for modern wireless features → Sony. Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint, Swift Pair and Fast Pair versus Bluetooth 4.2 with NFC on the BOSE.
• Best for call clarity in windy conditions → Sony. Beamforming mics, Precise Voice Pickup and a wind noise reduction structure are all named for this purpose.
• Best for app-based sound personalisation → Sony. EQ settings plus 360 Reality Audio ear-shape analysis give you more to tune.
• Best for simple, tap-to-pair convenience → BOSE QuietComfort 35. NFC pairing is quick and the Bose Connect app keeps settings in one place.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the Sony WH-CH720N. The 35-hour battery life and the lighter build are the two things that actually change how a pair of headphones fits into a day — you stop planning around the charger, and you stop noticing the headband. The Bluetooth 5.2 and multipoint support also make it the more future-proof of the two. The BOSE QuietComfort 35 is still the better choice if tiered noise cancellation and built-in Alexa are non-negotiable for you, and its three-level system is a real advantage on a plane. But for most people reading this, the Sony is the one I'd recommend.
In my opinion it depends on what you mean by better. The BOSE gives you three adjustable levels of active noise cancellation, so you can control how much you block. The Sony offers a single active noise-cancelling mode with an adjustable ambient sound option. If you want granular control, the BOSE wins; if you want a set-and-forget approach, the Sony is simpler.
Which one has longer battery life, the BOSE QuietComfort 35 or the Sony?
Both listings here are renewed units, and both show a 90-day limited warranty in their product details. The BOSE feature list also mentions a 1-year warranty, which is worth confirming before purchase. Renewed can be a sensible way to get into a model you otherwise wouldn't consider, but read the warranty terms carefully so you know what's covered.
For commuting with fine control over background noise, I'd lean BOSE QuietComfort 35 thanks to its tiered cancellation. For calls, the Sony's beamforming mics, Precise Voice Pickup Technology and wind noise reduction structure are purpose-built for keeping your voice clear. If your day is split between commute and calls, the Sony is the more balanced all-rounder in my view.
Prices on both change over time, so check the current price on Amazon before you decide — the button on this page will take you straight there.
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