If you want immersive spatial audio and more listening modes for your MacBook, choose Bose QuietComfort; if you need longer battery life for travel and everyday listening, choose Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones.
For a MacBook setup that moves between music, calls, and quiet work, those are the clearest differences to weigh.
Bose QuietComfort vs Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones at a Glance
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Its standout strengths are spatial audio, CustomTune personalization, and three listening modes; its trade-off is up to 24 hours of battery life, or up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio.
• Sony WH-CH710N: Its main advantage is up to 35 hours of battery life with automatic noise adjustment; its trade-off is a more straightforward feature set without the Bose spatial-audio modes.
• Bose is for listeners who want a more configurable, immersive experience for music, calls, and MacBook use.
• Sony is for commuters and travelers who prioritize longer playback time and adaptive noise cancellation.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the more feature-focused choice here. It combines active noise cancellation with Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes. Quiet Mode emphasizes noise cancellation, Aware Mode lets outside sound in, and Immersion Mode pairs full noise cancellation with Bose Immersive Audio. That range can be useful when one pair of headphones needs to serve different settings: focused work, a quick conversation, and music listening.
Spatial audio is a central part of the Bose proposition. Bose describes it as making music feel more immersive, while CustomTune personalizes the sound. For a MacBook listener moving between music, video, and calls, that combination offers more to explore than a basic noise-cancelling setup. It is not a gaming-specific headset, though: the supplied information identifies Bluetooth headphones with a microphone, not gaming-focused features. Someone searching for the best gaming headset for MacBook should not assume that spatial audio or a built-in mic makes these dedicated gaming headphones.
The call setup is another practical strength. Bose says its microphones focus on the speaker’s voice and filter background noise. The soft ear cushions and headband designed to distribute pressure also make comfort a priority in the product description. Touch controls on each earcup handle volume, track changes, calls, and listening modes; the headphones can also be switched on or off with head movements. Bluetooth 5.3 connects within 30 feet, and SimpleSync can pair the headphones with a Bose smart soundbar for private TV listening. A 3.5 mm jack is included as well.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
The main compromise is runtime. Bose lists up to 24 hours of playback, dropping to up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio enabled. A 15-minute charge is listed as providing up to 2.5 hours of playback, or up to 2 hours with Immersive Audio. Those figures leave room for a full day of listening, but Sony has a meaningful advantage for long stretches away from a charger.
Who should skip Bose: Skip it if your first priority is the longest stated battery life, or if you specifically need a gaming headset rather than general-purpose Bluetooth headphones.
Sony’s WH-CH710N is the simpler, endurance-focused option. Its headline figure is up to 35 hours of battery life, which makes it appealing for long trips, regular commutes, or a routine where charging often slips your mind. Sony also describes quick charging: 10 minutes of charging can provide up to 60 minutes of playback. That gives the Sony a clear practical edge when you need to top up quickly before heading out.
Noise cancellation uses dual noise sensors to sense the surrounding environment and adjust automatically. Sony also provides an Ambient Sound mode, which is useful when you want to let in some outside sound rather than keep the headphones in a fully isolated listening mode. The product is presented for travel, and that combination of adaptive cancellation, ambient listening, and extended battery life suits people who want uncomplicated headphones for moving through the day.
For calls, Sony offers hands-free calling and smartphone voice-assistant use. Bluetooth streaming is supported, along with NFC one-touch pairing. The headphones have 30 mm driver units, adjustable metal sliders, and an around-ear design. A 3.5 mm audio cable is included, so wired listening is another option. These details make the WH-CH710N a practical general-purpose pair, though the available information does not give it Bose’s spatial audio, personalized CustomTune sound, or multiple named noise-control modes.
There is a trade-off in the charging details: the supplied specifications list a seven-hour charge time, while the feature description separately gives the quick-charge benefit. The long maximum playback figure is compelling, but the published information does not provide a more detailed breakdown of battery use under different conditions. The listed Bluetooth version is 5, and the stated range is 10 meters.
Who should skip Sony: Skip it if immersive spatial audio, personalized sound, or a broader set of listening modes matters more to you than battery endurance.
• Best for spatial audio → Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Its Immersion Mode combines noise cancellation with Bose Immersive Audio, and Bose also describes spatial audio as a core feature.
• Best for longer stated battery life → Sony WH-CH710N. It lists up to 35 hours, compared with Bose’s up to 24 hours, or up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio.
• Best for a quick charge before leaving → Sony WH-CH710N. Sony lists up to 60 minutes of playback from a 10-minute charge; Bose lists up to 2.5 hours from a 15-minute charge without Immersive Audio.
• Best for changing how much of the outside world you hear → Bose QuietComfort Ultra. It offers Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes; Sony offers noise cancellation and Ambient Sound mode.
• Best for MacBook listening that emphasizes calls and sound personalization → Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Its listed features include CustomTune and microphones designed to focus on voice and filter background noise.
• Best for simple travel-oriented listening → Sony WH-CH710N. Its automatic noise adjustment, Ambient Sound mode, and extended stated runtime fit a commute or long journey.
• Best for switching to a Bose smart soundbar → Bose QuietComfort Ultra. SimpleSync is specifically listed for syncing with a Bose smart soundbar.
• Best for a straightforward wired backup → Either. Both product sheets list a 3.5 mm jack or audio cable, so both can support wired listening.
If you are choosing headphones for a MacBook, start with how you listen rather than assuming either model is built for a specialized computer use. Both are over-ear Bluetooth headphones with microphones, and both list a 3.5 mm connection. The supplied specifications do not describe gaming-focused features, so neither should be treated as a dedicated gaming headset on that basis alone. If you are searching for a gaming headset for MacBook, consider whether ordinary Bluetooth audio and a built-in mic meet your needs before choosing either.
The same caution applies to searches for hi res open ear headphones for MacBook. These two models are over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones, not open-ear designs. Bose lists a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and Sony lists 7 Hz to 20,000 Hz, but those figures alone do not establish that either product is a hi-res headphone. Choose based on the documented features—such as noise-control options, battery life, and connectivity—rather than expecting an open-ear design or a specific high-resolution capability.
Comfort and controls may also shape the decision. Bose highlights soft ear cushions and a headband that spreads pressure evenly, plus touch controls across the earcups and motion-based power control. Sony describes adjustable metal sliders and an around-ear fit. Those are different design details, but neither product sheet gives a direct fit comparison or measurements that would predict comfort for every head shape. If you wear headphones for long work sessions, the practical question is whether you prefer Bose’s stated cushion and pressure-distribution design or Sony’s adjustable sliders.
For connection habits, Bose lists Bluetooth 5.3 and a 30-foot range, while Sony lists Bluetooth 5 and a 10-meter range, along with NFC pairing. Both offer a 3.5 mm connection. Bose adds SimpleSync for a Bose smart soundbar, whereas Sony’s information emphasizes smartphone compatibility, voice-assistant use, and travel. Think about where you will use them most: a desk, a commute, or a home entertainment setup can make different features more valuable.
I would choose Bose QuietComfort Ultra for my MacBook because its spatial audio, CustomTune, and three listening modes make it the more flexible listening companion.
The microphone features, touch controls, and soundbar syncing add useful options beyond basic playback.
I would choose Sony instead if my main concern were longer playback between charges.
For a more immersive, adjustable everyday experience, Bose is my pick.
Both are Bluetooth over-ear headphones with microphones, and both list a 3.5 mm connection. Bose adds spatial audio, CustomTune, and three listening modes, while Sony emphasizes longer battery life and automatic noise adjustment.
Sony lists up to 35 hours of playback. Bose lists up to 24 hours, or up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio enabled.
Yes. Both list active noise cancellation. Bose provides Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes, while Sony describes dual noise sensors that adjust noise cancellation and an Ambient Sound mode.
No. Both are described as over-ear headphones with noise cancellation. The supplied specifications do not identify either as open-ear headphones or as a dedicated gaming headset.
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