If you want immersive listening, choose Bose QuietComfort; if you need longer battery life, choose Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. For a MacBook, the decision comes down to Bose’s extra listening modes and personalized sound versus Sony’s longer stated runtime and environment-sensing noise cancellation. Neither sheet identifies a gaming-specific feature, so I’d choose based on music, calls, travel, and how long you want to go between charges.
• Bose QuietComfort: Its strengths are Immersion Mode, CustomTune personalized sound, and three listening modes; its trade-off is a stated battery life of up to 24 hours, or up to 18 with Immersive Audio.
• Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones: Its strengths are up to 35 hours of battery life, automatic noise cancellation using dual noise sensors, and USB-C quick charging; its trade-off is that the sheet does not describe spatial audio or sound personalization.
• Bose QuietComfort suits listeners who want more ways to shape the listening experience, including for music and calls from a MacBook.
• Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones suit commuters and travelers who value extended listening time and noise cancellation that responds to the surrounding environment.
Bose QuietComfort is the more feature-rich listening choice on paper. It combines Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes, with Immersion bringing together noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio. CustomTune is designed to personalize the sound, while the soft ear cushions and pressure-spreading headband point toward a fit intended for longer listening sessions. That combination makes sense for someone moving between focused work, music, and conversations throughout the day.
The Bose has up to 24 hours of battery life, though the figure drops to up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio. A 15-minute charge is listed as providing up to 2.5 hours of playback, or up to two hours with Immersive Audio. Bluetooth 5.3 connects within a stated range of 30 feet. Touch controls on the earcups handle tasks such as changing volume, skipping tracks, answering calls, and changing modes. The headphones also include microphones designed to focus on the speaker’s voice and filter background noise during calls.
That makes Bose an appealing fit if you want a MacBook companion for listening, calls, and switching between quiet and awareness without treating the headphones as a one-purpose device. SimpleSync can also pair them with a Bose smart soundbar, which could matter if you already use one and want to listen to TV at your own volume.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip Bose: Skip it if maximizing the stated battery runtime matters more to you than immersive listening modes; Sony lists a longer runtime.
Sony’s WH-CH710N is the straightforward choice for longer stretches away from a charger. Its stated battery life is up to 35 hours, and a 10-minute USB Type-C quick charge is listed as providing up to 60 minutes of playback. For a commute, a flight, or a workday with music and calls mixed in, that larger runtime figure is a practical advantage. The headphones also include a 3.5 mm audio cable, so wired listening is an option as well as Bluetooth.
Noise cancellation uses dual noise sensors to detect the surrounding environment and adjust its performance. Sony also provides an Ambient Sound mode for letting in important sounds. That gives the WH-CH710N a useful everyday balance: reduce surrounding noise when you want to focus, then allow more of the outside world through when awareness matters. Its 30 mm driver units, hands-free calling, voice-assistant support, and NFC one-touch connection round out a feature set aimed at ordinary listening and travel rather than elaborate audio modes.
For a MacBook user who mainly wants wireless listening, calls, and long battery life, Sony covers the basics with a clear emphasis on endurance. Its adjustable metal sliders provide a way to fit the headphones, while the over-ear design suits people who prefer headphones that sit around the ears. Bluetooth and NFC are listed for wireless connectivity, and the stated Bluetooth range is 10 meters.
Who should skip Sony: Skip it if spatial audio and a personalized sound feature are priorities; those are listed for Bose, not Sony.
• Best for longer stated battery life → Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. Sony lists up to 35 hours, compared with Bose’s up to 24 hours, or up to 18 with Immersive Audio.
• Best for immersive listening modes → Bose QuietComfort. It offers Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes, with Immersion combining full noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio.
• Best for quick charging → Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. Its sheet lists up to 60 minutes of playback from a 10-minute USB-C charge. Bose lists up to 2.5 hours from a 15-minute charge, or up to two hours with Immersive Audio.
• Best for adjusting sound to the listener → Bose QuietComfort. CustomTune is designed to personalize sound, a feature not described for the Sony model.
• Best for letting in outside sound → Both, with different approaches. Bose has Aware Mode; Sony has Ambient Sound mode. The sheets do not provide a direct comparison of how much sound either mode lets through.
• Best for a Bose smart soundbar setup → Bose QuietComfort. SimpleSync is specifically listed for syncing with a Bose smart soundbar.
• Best for wired listening from a compatible device → Both have a cable option. Bose lists a 2.5 mm headphone jack, while Sony lists a 3.5 mm jack and includes a 3.5 mm audio cable.
• Best for a MacBook user focused on everyday calls → Either, depending on priorities. Bose describes microphones that focus on voice and filter background noise; Sony lists hands-free calling. Choose Bose for its stated microphone approach or Sony for the longer listed battery life.
For a MacBook setup, first consider how you will use the headphones most often. Both models are over-ear, wireless Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation and microphone support. That gives either one a plausible role for music, video, calls, or everyday work. But neither data sheet identifies a dedicated gaming mode, gaming microphone, or other gaming-specific feature. If you are searching for the best gaming headset for MacBook, or simply a gaming headset for MacBook, these specifications alone do not establish that either model is built specifically for gaming.
The same caution applies if you are looking for hi res open ear headphones for MacBook. These are described as over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones, not open-ear headphones. Bose lists a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, while Sony lists 7 Hz to 20,000 Hz; those figures describe frequency ranges, but the sheets do not establish a broader high-resolution certification or settle which will sound better to you. I would not treat those numbers alone as proof of a particular sound quality.
For travel, the battery figures are easy to compare, but the real fit depends on your routine. Sony’s longer stated runtime could mean fewer charging breaks during extended use. Bose counters with its shorter quick-charge figure and the option to use Immersion Mode, while making clear that Immersive Audio reduces its listed playback time. If you regularly use that mode, think about the 18-hour figure rather than assuming the maximum applies in every listening situation.
Noise control is another point where the feature names should not be mistaken for a head-to-head test. Bose offers selectable Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes, while Sony describes noise cancellation that senses the environment through dual noise sensors and an Ambient Sound mode. The sheets do not provide comparable measurements of how much noise each blocks. I’d base the decision on which approach appeals to you: choosing a Bose mode directly, or relying on Sony’s automatic environmental sensing.
Finally, consider the small practical details. Bose lists Bluetooth 5.3 and a 30-foot connection range; Sony lists Bluetooth 5 and a 10-meter range, along with NFC. Bose includes touch controls and SimpleSync with a Bose smart soundbar. Sony’s listed kit includes a USB Type-C charging cable and a 3.5 mm audio cable. These details may matter more than a broad label like “noise cancelling” if your headphones will move between a laptop, a phone, and other listening setups.
I’d choose Bose QuietComfort for my MacBook if I wanted the more adaptable listening experience, especially CustomTune and the choice of Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes.
That mix gives it the stronger case for someone who moves between focused work, calls, and immersive music listening.
I’d pick Sony instead if longer battery life were my main concern.
For my own MacBook-focused recommendation, Bose’s listening options matter more than Sony’s runtime advantage.
FAQ
Both sheets list active noise cancellation. Bose provides Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes, while Sony uses dual noise sensors to sense the environment and also offers Ambient Sound mode. The supplied specifications do not provide a direct measurement showing which blocks more noise.
Both are listed with microphones and call-related features. Bose describes microphones that focus on your voice and filter background noise; Sony lists hands-free calling. The sheets do not provide comparative call-quality test results, so your choice can come down to Bose’s stated microphone design versus Sony’s longer battery life.
No. Both are described as over-ear headphones with noise cancellation. The provided specifications do not identify either as a dedicated gaming headset or as an open-ear model.
• Yworlln AI Translation Earbuds vs Poounur Earbuds
• Beats Solo3 vs Jabra Engage 65: Best Selling Headphones
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.