Sony Headphones Buying Advice: Five Best Picks
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Compare Sony headphones for UK buyers, including the WH-1000XM5, XM4, CH720N and CH520. Find the right model for ANC, travel, work and value.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the best premium Bose over-ear headphones for noise cancellation, while the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) offer the stronger value proposition. For an in-ear design, choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).
Bose headphones are particularly appealing if you want effective active noise cancellation (ANC), a comfortable fit and straightforward everyday use. The table below shows Bose UK prices checked on 9 September 2026.
| Model | Type | UK price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Over-ear wireless | £349.95 | Strongest premium ANC |
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | Over-ear wireless | £299.95 | Value with high-quality ANC |
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones | Over-ear wireless | £229.95 | Lower-cost Bose listening |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) | In-ear wireless | £229.95 | Best Bose noise-cancelling earbuds |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Over-ear wireless | £449.95 | First-generation premium model |
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the premium over-ear choice for noise cancellation. Tom’s Guide describes their ANC as exceptionally strong, and the model is Bose’s current premium over-ear option.
The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are the value choice. At £299.95, they cost less than the Ultra (2nd Gen) while offering Quiet, Aware, Immersion, Cinema and Off settings, Bluetooth multipoint and Bose Immersive Audio. That makes them suitable for train journeys, flights, open-plan offices and other noisy environments.
For small bags, exercise or people who dislike headbands, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the Bose in-ear choice. Their active noise cancellation is combined with CustomTune, which is designed to adapt the sound experience to the listener’s ears.
Choose Bose over-ear headphones if long listening comfort and a large battery matter more than compact size. The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) claim up to 24 hours of battery life, and a 15-minute quick charge provides up to 2.5 hours of playback according to Bose.
Choose Bose noise-cancelling earbuds if portability and an in-ear design matter more. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) claim up to six hours of battery life and include a wireless charging case. Bose also says this generation improves call quality through AI-based background-noise suppression, adds improved ActiveSense and lets you disable the touch controls.
Earbuds are easier to carry, while over-ear headphones are suited to extended listening. The choice is therefore mainly between the portability of the Ultra Earbuds and the longer claimed battery life of the over-ear QuietComfort models.
All of the current options in the main comparison are wireless Bluetooth products. Bluetooth multipoint is included on the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), the first-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the second-generation Ultra Earbuds. Multipoint lets compatible headphones maintain connections with two devices, which is useful when moving between a laptop and phone.
If calls matter, the first-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones support microphones for phone calls, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and FaceTime. The second-generation Ultra Earbuds add improved call quality through AI-based suppression of background noise.
Currys lists the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) with a detachable cable, a 2.5 mm-to-3.5 mm audio connection and USB audio. This makes that model the clearest choice here if you want a cable as well as Bluetooth.
The Bose QuietComfort 35, QuietComfort 45 and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are older models rather than the core of Bose’s current QuietComfort range.
The QuietComfort 45 is described as discontinued by SoundGuys, and TechRadar has removed both the QC45 and QC35 II from its current buying guide because they are no longer widely available. Availability and condition can therefore vary when these models appear through retailers or resale listings.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 is also an older ANC over-ear model. RTINGS treats it as a separate older product rather than part of the current main QuietComfort range. Current QuietComfort models are easier to compare with Bose’s manufacturer pricing and specifications.
Usually, yes, if your priorities are strong ANC, comfort and simple everyday operation. The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) combine ANC with Quiet, Aware, Immersion and Cinema settings, Bluetooth multipoint and up to 24 hours of claimed battery life at £299.95.
The Ultra models make more sense if you want Bose’s premium over-ear option, Immersive Audio and the additional features of the Ultra range. The Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the choice when compact in-ear listening and wireless charging are more important than over-ear battery life.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the premium choice for travelling because Tom’s Guide describes their ANC as exceptionally strong. The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are the value option and claim up to 24 hours of battery life.
Yes. The current Bose headphones and earbuds covered here use wireless Bluetooth, and several models also support Bluetooth multipoint. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) additionally have wired audio connections listed by Currys.
Yes. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are Bose’s current in-ear noise-cancelling option. They include CustomTune, wireless charging, Bluetooth multipoint and up to six hours of claimed battery life.
They can be worth considering if the condition, warranty and price are attractive. SoundGuys describes the QC45 as discontinued, while current Bose QuietComfort models are easier to compare and buy with current manufacturer pricing.
