The ANC Arms Race Continues
The three headphone giants — Sony, Bose, and Apple — have each released their latest noise-canceling flagships. We wore all three for a month across flights, offices, commutes, and gym sessions.
Sony WH-1000XM6 ($349)
Sony retakes the crown with the XM6. The new V3 processor delivers the best noise cancellation we’ve ever tested — it silences airplane cabin noise almost completely. 40-hour battery life is class-leading. Hi-Res Audio support (LDAC) delivers the best wireless audio quality. Multipoint connects to two devices simultaneously. Comfort is excellent for extended wear.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 ($379)
Bose remains the comfort king. The Ultra 2 fits like a cloud and the ANC is nearly as effective as Sony’s. Immersive Audio with head tracking is compelling for spatial audio content. The EQ customization is the most intuitive of the three. 30-hour battery.
Apple AirPods Max 2 ($499)
Premium build quality with the new USB-C port and improved H3 chip. Seamless Apple ecosystem integration — automatic switching between iPhone, iPad, Mac. Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is best-in-class. ANC is excellent but trails Sony slightly. 25-hour battery. The price premium is hard to justify unless you’re deep in Apple’s ecosystem.
The Verdict
Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6 — best ANC, best battery, best audio quality, competitive price. Best comfort: Bose QC Ultra 2. Best for Apple users: AirPods Max 2 (if you can stomach the price).
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