Sony and Bose both brands are global players, and both are the global leaders in the headphones and audio devices market. Both brands also offer their products in the Indian market. So today we will compare the two newly launched headphones from Sony and Bose. Today we will compare Sony SONY WH-1000XM4 and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, to know that which is the better one for you, so you can enjoy your favorite music with your favorite brand.
Pros and Cons
| 1000XM4 | BOSE 700 |
| Very accurate sound for ANC headphones. | Great active noise cancelling. |
| Great noise cancelling. | Stunning design. |
| Legit audio upscaling. | Touch controls are easy to use. |
| Price is still expensive. | Expensive. |
| Not great for calls. | No EQ adjustment in the app. |
General
| 1000XM4 | BOSE 700 | |
| Price | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Release date | 14 September 2020 | 21 August 2019 |
| Type | Closed, dynamic | Over Ear |
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black, Silver, Soapstone |
| Battery life | 30 Hours | 20 Hours |
| Weight | 0.56 lbs | 0.55 lbs |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, NFC | Bluetooth, NFC |
Bose once dominated the world of noise-canceling headphones. For years, the company’s QuietComfort line was the industry standard, mostly because it is the best-in-class ANC. At the time, it was a game-changer for people with frequent use and useful for those trying to resist a noisy work environment. Look at Sony’s WH-1000X on the other hand. Now in its third iteration, the WH-1000XM3 occupies a top position with sound, and now Sony comes with its update as WH-1000XM4, which comes with some new features, and the ability to block the world. Bose is also playing well, with his 700 headphones offering plenty of features for $ 399 to regain the crown.
Design
| 1000XM4 | BOSE 700 | |
| Type | Closed, dynamic | Over Ear |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.56 lbs | 0.55 lbs |
| Foldable Design | Yes | Yes |
In terms of design, both headphones have very good build quality as well as durability. If we talk about the SONY WH-1000XM4, in terms of design, it looks very similar to its outgoing model. The design of SONY WH-1000XM4 is very simplistic and the design language is very classy and sophisticated. As we know that Sony always prefers minimalism in terms of design and this model also not different regarding that.
Now, we talk about the design of the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, The 700 is a new direction for Bose headphones, combining the latest blends in voice, noise cancellation, touch control, and more in a modern-looking package. I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of Quiet-Comfort design. But not so with the 700. Certainly, ear-cups are similar in size, with the other headphone models of Bose but this is very much where the similarities end – at least in terms of design. Bose improved the headband, opting for a slim-down, stainless-steel version. The headband slides out of the earrings to adjust the fit, rather than being a Clooney click mechanism. Once they are packed in the box, the package is quite thin, so you probably won’t miss the fact that it doesn’t fold like the QC35.
In terms of material use, Sony used the same matt black exterior which was already used in the XM3 model. With the matt black finish, Sony also used some copper inserts much like its XM3 model. The Bose Noise Cancellation 700 also used the same plastic body which already used in its other headphone models but when you compare the weight the 700 feels very lightweight as compare to XM4. Both the brands used stainless steel with a fair amount to improve durability.
If we talk about fit and comfort, both headphones provide superior comfort with good fitting. In terms of fit and comfort, the XM4 is quite similar to XM3 but with a 10% larger surface area of earpads but it hasn’t affected the fit and overall comfort of the headphone. The ear pads come with good cushioning and the quality of the material is also good. On another hand, Bose 700 also provides good comfort and fitting one can easily use this headphone for hours without any comfort and fitting issue. The earpads of Bose 700 have a good surface area and the quality of material used is also good and gives some luxurious feeling. You can easily use both of the headphones in your daily life without any issue as both provide good comfort and fitting.
Features
| 1000XM4 | BOSE 700 | |
| USB | USB-C | USB-C |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Music Controls | Yes, Touch Sensor | Yes |
| Quick Charge | Yes, 10 Minutes = 5 Hours | Yes, 15 Minutes = 3.5 Hours |
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
In this category we first talk about the SONY WH-1000XM4, The company said that it looks very similar to its outgoing model, and it also has the QN1 noise cancellation processor, which was given in the old WH-1000XM3, but due to the better algorithm, it gets 20 percent better noise cancellation performance. The company claims that it provides 30 hours of battery life on a single charge. Apart from this, gesture control was provided on the exterior of the headphones, with which features like Adaptive Sound Control, Wear Detection are also available. It can also be controlled from the Sony Headphone Connect app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices. The special thing is that it can be connected to two source devices simultaneously, along with Google Assistant and Alexa Support is also available.
On the other the Bose Noise Cancellation 700 headphone also comes with some handy features, Bose also rebuilt its onboard controls for the 700. On the QC 35 II, there were physical buttons to awaken the settings, music, and a virtual assistant. Touch controls are common nowadays, so the company chose a mixture of the two and the end result is very good. On the right hypotenuse, there is a touch-sensitive area where you can adjust the volume (swipe up or down), skip tracks (swipe forward or backward) and play / pause (double tap). Hold your finger on the touchpad and the 700 will tell you how much battery is left (in hours). This did not disappoint me as they have other headphones. There is also a combination Bluetooth-pairing and power button on the right side with a dedicated button for Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri. You can choose to call Alexa with a wake-up word, but you have to press the button to call the other two. Voice calls are another area in which Bose has improved. On the 700, there are a total of eight microphones (four on each ear key) that work together to pacify your surroundings and focus your voice.
Battery
| 1000XM4 | BOSE 700 | |
| Battery Type | Li-polymer | Li-polymer |
| Battery Life | 30 Hours | 20 Hours |
| Charge Time | Approx. 3 hrs | Approx. 2.5 hours |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
The battery life is a very aspect we compare two headphones with Bluetooth connectivity. In terms of battery life, the SONY WH-1000XM4 is coming out to be a clear winner because it provides a very impressive 30 hours of battery backup on a single charge with also less time required for the charging. On other hand, the Bose 700 also provides a good battery back up but it compares to 10 hours less than SONY WH-1000XM4. The Bose 700 provides 20 hours of battery back up which is fairly less than the SONY WH-1000XM4. Both headphones come with a c-type charging port which is a good thing.
Connectivity
| 1000XM4 | BOSE 700 | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Range | Approx. 15 meter | Approx. 12 meter |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Device Connection | Yes | No |
Both of the headphones come with Bluetooth 5.0 which surely provides solid connectivity and you will not face any issues about the connectivity. The Sony 1000XM4 provides support for SPC, AAC, APTX, and APTXD and they also have support for LDAC which is Sony’s own high-res audio codec. But on the other hand, the Bose only provides supports for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs which is slightly disappointing as per a customer’s point of view.
Which is better!
By now you might be tired of hearing about the Sony WH-1000XM3, but now Sony comes with its update as Sony WH-1000XM4 and surely they are still the best noise cancellation headphones. They are now updated and comes with some new and good features. The WH-1000XM4 has superior sound quality, great features, and powerful noise cancellation. And while the Bose 700 is very good but Sony is still the best. Bose went back to the drawing board for his latest headphones, and the decision was a success. The 700 has better noise cancellation for customization, and thankfully it is a lot better than the company’s previous models. Touch controls are reliable and battery life is sufficient to keep the music running for as long as you need to. There are a lot of great features here, but for $ 399, it should have been needed something better to beat Sony.
