Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is the better pick: it ranks #231 of 429 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 3.4/5), against #399 (rated 1.8/5) for the Sony WH-1000XM3. If you want one new, the Sony WH-1000XM6 replaces the Sony WH-1000XM3 and is rated 2.3/5 at $458.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is the better-sounding option. Active noise cancelling and a 20 hour battery make it a practical choice for commuting and flights. The catch: Bluetooth 4.0 and no aptX or LDAC support limit wireless audio quality and connection features compared with newer models.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 is the longer-running option. A huge seller for its noise cancelling, comfort, 30 hour battery and LDAC support. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Bose QuietComfort 35 II lacks. The tradeoff: Discontinued and replaced by the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Buy the Bose QuietComfort 35 II only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Sony WH-1000XM6, which replaces the Sony WH-1000XM3.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose QuietComfort 35 II | Sony WH-1000XM3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $378.99 Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #231 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #399 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 33 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.61 dB standard deviation | 3.89 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) | 0.6 lbs (255 g) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (ANC on), 38 hours (ANC off) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | - | 47 ohms (1kHz, wired, powered on) |
| Sensitivity | - | 104.5 dB/mW (1kHz, wired, powered on) |
| Frequency Response | - | 4Hz - 40kHz |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bose QuietComfort 35 II:
- Bose QuietComfort 25 vs Bose QuietComfort 35 II
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Bose QuietComfort 45
- Focal Azurys vs Bose QuietComfort 35 II
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Fairphone Fairbuds XL
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Sony WH-1000XM6
Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Bose QuietComfort 35 II: $378.99 Wireless Discontinued Amazon $378.99 eBay
Pros: Active noise cancelling and a 20 hour battery make it a practical choice for commuting and flights. Bluetooth with SBC and AAC suits iPhones, and a wired connection is available when the battery runs out. At 240 g it is light for an over-ear with a built-in microphone, and its preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement is respectable for a noise cancelling model.
Cons: Bluetooth 4.0 and no aptX or LDAC support limit wireless audio quality and connection features compared with newer models. The Focal Azurys has a higher rating as a wired closed-back, though it lacks wireless and noise cancelling. The design dates from 2017, and the Fairphone Fairbuds XL offers newer Bluetooth, aptX HD and a longer battery at a lower price. Discontinued.
Full Bose QuietComfort 35 II review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.61 dB standard deviation |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 99 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 1,332 Hz | +3.2 dB | 0.62 |
| Peak | 2,633 Hz | -4.5 dB | 3.08 |
| Peak | 5,938 Hz | -5.2 dB | 6.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,646 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.99 |
| Peak | 4,334 Hz | -2.3 dB | 3.66 |
| Peak | 7,076 Hz | +2.6 dB | 5.94 |
| Peak | 6,213 Hz | -3.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony WH-1000XM6, ranked higher, rated 2.3/5, released May 2025.
Older models: the Sony MDR-1000X (ranked higher, rated 3.9/5) and the Sony WH-1000XM2 (ranked higher, rated 3.7/5). See every Sony WH-1000X generation.
Pros: A huge seller for its noise cancelling, comfort, 30 hour battery and LDAC support. Bass is deep and powerful, extending to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight.
Cons: Discontinued and replaced by the Sony WH-1000XM4. Its default tuning measures poorly, with a Harman preference score of just 33: the upper mids and presence sit about 5 dB low with a 7.4 dB dip near 4.6 kHz, so vocals sound muffled and the overall sound is dark and bass heavy until you use the app’s EQ.
Full Sony WH-1000XM3 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (ANC on), 38 hours (ANC off) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.89 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 40kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 33 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 47 ohms (1kHz, wired, powered on) |
| Sensitivity | 104.5 dB/mW (1kHz, wired, powered on) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (255 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 143 Hz | -5.9 dB | 1.02 |
| Peak | 1,411 Hz | +6.2 dB | 1.10 |
| Peak | 697 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.92 |
| Peak | 4,315 Hz | +4.4 dB | 1.98 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,032 Hz | -1.5 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 6,657 Hz | +2.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,637 Hz | -1.2 dB | 5.83 |
| Peak | 55 Hz | +0.3 dB | 2.24 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples