Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: which should you buy?
The two best noise cancelling headphones in Australia, compared on sound, comfort, features and delivered price.
By Cartwise · 17 July 2026 · 6 min read
If you are spending five hundred dollars on noise cancelling headphones in Australia, it almost always comes down to these two: the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Both are brilliant. Here is how to pick, and both price tables so you can see how they stack up.
Noise cancelling: a genuine tie, with a lean to Bose
This is the reason most people buy either, and honestly both are superb. Bose has spent decades on noise cancelling and it shows, on a plane the QuietComfort Ultra is a fraction quieter with low rumble. The Sony is a whisker behind and better at handling sudden sounds. If total silence on flights is your one priority, lean Bose. For most people the difference is small.
Sound: Sony edges it
The Sony sounds a little more detailed and balanced out of the box, and the app lets you tune it heavily if you like tinkering. Bose is warmer and very easy to listen to, less to fiddle with. Neither will disappoint. If you care about getting the sound just so, Sony gives you more control.
Comfort and build: personal, but Bose is lighter on the ears
Both are comfortable for hours. Bose is a touch lighter and clamps a little softer, which suits smaller heads and glasses wearers. Sony feels slightly more premium in the hand. This one is worth trying on if you can.
The catches
- Neither folds flat like the older models did, so both need a chunkier case.
- Battery: Sony wins clearly, about 30 hours to Bose's 24.
- Calls: both are good now, Sony slightly clearer in wind.
The prices
Here is what each actually costs delivered right now across Australian sellers, cheapest first.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
| Seller | Price | Shipping | Delivery | Delivered total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
eBay AUBest value ★ 4.1Lowest priceFastestFree shippingLocal stock | $365 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $365✓ checked 23 July | Go to store |
Kogan ★ 4.0FastestFree shippingLocal stock | $379 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $379✓ checked 21 July | Go to store |
Amazon AU ★ 4.5FastestFree shippingLocal stock | $548 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $548✓ checked 31 July | Go to store |
Harvey Norman ★ 4.2FastestFree shippingLocal stock | $548 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $548✓ checked 31 July | Go to store |
JB Hi-Fi ★ 4.6FastestFree shippingLocal stockTop rated | $549 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $549✓ checked 31 July | Go to store |
eBay AU is the best value at $365 delivered, which is $184 less than the dearest seller, and it ships in 2 to 6 days from an Australian warehouse.
Lowest of 5 sample sellers: $365 delivered. These are indicative figures showing how the comparison works, not current quotes, so check the seller's site before buying.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
| Seller | Price | Shipping | Delivery | Delivered total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JB Hi-FiBest value ★ 4.6Lowest priceFastestFree shippingLocal stockTop rated | $399 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $399✓ checked 1 Aug | Go to store |
eBay AU ★ 4.1FastestFree shippingLocal stock | $449 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $449✓ checked 1 Aug | Go to store |
Myer ★ 4.3FastestFree shippingLocal stock | $520 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $520✓ checked 1 Aug | Go to store |
Amazon AU ★ 4.5FastestFree shippingLocal stock | $559 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $559✓ checked 1 Aug | Go to store |
Harvey Norman ★ 4.2FastestFree shippingLocal stock | $698 | Free shipping | 2–6 days | $698✓ checked 1 Aug | Go to store |
JB Hi-Fi is the best value at $399 delivered, which is $299 less than the dearest seller, and it ships in 2 to 6 days from an Australian warehouse.
Lowest of 5 sample sellers: $399 delivered. These are indicative figures showing how the comparison works, not current quotes, so check the seller's site before buying.
The verdict
Buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra if your top priority is the quietest possible flight and the comfiest fit. Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 if you want the best all-rounder: better battery, more detailed sound, more control, usually a little cheaper. That last point matters, so let the prices above break the tie if you genuinely cannot choose.
We may earn a commission on these links, which never changes your price or how we rank sellers, here is how. Both go on sale regularly, so check the final price before you buy.