shouldibuythat
← All Audio verdicts
Audio · head to head

QuietComfort 35 II vs WH-1000XM6

Reddit's answer is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. The WH-1000XM6 is a Stay Away — don’t buy it — get the Bose instead.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Bose · Audio

QuietComfort 35 II

Buy If$350
57% of 1,256 owners recommend
~1 in 3 failure rate — ~1 in 3 long-term owner reports mention a failure, most commonly the power switch, Bluetooth, or battery, typically surfacing between 10 and 73 months of ownership. Warranty outcomes lean resolved — most who reported back got a replacement or repair covered — but a meaningful share landed outside warranty.

Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk.

+ Repeatedly mentioned as the reason owners stick with them — comfort stands out across hundreds of reports.

− A vocal minority find the sound tuning too bass-heavy or otherwise colored compared to rivals.

Full verdict →
Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony · Audio

WH-1000XM6

Stay Away$398
32% of 1,042 owners recommend
~1 in 3 failure rate — ~1 in 3 long-term reports mention a failure, most commonly the hinge (14 of 40 long-term owners reporting). Failures tend to appear within 2–8 months. Of warranty outcomes reported, 18 landed unresolved versus 5 resolved — usually outside warranty coverage. The serious failure rate of 30% sits just above the 27% baseline for wireless headphones we track, making this slightly worse than typical for the category.

Don’t buy it — get the Bose instead

+ Repeatedly mentioned as a reference point other headphones get compared against.

− Repeatedly mentioned hinge failures appearing within 2–8 months dominate the long-term thread tone.

Full verdict →

Questions people keep asking

Which is better, the QuietComfort 35 II or the WH-1000XM6?

Reddit's answer is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. The WH-1000XM6 is a Stay Away — don’t buy it — get the Bose instead.

Is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Buy If. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. Comfort and durability keep a loyal following, but ~1 in 3 long-term reports mention a power-switch or Bluetooth failure — know that going in.

Is the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Stay Away. Don’t buy it — get the Bose instead. Strong ANC and sound that improves with time — but ~1 in 3 long-term reports describe a hinge failure, and only 32% would buy again.