Buying guide: Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose QuietComfort 45 vs Bose 700 and Sony WH-XB910N vs Beats Solo3 vs Sony WH-CH710N

Buying headphones can be tricky, as the options are seemingly endless. Luckily, if you’re in need of a buyer’s guide (some headphone buying advice), you’ve come to the right place.

Below we’ll compare the specs of some of the most popular headphones from Sony, Bose and Beats to see which pair is the best one for you to buy. Especially for this buyer’s guide, we’ll look at the sound they promise, battery life, drivers, design and materials, comfort and perhaps most importantly, value. Let’s go!

Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose QuietComfort 45 vs Bose 700

Sony WH-1000XM4 (left), Bose QuietComfort 45 (center), and Bose 700 (right)

If you’re looking for help choosing between those three headphones, let’s take a look at how they stack up against each other, starting with Sony’s XM4s.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 normally costs $349.99, and for that price you get some of the best active noise canceling (ANC) you can have on a wired earphone. Sony rightly calls it the industry leader. They are made of plastic and are available in three colors: black, blue and silver. And they use touch controls, because the flat exterior of each earcup is touch-sensitive. With generous swiveling ear cups and the fact that they can be folded, the Sony XM4s are also quite portable. Their battery life is up to 30 hours on a single charge, and just 10 minutes of fast charging through their USB Type-C port can get you 5 hours of playback time, which is pretty impressive.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 cost $329, so a wee bit cheaper than the XM4s, but still strikes a “perfect balance of quietness, comfort and sound.” Again, the construction is plastic, but folds nicely for easy carrying. The QuietComforts come in black or white, so again – no spectacularly beautiful color options here, just the basics. However, for controlling playback, the QuietComforts 45 has actual buttons (volume up, down, etc), so if you prefer those over touch controls, that’s important to keep in mind. Their battery lasts up to 24 hours, and after 15 minutes of charging you have 3 more to go.

Finally, the Bose 700 usually costs $379. So the most expensive of the three, and to thin out your wallet extra, you get a more minimalist design that can’t fold. But Bose promises some great stuff, like powerful noise cancellation, 11 whole levels of it at your leisure. In addition, Bose claims sharp, clear details and, of course, deep, full bass. The Bose 700 colors are silver and black, so there’s a trend here, with all three of these headphones. Like the QuietComforts, the Bose 700 has real click buttons for controlling your volume and skipping tracks, but lasts a little less – up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge.

Sony WH-XB910N vs Beats Solo3 vs Sony WH-CH710N

Sony WH-XB910N (left), Beats Solo3 (center), and Sony WH-CH710N (right)

These three headphones are more affordable than the previous trio we looked at, so if you’re looking for some headphone buying advice, but also want to save money, let’s see if one of them can tempt you.

The Sony WH-XB910N (as usual, “great” naming, Sony) retails for $249.99 and has a plastic construction, only in black color. Their defining feature would be Sony’s EXTRA BASS branding, which promises “impressively deep, punchy sound”. They can be folded, which is always welcome for travel, and feature ANC and touch controls. The battery life of the Sony WH-XB910N is up to 30 hours, which is equal to or higher than what we usually see in this price range, so that’s great. And with a quick 10-minute charge, you’ll get 4 and a half hours of playback.

The Beats Solo3 would be the one you get for wearing your headphones as a fashion statement more than for listening to critical music. They cost $199.95 and have a plastic construction in red, black or rose gold. Like the Sony’s above, these fold up easily for travel. The left earcup serves as a button for controlling your volume and playing music. There’s noise cancellation on board, and – Apple fans would be happy to know that they support Apple’s Spatial Audio, making music sound more powerful and wider. Plus, the Beats Solo3 last up to 40 full hours on a single charge, making them the headphones with the best battery life of the headphones we’ve reviewed so far. But unlike the other headphones, these use the older USB A port for charging, not USB Type-C.

As for the Sony WH-CH710N, their retail price is $149.99 making them the most affordable of the three. Nevertheless, they feature metal sliders, noise cancellation and, according to Sony, up to 35 hours of audio on a single charge. Although they swivel generously, they do not fold and are available in black and blue. For controlling music playback, these have click buttons instead of touch controls.

Which one should I buy?

Of Amazon Prime Day 2022 is upon us, and the fact that we are going to get seriously awesome Prime Day Deals on Headphones, Now might be the perfect time to pick the pair you want! By the way, some early Prime Day headphone deals are already available and will disappear pretty soon after the shopping event ends, so yeah!

In this buyer’s guide, let’s summarize what we have and which pair might be right for you.

If you plan to exercise with your headphones, you might want to go for the Bose 700 or Beats Solo3 as they are both quite slim and lightweight, at around 252 grams and 213 grams respectively. Both also feature noise cancellation, so you can exercise undisturbed in your own music-filled world.

If you are a critical listener who values flat sound, you will probably like the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45 best. Both offer solid noise cancellation and aim for a fairly flat sound, as opposed to one with extra bass or treble.

If you like electronic dance music and want that extra bass, you’ll likely find the Beats Solo3 the best for your needs, plus they’re more affordable than most of the other options on this list. The Solo3 supports Apple’s Spatial Audio, making music sound spectacularly wide and powerful. Obviously you won’t get a lifelike, flat soundscape, but for the right person, Spatial Audio’s fun sound can be very desirable.