Best match
Sony WH-1000XM5
$249vs $359Save $110 (31%)
Why it's a good swap Noise cancelling on par with Bose plus a 30-hour battery.
You give up: Earcups swivel but don't fold, so the carry case is bulky.
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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Earcups swivel but don't fold, so the carry case is bulky.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) is the Sony WH-1000XM5, about $249 instead of $359 (save 31%). What you give up: Earcups swivel but don't fold, so the carry case is bulky. The cheapest is the Sony WH-CH720N at about $95. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Noise cancelling on par with Bose plus a 30-hour battery.
You give up: Earcups swivel but don't fold, so the carry case is bulky.
Why it's a good swap Sony's app and noise cancelling in a very light headset.
You give up: Cancelling and sound are a clear step down from Bose.
Why it's a good swap Adaptive noise cancelling and long battery life for under a third of the price.
You give up: Cheaper build, and both sound and ANC are less refined than Bose.
Why it's a good swap Richer, more detailed sound and a 60-hour battery.
You give up: Noise cancelling and comfort are a step behind Bose.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)? It usually sells for about $359. Here are 4 cheaper swaps from $95: the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the closest match from another brand and the Sony WH-CH720N is the cheapest at about $95. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
Bose's current non-Ultra model is the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), at $359. The 2023 QuietComfort Headphones is the closest cheaper pick when it's on sale, so check its current price. The Sony WH-1000XM5 (about $249) and Sennheiser Momentum 4 (about $239) are rival-brand options, and Soundcore's Space One is the cheapest at about $100.
The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are worth it if comfort and noise cancelling matter most, for example on flights or long commutes. Bose rates them for up to 24 hours with ANC on, a 15-minute charge adds up to 2.5 hours, and they connect to two devices at once. They also add Bose's Immersive Audio and lossless audio over USB-C, up to 24-bit/48 kHz.
The older Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) suit anyone who wants Bose comfort and noise cancelling and can skip Immersive Audio and USB-C lossless. The Sony WH-1000XM5 ($249) and Sennheiser Momentum 4 ($239) make sense if you want longer battery life or, with the Sennheiser, richer sound. The Soundcore Space One ($100) covers noise cancelling and long battery life on a tight budget.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | The original | $359 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Sony WH-CH720N | Budget pick | $95 | $264 (74%) | Cancelling and sound are a clear step down from Bose. | View ↗ |
| Soundcore Space One | Budget pick | $100 | $259 (72%) | Cheaper build, and both sound and ANC are less refined than Bose. | View ↗ |
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless | Close match | $239 | $120 (33%) | Noise cancelling and comfort are a step behind Bose. | View ↗ |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Close match | $249 | $110 (31%) | Earcups swivel but don't fold, so the carry case is bulky. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Sony WH-CH720N, at about $95 (74% less). Sony's app and noise cancelling in a very light headset. The catch: Cancelling and sound are a clear step down from Bose.
The Sony WH-1000XM5, at about $249 (31% less). Noise cancelling on par with Bose plus a 30-hour battery. The catch: Earcups swivel but don't fold, so the carry case is bulky.
Yes. Bose says they connect to two devices at once, such as a phone and a computer.
Yes, with the included USB-C to 3.5 mm cable. The headphones no longer have a 3.5 mm jack, and Engadget notes they can charge while you use them over USB-C.
Bose rates them for up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, or 18 hours with Immersive Audio on. A 15-minute charge gives up to 2.5 hours of listening.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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