Best match
Sony WH-1000XM5
$249vs $449Save $200 (45%)
Why it's a good swap Top-tier noise cancelling in a light, comfortable headset.
You give up: It doesn't fold up, so the case is bigger.
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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: It doesn't fold up, so the case is bigger.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is the Sony WH-1000XM5, about $249 instead of $449 (save 45%). What you give up: It doesn't fold up, so the case is bigger. The cheapest is the Soundcore Q20i at about $40. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Top-tier noise cancelling in a light, comfortable headset.
You give up: It doesn't fold up, so the case is bigger.
Why it's a good swap Hybrid noise cancelling and 40 hours of battery.
You give up: Cancelling is weaker and the build is basic.
Why it's a good swap Light and comfortable, with Sony's app and noise cancelling.
You give up: Weaker cancelling on planes.
Why it's a good swap Very good noise cancelling and 40+ hours of battery.
You give up: Plastic build and less refined sound.
Why it's a good swap Bose comfort and excellent noise cancelling.
You give up: No spatial audio, and an older design.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)? It usually sells for about $449. Here are 5 cheaper swaps from $40: the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the closest match from another brand, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) is a cheaper option from Bose and the Soundcore Q20i is the cheapest at about $40. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
The QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) suits long-haul travellers who want top-level cancelling and comfort for hours. Bose Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode suit films on a tablet, and lossless USB-C audio (up to 16-bit/48 kHz) works from compatible devices. You can also charge them while wearing them.
If your priority is cancelling for flights, the Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers it for about half the price. Bose fans who don't need spatial audio can look at the older QuietComfort Headphones. The Soundcore Space One and Sony WH-CH720N fit commuters, and the Soundcore Q20i is for a tight budget.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | The original | $449 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Soundcore Q20i | Budget pick | $40 | $409 (91%) | Cancelling is weaker and the build is basic. | View ↗ |
| Sony WH-CH720N | Close match | $95 | $354 (79%) | Weaker cancelling on planes. | View ↗ |
| Soundcore Space One | Close match | $100 | $349 (78%) | Plastic build and less refined sound. | View ↗ |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Close match | $249 | $200 (45%) | It doesn't fold up, so the case is bigger. | View ↗ |
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) | Same brand, cheaper | $359 | $90 (20%) | No spatial audio, and an older design. | 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 Soundcore Q20i, at about $40 (91% less). Hybrid noise cancelling and 40 hours of battery. The catch: Cancelling is weaker and the build is basic.
The Sony WH-1000XM5, at about $249 (45% less). Top-tier noise cancelling in a light, comfortable headset. The catch: It doesn't fold up, so the case is bigger.
Yes. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023), at about $359 (20% less). Bose comfort and excellent noise cancelling. The catch: No spatial audio, and an older design.
Engadget found it a decent improvement rather than a major overhaul: longer battery life, lossless audio over USB-C, a Cinema Mode for dialogue, and smarter power saving. The look is almost unchanged apart from glossy metal headband yokes.
Engadget lists up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on and Immersive Audio off, up to 23 hours with both on, and 45 hours with cancelling off. Each figure is at least five hours more than the first model.
Engadget points to the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) ($359) as the cheaper Bose option. You give up Immersive Audio and the newer design, but keep Bose's comfort and strong noise cancelling.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: Bose QuietComfort Headphones alternatives
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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