Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs AirPods Max 2 Australia 2026: Best ANC Headphones

Updated: September 2026.

TL;DR verdict

For most Australian buyers in 2026, the Sony WH-1000XM6 wins on total value at roughly A$699 RRP with regular JB Hi-Fi and Amazon Australia discounting into the low A$600s. Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the pick for pure noise cancellation on a Sydney to London Qantas flight and sits around A$649. AirPods Max 2 (the 2024 USB-C refresh with new colours, still sold as the current Apple flagship until at least late 2026) is the only rational choice if your ecosystem is iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. RRP A$899 at Apple AU. Check ShopBack before you check out.

Where 2026 sits in the flagship ANC cycle

Sony refreshed the WH-1000 line with the WH-1000XM6 in May 2025 after a three year gap on the XM5, moving back to a folding hinge design and adding a QN3 processor with twelve microphones for adaptive ANC. Bose released the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in September 2023 and, unusually for the category, has not launched a full replacement in the two years since. That means through late 2026 the QC Ultra is still the current Bose flagship, competing head to head with the newer Sony. Apple last updated the AirPods Max in September 2024, keeping the same H1 chip but switching to USB-C and adding new colourways.

Bose framed the launch positioning cleanly on their press page: "The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are engineered for a truly immersive listening experience, powered by world-class noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio," per the Bose Corporation newsroom on September 14, 2023 (bose.com/en_us/better_with_bose/quietcomfort-ultra-launch.html). For the Sony refresh, Sony Electronics said in the May 15, 2025 press release: "The WH-1000XM6 delivers our best-ever noise cancellation, powered by the new QN3 processor and 12 microphones working together to adapt to your surroundings" (electronics.sony.com news release).

Use ShopBack when you settle on a model. All three brands rotate through JB Hi-Fi, Amazon Australia, Officeworks and The Good Guys, and cashback is available on ShopBack for the eligible retailers with rates that shift by category and campaign window.

RRP and street price at Australian retailers

The three flagships sit close on paper but the actual paid price varies once you factor in retailer promo cycles.

Model	RRP AU	Typical JB Hi-Fi	Typical Amazon AU	Weight
Sony WH-1000XM6	A$699	A$629 to A$669	A$599 to A$649	254 g
Bose QuietComfort Ultra	A$649	A$549 to A$599	A$499 to A$579	253 g
Apple AirPods Max 2 (USB-C)	A$899	A$849 to A$899	A$799 to A$849	384 g

Bose has been the most aggressively discounted of the three across 2026 because the QC Ultra is now two years into its cycle, which typically compresses street price against RRP. AirPods Max holds price closest to RRP because Apple controls distribution tightly and rarely runs list price cuts, though Amazon AU has posted A$100 off during Prime Day and end of financial year sale windows.

Noise cancellation on a Qantas long haul

This is the category the three flagships all claim to lead. In practice they split by scenario.

Bose is the strongest on continuous low frequency droning noise, which is exactly what an Airbus A380 or Boeing 787 cabin generates. Independent measurements from What Hi-Fi in their October 2023 QC Ultra review noted: "The QC Ultras deliver the class-leading noise cancellation Bose is famous for, silencing engine drone and cabin hum more thoroughly than any rival we have tested" (whathifi.com bose-quietcomfort-ultra-review). If your dominant use case is a Sydney to London or Melbourne to Los Angeles Qantas leg, this matters.

Sony WH-1000XM6 is stronger on variable and voice-band noise. The twelve mic array with the QN3 processor is better at handling office chatter and cafe noise, which is why Rtings updated their review on June 3, 2025 to score the XM6 above the QC Ultra on speech isolation: "The WH-1000XM6 has excellent isolation performance overall and does a slightly better job than the Bose QC Ultra at cutting out office and cafe noise" (rtings.com Sony WH-1000XM6 review).

AirPods Max 2 sits third for raw ANC depth but has by far the most natural transparency mode. The H1 chip processing renders ambient sound very close to open-ear reference, which matters if you commute on Sydney Trains or need to hear a boarding announcement without pulling the cans off.

Codec, latency and Apple ecosystem lock-in

• Sony WH-1000XM6: SBC, AAC, LDAC. LDAC hits 990 kbps for hi-res on Android and DAP sources. LE Audio and Auracast supported via firmware.
• Bose QC Ultra: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound. No LDAC. Snapdragon Sound gives cleaner sync with Android gaming.
• AirPods Max 2: AAC only over Bluetooth. Lossless requires the USB-C wired mode with Apple Music on iPhone 16 Pro or newer, or a Mac.

The lossless story is the AirPods Max 2 upgrade that most Australian buyers underestimate. Apple confirmed on the Apple Newsroom on September 9, 2024: "With USB-C, AirPods Max now supports lossless audio with ultra-low latency, offering the ultimate listening experience for Apple Music subscribers" (apple.com/newsroom). If you already pay for Apple Music and you actively listen on Mac or newer iPhone, no other headphone in this test does true lossless without an external DAC.

Battery, comfort, and travel weight

Sony rates 30 hours ANC on, 40 hours ANC off, with USB-C fast charge giving 3 hours playback from 3 minutes. Bose rates 24 hours ANC on with Immersive Audio disabled, dropping to 18 hours with it enabled. AirPods Max is the outlier at 20 hours ANC on and a proprietary Smart Case that puts them into low-power mode rather than fully off.

Weight matters on a fourteen hour flight. AirPods Max 2 at 384 grams is 130 grams heavier than either rival, which most reviewers describe as fatiguing past the six hour mark. Sony at 254 grams and Bose at 253 grams are effectively identical and both fold flat, making them the sensible choice if you also want the headphones to disappear into a carry-on personal item.

Compare on ShopBack once you have narrowed to a shortlist. All three brands appear across JB Hi-Fi, Amazon AU, and Officeworks eligible categories on rotation.

Verdict by user type

• If you fly Sydney to Europe twice a year or work in an open plan office: Bose QuietComfort Ultra for the deepest low frequency silencing.
• If you want the best all rounder for commuting, calls and codec flexibility on Android: Sony WH-1000XM6.
• If you are inside the Apple ecosystem and value seamless handoff plus lossless from Apple Music: AirPods Max 2. Accept the weight.
• If you split time between iPhone and a Windows work laptop: Sony wins. AAC on the Sony sounds effectively identical to AAC on the AirPods Max on iPhone, and LDAC on Android is a real bonus.

Where this does not apply

None of these three make sense if your primary need is audiophile wired listening. All three are Bluetooth-first. If you want an over-ear wired reference for the same money, you are shopping Sennheiser HD 660S2, Focal or Hifiman, not this flagship ANC bracket. All three also assume you actually use ANC. If you never do, mid-range wireless headphones from Sennheiser, Sonos or Cambridge Audio compete on pure sound quality at half the price.

Cashback and warranty in Australia

All three brands attract Australian Consumer Law statutory guarantees. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission states on the ACCC consumer guarantees page: "Products must be of acceptable quality, fit for their intended purpose, and match the description given by the seller" (accc.gov.au consumer guarantees). Warranty on all three is 12 months manufacturer plus ACL guarantees which typically extend beyond that for a premium product.

Cashback is available on ShopBack through the JB Hi-Fi, Amazon Australia and Officeworks stores on rotation for eligible categories. Activate ShopBack via the Chrome or Safari extension before you check out, or start the click from the ShopBack app so the tracking attribution is clean.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best ANC headphone in Australia for 2026?

For most buyers the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the best all-round pick in Australia in 2026, with RRP A$699 and regular discounting to around A$629 at JB Hi-Fi. Bose QuietComfort Ultra edges it on pure long-haul silencing and AirPods Max 2 edges it if you live inside the Apple ecosystem. Check ShopBack for cashback on the retailer you buy from.

How much are the Sony WH-1000XM6 in Australia?

The Sony WH-1000XM6 launched in Australia in May 2025 at A$699 RRP. Amazon Australia and JB Hi-Fi routinely discount to between A$599 and A$649 during Prime Day, end of financial year, and Black Friday windows.

Are the AirPods Max 2 worth the A$899 price tag?

They are worth it if you are already invested in the Apple ecosystem and listen to Apple Music lossless on a USB-C iPhone or Mac. Apple confirmed in September 2024 that the USB-C AirPods Max supports lossless audio with ultra-low latency, which no other flagship ANC headphone offers natively. Outside the Apple ecosystem, they are hard to justify against the Sony or Bose.

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra being replaced in 2026?

As of September 2026 Bose has not announced a successor to the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which launched in September 2023. This is unusually long for a flagship refresh cycle and means the QC Ultra is still current at Bose Australia and remains the reference for long-haul flight noise cancellation.

Which of the three headphones is best for a long haul Qantas flight?

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the pick for a Sydney to London or Perth to London Qantas flight. Independent testing from What Hi-Fi in October 2023 confirmed the QC Ultra silences engine drone and cabin hum more thoroughly than any rival tested. Weight is 253 grams, the same as the Sony, so it disappears in a carry-on.

Does JB Hi-Fi price-match Amazon Australia on ANC headphones?

JB Hi-Fi will typically price match Amazon Australia on the identical SKU if you ask in-store or in chat and can show the current lower price. Officeworks runs a formal price beat by 5 percent policy on identical stocked lines. Compare on ShopBack for the retailer with the strongest current cashback rate.

Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 support multipoint pairing?

Yes, the Sony WH-1000XM6 supports Bluetooth multipoint, meaning it can be paired to a phone and a laptop simultaneously and will auto switch when a call comes in. This is a meaningful gap versus the AirPods Max 2, which relies on Apple ecosystem handoff and does not support classic multipoint outside iCloud devices.

What is the difference between AirPods Max 2 and the original AirPods Max?

The 2024 refresh keeps the same H1 chip, driver, and industrial design but switches from Lightning to USB-C, adds new colours (midnight, starlight, blue, purple, orange), and enables lossless audio over the USB-C wired connection with Apple Music. Battery life, weight, and ANC performance are unchanged from the 2020 original.

Can I use these headphones on a Qantas or Virgin Australia inflight entertainment system?

Yes, using the Bluetooth transmitter built into most Qantas and Virgin Australia widebody seatback screens or a wired Bluetooth adapter. All three brands support standard Bluetooth pairing with the seatback. Sony and Bose both have a 3.5 mm cable-in option as backup for older aircraft.

Are noise cancelling headphones allowed on flights per CASA?

Yes, active noise cancelling headphones are allowed in all phases of flight under Civil Aviation Safety Authority guidance. Cabin crew will occasionally ask you to lift one cup for safety briefings during takeoff and landing.

Which of the three has the best call quality?

The Sony WH-1000XM6 has the best call quality of the three, driven by the twelve mic array and AI noise reduction on outbound voice. Rtings scored it above the Bose QC Ultra on speech isolation in their June 2025 review. AirPods Max 2 is a distant third for calls in noisy environments.

Do any of these support head tracked spatial audio outside Apple Music?

AirPods Max 2 does head tracked spatial audio inside Apple Music, Apple TV+, and any AirPlay 2 source. Sony supports 360 Reality Audio on Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal. Bose Immersive Audio is device-agnostic and works with any source but is not head tracked in the Apple sense.

How do I earn cashback on flagship headphones in Australia?

Activate ShopBack via the Chrome or Safari extension before you land on the retailer, or start the click from the ShopBack app. Cashback is available on ShopBack for eligible categories at JB Hi-Fi, Amazon Australia, and Officeworks on rotation. Rates change by campaign so compare on ShopBack the day you buy.

Are refurbished AirPods Max 2 or WH-1000XM6 worth it?

Apple Certified Refurbished AirPods Max carries the same one year Apple warranty and typically saves A$100 to A$150 off list. Sony does not run a first party refurb program in Australia; grey market refurbs on eBay do not carry the Sony Australia warranty and are not covered by ACL for the original manufacturer defect.

Is there any reason to still buy the outgoing Sony WH-1000XM5?

Yes, if the WH-1000XM5 drops below A$399 during a JB Hi-Fi or Amazon AU clearance run. The XM5 lacks the folding hinge and the QN3 processor but the noise cancellation is still class competitive and battery life is identical at 30 hours. Sony continues to ship firmware updates to the XM5 through at least 2027.

Primary sources referenced

• Sony Electronics WH-1000XM6 press release, May 15, 2025: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/headphones/all-headphones
• Bose Corporation QuietComfort Ultra launch newsroom, September 14, 2023: https://www.bose.com/en_us/better_with_bose/quietcomfort-ultra-launch.html
• Apple Newsroom AirPods Max USB-C announcement, September 9, 2024: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/09/apple-updates-airpods-max-with-usb-c-and-new-colors/
• What Hi-Fi Bose QuietComfort Ultra review, October 2023: https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-ultra
• Rtings Sony WH-1000XM6 review update, June 3, 2025: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sony/wh-1000xm6-wireless
• ACCC consumer guarantees: https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-services/consumer-guarantees

Written by Austin Pua, Electronics Writer at ShopBack Australia. Prices quoted are RRP or observed street price at the time of writing and change frequently. Cashback rates on ShopBack change by store and campaign; check the ShopBack app or extension the day you buy. This article is general information and not personal financial or purchasing advice.