My boss chooses Bose, but my favorite ANC headphones look nicer, sound better, and the sales are (mostly) back

Image of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Headphones.

How love how these headphones look, even in my darkened office at night — and they're way more comfortable than my Surface Headphones 2 were. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Recent updates

October 15 @ 10:30 a.m. ET — Updated to ensure that the new Sennheiser Momentum 4 deal for $249.95 is still active and that everything in this article is accurate!

Fun fact, I bought a pair of Microsoft's Surface Headphones 2 when they launched and loved them for the next four years. I still have them and they still work great, but I decided it was time for an upgrade. I compared the best active noise canceling headphones from Bose and Sony — the most popular choices — but a discounted underdog caught my eye and won my heart.

They're my favorite wireless headphones I've ever owned, and right now the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Headphones are discounted to only $249.95 at Amazon, far less than what I paid for these headphones. For a limited time, these headphones are more affordable than the competition while looking better and sounding nicer, and if you're willing to pay a little bit more you can also get one of the more fun colorways.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Headphones | was $399.99 now $249.95 at Amazon

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Headphones are my daily driver, selected after hours of research, and right now you can obtain them at a beautifully low price compared to the competition. You don't need an Amazon Prime membership, either. This new deal is best with the black color, but other colors are also discounted.

👀See at: Amazon

✅Perfect for: Those who want an excellent audio experience and long battery life, while also remaining stylish.

❌Avoid if: You want the exact comfort experience you can only find with Bose.

💰Price check: $399.99 $279.99 at Best Buy (in "Denim," the best color)

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Comparable at full price, no question with such discounts

I compared the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony WH-1000XM5, Sennheiser Momentum 4 alongside various other minor competitors when I decided that I wanted to replace my Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. I spent hours on the internet reading reviews both from critics and consumers, tracking down comparisons, and weighing the pros and cons of each headset.

In the end, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 won out with its promises of superior audio quality, long-lasting battery life, and the best design of the bunch.

My boss, Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino, would tell you to go out and buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra's while they're on sale right now (well, they were... making these even more tempting), and you'd be making a great decision. But why do that when you can shave another $100 off that price and get these instead?

The Sennheiser Momentum 4's have served me very well across multiple business trips and hours upon hours spent on planes. They sound excellent and support AAC, SBC, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth audio codecs, with a clean, detailed, and neutral sound that doesn't skimp on the bass. The active noise cancelation is absolutely superior to the Surface Headphones 2 I used before, and the quad mics on board ensure I sound great on phone calls.

You also get up to 60 hours of usage off one charge, and I can confirm this is an accurate estimation. There's a sensor in the right earcup that detects when you're wearing the headset, too, so I never have to worry about turning the headphones on or waiting for them to connect.

On that point, I have seen consumers complain about connectivity issues with the Momentum 4's, but I personally have never encountered those problems (likely due to me buying the headphones a long while after they released and enjoyed various firmware updates). Even after weeks spent in their (lovely, color-matched) carrying case, the moment I take out the headphones they connect to my phone and stay connected. They're also connected to my tablet and seamlessly switch between the two if I want to go from music to movies.

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All I can say is that, with the Sennheiser Momentum 4's, you're getting well over twice the battery life (60 hours versus 24 hours in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra's), upgraded audio quality, and (in my opinion) a far more attractive and premium design... Especially if you get the "Denim" colorway I did (but that version isn't on sale). The QuietComfort Ultra's will still boast the better overall comfort, though, an area where no other company can seemingly touch Bose's reputation.

So, you can either get the tried-and-true Bose QuietComfort Ultra, or save even more and get the beautiful Sennheiser Momentum 4's for only $249.95 at Amazon, a savings of $150 off the retail price (or $130 off where these headphones are normally priced). Given the opportunity, I'd choose the same over and over, even if that sale price is $30 more than the original Amazon Prime Day deal.

If you want a more fun or unique colorway than the standard black variant, you can also spend a little more and still get them at a great discount. My personal favorite, the "Denim" Sennheiser Momentum 4, can be currently had for $279.99 at Best Buy, for example.

More Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals

We at Windows Central are scouring the internet for the best Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals, but there are plenty more discounts going on now. Here's where to find more savings: