Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 vs Sony WF-1000XM6

Deal Breakers

• Battery life is unchanged for three generations — still 8h ANC-on / 24h with case, with real-world figures often 6-7h
• Price rose to $329/$330, a $30 hike over the XM5 for incremental gains
• Top ANC and sound depend heavily on getting a good ear-tip seal — a poor fit noticeably degrades both
• Sony's track record of battery degradation and update-bricked older models (XM4) is a real trust concern for long-term buyers

• Class-leading active noise cancellation — Sony's QN3e processor and added mics give ~88% measured loudness reduction, modestly ahead of the XM5 and only just behind the AirPods Pro 3
• Excellent, customisable sound with LDAC, DSEE Extreme and one of the deepest EQ apps in the category
• Much-improved comfort: the body is ~11% smaller and reshaped, with an in-app fit test, so it can be worn for hours
• Significantly better call/microphone quality than previous Sony earbuds
• A smaller, sleeker charging case with Qi wireless charging and ~3-5 min quick-charge for ~60 min playback
• Stable multipoint Bluetooth to any two devices regardless of ecosystem