Brandwave

Sony vs Ultimate Ears:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Sony had more branded searches than Ultimate Ears among speaker brands in New Zealand. Sony had about 17,100 branded searches, while Ultimate Ears had 6,400. Sony made up 19.6% of all speaker brand searches we track, and Ultimate Ears accounted for 7.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about speaker brands, Sony appeared in three of the five answers and Ultimate Ears in two. Sony was mentioned before Ultimate Ears in every answer that named either.

Among speaker brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Sony, about 3 searches for every 1 for Ultimate Ears

Sony 17.1K searchesUltimate Ears 6.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Sony, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Ultimate Ears in 2

Sony in 3 of 5Ultimate Ears in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Sony, named ahead of Ultimate Ears in 3 of 3 answers

Sony first in 3Ultimate Ears never first

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Top speaker brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sony was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Ultimate Ears was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Sony was listed before Ultimate Ears in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. JBL1st
  2. Edifier2nd
  3. KEF3rd
  4. Sony4th
  5. Bose5th
  6. Sonos6th
  7. Bowers & Wilkins7th
  8. Ultimate Ears8th
  9. Q Acoustics9th
  10. DALI10th
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Edifier4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • JBL3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sony3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bose3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sonos3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • KEF3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ultimate Ears2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bowers & Wilkins2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Q Acoustics2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • DALI2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about speaker brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is Sony or Ultimate Ears more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Sony and Ultimate Ears by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 speaker brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Sony and Ultimate Ears among speaker brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Sony, Ultimate Ears. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthJBLSonyBoseSonosUltimate EarsMarshallEdifierBang & OlufsenBowers & WilkinsKEFQ AcousticsDALI
Oct 202540.9%19.5%16%8.3%9.3%2.1%0.93%1.1%0.76%0.75%0.27%0.09%
Nov 202541%18.3%15.1%9.2%11.3%2.1%0.89%0.8%0.53%0.52%0.19%0.06%
Dec 202550%14.7%13%7.8%10.2%1.8%0.68%0.68%0.45%0.45%0.16%0.05%
Jan 202644.4%18.4%13.9%9%8.4%2%0.92%1.1%0.75%0.68%0.27%0.09%
Feb 202642.5%20.8%14.1%8.6%8.1%2%0.96%1.2%0.78%0.62%0.23%0.11%
Mar 202640.9%21.3%14.7%9.9%7.7%1.8%0.88%1.1%0.71%0.7%0.21%0.07%
Apr 202644.6%19.3%13.9%9.6%7.2%1.8%0.97%0.97%0.8%0.7%0.19%0.07%
May 202642.6%20.3%15.5%9.3%6.2%2.1%0.96%1.2%0.79%0.69%0.23%0.12%
Jun 202643.2%19.8%15.8%8.9%5.9%2.1%0.95%1.2%0.78%0.86%0.28%0.12%
Jul 202642.5%20.1%14.8%9.2%7%2.5%0.93%1.1%0.76%0.75%0.27%0.09%
Aug 202643.7%17.5%15%9.5%7.5%2.9%1.1%1.1%0.72%0.71%0.26%0.13%
Sep 202645%19.6%13.5%9.1%7.3%2.2%1%0.84%0.55%0.54%0.16%0.1%

How has the Sony and Ultimate Ears comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Sony was ahead of Ultimate Ears in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sony’s share of searches among speaker brands in New Zealand moved from 19.5% to 19.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 15.2K to 17.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ultimate Ears’ share of searches among speaker brands in New Zealand moved from 9.3% to 7.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 7.2K to 6.4K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand speaker brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Sony gained share of searches among speaker brands in New Zealand, from 17.5% to 19.6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ultimate Ears in New Zealand fell 11.6% over 12 measured months, from 7.2K to 6.4K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

14 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sony’s and Ultimate Ears’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Sony

6 branded search terms

  • sony
  • sony camara
  • sony cyber shot
  • sony wh 1000xm4
  • sony wh 1000xm5
  • sony wh 1000xm6

Ultimate Ears

8 branded search terms

  • ue boom
  • ue boom speaker
  • ultimate ears
  • ultimate ears megaboom
  • ultimate ears soundbar
  • ultimate ears speaker
  • ultimate ears wonderboom
  • ultimateears

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among speaker brands

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