Head to head
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
They split the 2 rankable specs evenly, so cost decides it: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $250 less.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 1 to 1
Tied overall. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is cheaper.
- The 2 rankable overall specs split 1 to 1.
- Saves $250 at list price.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Trips:Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) · No (swivels flat)Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · No (charging case)
- Trips:Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) · AAC, SBCClear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, S…
- Trips:Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) · 384.8 gClear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 15.4 g
- Trips:Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) · 20 hoursTrips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Trips:Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) · No official IP ratingClear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · IPX4 sweat and water resistant
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Apple
384.8 g (13.6 oz)
Bose
15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Apple
Yes (Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation with dual H1 chips)
Bose
Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration)
Battery life
Apple
20 hours (ANC + Spatial Audio enabled)
Bose
6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case
Comfort, Clamp & Travel Fit Check
Ergonomic factors that affect daily comfort, glasses wearers, and luggage space.
Folding & Travel Packability
Swivels flat only; Smart Case leaves headband exposed
Standard folding earcups
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Firm clamp force (~5.2 N; steel & aluminum)
Standard headphone clamp
Weight & Crown Pressure
385g (heavy; noticeable neck load after 2 hours)
Standard headphone weight
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Apple: What to watch for
- Ergonomics
Heavy 385g weight creates neck fatigue during long flights.
- Hardware Quirk
Smart Case offers virtually zero physical drop or travel protection.
- Maintenance
Condensation buildup inside earcups under mesh cushions.
Bose: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 1-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | In-ear true wireless earbuds with silicone stability bands |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 384.8 g (13.6 oz) | 15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (swivels flat) | No (charging case) |
| Carrying case | Smart Case included (low-power state trigger) | Pocket-sized hard shell charging case (USB-C) |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | IPX4 sweat and water resistant |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 40 mm Apple-designed custom dynamic driver | High-performance proprietary dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation with dual H1 chips) | Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Adaptive Transparency Mode) | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) |
| Supported codecs | AAC, SBC | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | 9 microphones total (8 for ANC, 3 for voice pickup) | 4 microphones in each earbud (8 mics total for ANC and voice pickup) |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 1-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (seamless automatic switching across Apple devices) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint connectivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 20 hours (ANC + Spatial Audio enabled) (wins this row: higher) | 6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case |
| Charging time | 2 hours via USB-C (5 min charge gives 1.5 hours) | 2 hours full charge (20 min quick charge gives 2 hours); USB-C wired |
Ownership
1 differences| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)
Luxury over-ear headphones with custom dynamic drivers, computational audio, and anodized aluminum earcups.
- Superb spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
- Best-in-class transparency mode realism
- Premium stainless steel frame with breathable mesh canopy
What you give up
- Heavier than plastic-built competitors at 384g
- Smart Case provides minimal protection
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Premium true wireless earbuds with world-class noise cancellation, CustomTune personalized sound, and Bose Immersive Audio spatialized sound.
- Benchmark active noise cancellation that silences low and mid-frequency ambient noise
- CustomTune technology calibrates sound and ANC to your ear canal shape on every insertion
- Bose Immersive Audio provides spatialized audio regardless of source or platform
What you give up
- Wireless charging case cover is sold as an optional accessory (USB-C wired standard)
- Battery life drops to 4 hours with Immersive Audio turned on (6 hours standard)
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
Tied on flights & commutes. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is cheaper.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets. Only battery life is rankable here.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $250 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Both has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Tied on flights & commutes. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is cheaper. The 2 rankable flights & commutes specs split 1 to 1. Saves $250 at list price.
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 12 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.