Head to head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Bose QuietComfort Headphones leads 2 to 0 on the 2 rankable specs and costs $80 less, which makes it the straightforward pick. Most of the 14 attributes tracked here are descriptive rather than numeric.
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)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal 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)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Generational Upgrade Analysis
Adds Immersive Audio & Snapdragon Sound, but costs $80 more.
Our recommendation: Skip the Ultra if you just want classic Bose comfort and silence. Buy the Ultra if you want spatial audio and premium metal yoke styling.
What Actually Changed (Bose QuietComfort Headphones → Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones)
What Remained Identical
Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 0 to 2
Buy the Bose QuietComfort Headphones.
- Leads 2 of 2 rankable overall specs.
- Weight: 240 g vs 253 g
- Charging time: 2.5 hours full charge vs 3 hours
- It is also $80 cheaper.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, S…Trips:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · AAC, SBC
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · No official IP ratingTrips:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · No official IP rating
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
253 g (8.9 oz)
QuietComfort Headphones
240 g (8.5 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration)
QuietComfort Headphones
Yes (Quiet Mode with adjustable noise cancellation levels)
Battery life≠
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on)
QuietComfort Headphones
24 hours on a single charge
Comfort, Clamp & Travel Fit Check
Ergonomic factors that affect daily comfort, glasses wearers, and luggage space.
Folding & Travel Packability
Folds flat & collapses into compact travel case
Folds flat & inward into small zippered case
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Ultra-plush gentle clamp (~4.1 N, best-in-class glasses comfort)
Signature light clamp (~3.9 N, zero crown pressure)
Weight & Crown Pressure
253g (featherweight travel balance)
240g (lightest in premium ANC class)
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: What to watch for
- Hardware Quirk
Capacitive touch volume strip can be overly sensitive.
- Software / Apps
Occasional Bluetooth multi-point audio handover stutter.
QuietComfort Headphones: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 1-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | Over-ear, closed-back |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 253 g (8.9 oz) | 240 g (8.5 oz) (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | Yes (fully collapsible hinges) | Yes (collapses and folds inward into compact case) |
| Carrying case | Reinforced zippered hard carry case included | Hardshell zip travel case included |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 35 mm dynamic biocellulose driver | Custom 40 mm dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration) | Yes (Quiet Mode with adjustable noise cancellation levels) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) | Yes (Aware Mode with adjustable environment blend) |
| Supported codecs | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | Advanced microphone array with voice isolation | 4-mic beamforming voice pickup array |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 1-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth multipoint 2 devices) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint pairing) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on) | 24 hours on a single charge |
| Charging time | 3 hours (15 min quick charge gives up to 2.5 hours) | 2.5 hours full charge (15 min quick charge gives 2.5 hours) (wins this row: lower) |
Ownership
0 differences| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose's flagship wireless headphones featuring Bose Immersive Audio, CustomTune sound calibration, and world-class quiet.
- Exceptional noise cancellation in low-frequency rumble and vocal bands
- Folds completely compact into slim travel case
- Bose Immersive Audio provides wide virtual soundstage
What you give up
- Battery life drops to 18 hours with Immersive Audio on
- Custom EQ in app is limited to 3 bands
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Ultra-comfortable folding ANC headphones with classic Bose noise cancellation and 24-hour battery life.
- Foldable design collapses neatly into an ultra-compact travel case
- Legendary lightweight 240g comfort ideal for long flights
- Tactile physical buttons and reliable multi-point Bluetooth switching
What you give up
- Lacks spatial audio head tracking found on QC Ultra
- No high-resolution LDAC or aptX codec support
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
Too close to call on flights & commutes from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets.
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: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Headphones ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
Bose QuietComfort Headphones costs $80 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
Bose QuietComfort Headphones has this deal-breaker: no LDAC or aptX. Android phones stream at standard AAC or SBC quality.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
Too close to call on flights & commutes from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here. Active Noise Cancelling: Yes vs Yes Transparency mode: Yes vs Yes
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.