Head to head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs and costs $50 less, which makes it the straightforward pick.
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$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sony 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$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 2 to 3
Buy the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones takes 2.
- Battery life: 60 hours vs 24 hours
- Charging time: 2 hours full charge vs 3 hours
- It is also $50 cheaper.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · Yes (fully collapsible hinges)Trips:Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless · No (swivels flat)
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · No official IP ratingTrips:Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless · No official IP rating
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Bose
253 g (8.9 oz)
Sennheiser
293 g (10.3 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bose
Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration)
Sennheiser
Yes (Hybrid Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation)
Battery life
Bose
24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on)
Sennheiser
60 hours (ANC on via Bluetooth)
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
Swivels flat only (large fabric travel case)
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Ultra-plush gentle clamp (~4.1 N, best-in-class glasses comfort)
Medium-firm seal (~4.8 N, thick cushioned headband)
Weight & Crown Pressure
253g (featherweight travel balance)
293g (moderate weight, thick memory foam)
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Bose: What to watch for
- Hardware Quirk
Capacitive touch volume strip can be overly sensitive.
- Software / Apps
Occasional Bluetooth multi-point audio handover stutter.
Sennheiser: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 2-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | Over-ear, closed-back |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 253 g (8.9 oz) (wins this row: lower) | 293 g (10.3 oz) |
| Foldable | Yes (fully collapsible hinges) (wins this row: has it) | No (swivels flat) |
| Carrying case | Reinforced zippered hard carry case included | Fabric-covered structured hard zip case included |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 35 mm dynamic biocellulose driver | 42 mm Transducer system (audiophile-inspired) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration) | Yes (Hybrid Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) | Yes (Adjustable Transparency Mode) |
| Supported codecs | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | aptX, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | Advanced microphone array with voice isolation | 2x2 digital beamforming mic array |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth multipoint 2 devices) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint pairing) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on) | 60 hours (ANC on via Bluetooth) (wins this row: higher) |
| Charging time | 3 hours (15 min quick charge gives up to 2.5 hours) | 2 hours full charge (10 min charge gives 6 hours) (wins this row: lower) |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years (wins this row: higher) |
|---|
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
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Audiophile-tuned wireless headphones delivering signature Sennheiser sound and mammoth 60-hour battery life.
- Unrivaled 60-hour battery life with ANC engaged
- Audiophile-grade acoustic tuning with punchy dynamic bass
- Comprehensive aptX Adaptive high-resolution audio support
What you give up
- ANC performance slightly behind Sony XM5 and Bose Ultra
- Less distinctive styling compared to retro Momentum 3
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
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: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones ↗ · Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless?
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless costs $50 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless?
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless?
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless takes 1. Weight: 253 g vs 293 g
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 9 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.