Head to head
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs, but Bose QuietComfort Headphones costs $50 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)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos 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$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 3 to 2
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Bose QuietComfort Headphones takes 2.
- Battery life: 30 hours vs 24 hours on a single charge
- Charging time: 2 hours vs 2.5 hours full charge
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones is $50 cheaper. Pay the difference only if battery life matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · No (swivel earcups)Clear:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · Yes (collapses and folds inward into co…
- Clear:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBCTrips:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · AAC, SBC
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 307 g (10.8 oz)Clear:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · 240 g (8.5 oz)
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 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
Bowers & Wilkins
307 g (10.8 oz)
Bose
240 g (8.5 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bowers & Wilkins
Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones)
Bose
Yes (Quiet Mode with adjustable noise cancellation levels)
Battery life
Bowers & Wilkins
30 hours (ANC on)
Bose
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
Standard folding earcups
Folds flat & inward into small zippered case
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Standard headphone clamp
Signature light clamp (~3.9 N, zero crown pressure)
Weight & Crown Pressure
Standard headphone weight
240g (lightest in premium ANC class)
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Bowers & Wilkins: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Bose: 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 | 307 g (10.8 oz) | 240 g (8.5 oz) (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (swivel earcups) | Yes (collapses and folds inward into compact case) (wins this row: has it) |
| Carrying case | Slim fabric hard-shell travel case included | Hardshell zip travel case included |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 40 mm dynamic full-range bio-cellulose drivers (angled) | Custom 40 mm dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones) | Yes (Quiet Mode with adjustable noise cancellation levels) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Ambient Pass-Through) | Yes (Aware Mode with adjustable environment blend) |
| Supported codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | 4 mics for ANC + 2 mics for telephony | 4-mic beamforming voice pickup array |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint pairing) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 hours (ANC on) (wins this row: higher) | 24 hours on a single charge |
| Charging time | 2 hours (15 min quick charge gives 7 hours) (wins this row: lower) | 2.5 hours full charge (15 min quick charge gives 2.5 hours) |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 2 years (wins this row: higher) | 1 year |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
Evolved wireless headphones with 24-bit DSP engine, custom 40mm bio-cellulose drivers, and luxe metal detailing.
- Exquisite musical detail, separation, and stereo imaging
- High-end construction with memory foam earcups and metal arms
- Direct 24-bit streaming support from Bowers & Wilkins Music App
What you give up
- ANC is good but not on par with class leaders Bose/Sony
- Microphone wind reduction in outdoor calls is average
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
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort 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: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Headphones ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or the Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
Bose QuietComfort Headphones costs $50 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or the Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Headphones. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e takes 1. Weight: 240 g vs 307 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.