Head to head
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e leads 2 to 1 on the 3 rankable specs, but Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $100 less. 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)$249Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats 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)$249Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats 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: 2 to 1
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e.
- Leads 2 of 3 rankable overall specs; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds takes 1.
- Battery life: 30 hours vs 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Warranty: 2 years vs 1 year manufacturer warranty
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is $100 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)Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · No (charging case)
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 307 g (10.8 oz)Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 15.4 g
- Clear:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 30 hoursTrips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 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
Bowers & Wilkins
307 g (10.8 oz)
Bose
15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bowers & Wilkins
Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones)
Bose
Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration)
Battery life
Bowers & Wilkins
30 hours (ANC on)
Bose
6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case
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 1-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | In-ear true wireless earbuds with silicone stability bands |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 307 g (10.8 oz) | 15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (swivel earcups) | No (charging case) |
| Carrying case | Slim fabric hard-shell travel case included | 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 dynamic full-range bio-cellulose drivers (angled) | High-performance proprietary dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones) | Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Ambient Pass-Through) | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) |
| Supported codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | 4 mics for ANC + 2 mics for telephony | 4 microphones in each earbud (8 mics total for ANC and voice pickup) |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 1-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint connectivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 hours (ANC on) (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 (15 min quick charge gives 7 hours) | 2 hours full charge (20 min quick charge gives 2 hours); USB-C wired |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 2 years (wins this row: higher) | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
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 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: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $100 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e 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 Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e 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 $100 at list price.
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 11 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.