Head to head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
They split the 4 rankable specs evenly, so cost decides it: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $130 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$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)$249Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats 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$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 2 to 2
Tied overall. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is cheaper.
- The 4 rankable overall specs split 2 to 2.
- Saves $130 at list price.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · Yes (fully collapsible hinges)Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · No (charging case)
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · 24 hoursTrips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · 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
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
253 g (8.9 oz)
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case
Active Noise Cancelling≠
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration)
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration)
Battery life
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on)
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
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
Folds flat & collapses into compact travel case
Standard folding earcups
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Ultra-plush gentle clamp (~4.1 N, best-in-class glasses comfort)
Standard headphone clamp
Weight & Crown Pressure
253g (featherweight travel balance)
Standard headphone weight
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 Ultra Earbuds: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
5 differences| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | In-ear true wireless earbuds with silicone stability bands |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 253 g (8.9 oz) | 15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | Yes (fully collapsible hinges) (wins this row: has it) | No (charging case) |
| Carrying case | Reinforced zippered hard carry case included | Pocket-sized hard shell charging case (USB-C) |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | IPX4 sweat and water resistant |
Audio
3 differences| Driver | 35 mm dynamic biocellulose driver | High-performance proprietary dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration) | Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) |
| Supported codecs | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | Advanced microphone array with voice isolation | 4 microphones in each earbud (8 mics total for ANC and voice pickup) |
Connectivity & Battery
3 differences| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth multipoint 2 devices) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint connectivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio 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 | 3 hours (15 min quick charge gives up to 2.5 hours) | 2 hours full charge (20 min quick charge gives 2 hours); USB-C wired (wins this row: lower) |
Ownership
1 differences| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
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 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
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 ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $130 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds takes 1. Battery life: 24 hours vs 6 hours listening time on single charge
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 10 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.