Head to head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs and costs $30 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$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$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$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 2 to 3
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones takes 2.
- Battery life: 30 hours vs 24 hours
- Charging time: 2 hours vs 3 hours
- It is also $30 cheaper.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · Yes (fully collapsible hinges)Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · No (swivel earcups)
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · 253 g (8.9 oz)Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 307 g (10.8 oz)
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · No official IP ratingTrips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 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)
Bowers & Wilkins
307 g (10.8 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bose
Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration)
Bowers & Wilkins
Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones)
Battery life
Bose
24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on)
Bowers & Wilkins
30 hours (ANC on)
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.
Bose: What to watch for
- Hardware Quirk
Capacitive touch volume strip can be overly sensitive.
- Software / Apps
Occasional Bluetooth multi-point audio handover stutter.
Bowers & Wilkins: 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) | 307 g (10.8 oz) |
| Foldable | Yes (fully collapsible hinges) (wins this row: has it) | No (swivel earcups) |
| Carrying case | Reinforced zippered hard carry case included | Slim fabric hard-shell travel case included |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 35 mm dynamic biocellulose driver | 40 mm dynamic full-range bio-cellulose drivers (angled) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration) | Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) | Yes (Ambient Pass-Through) |
| Supported codecs | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | Advanced microphone array with voice isolation | 4 mics for ANC + 2 mics for telephony |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth multipoint 2 devices) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on) | 30 hours (ANC on) (wins this row: higher) |
| Charging time | 3 hours (15 min quick charge gives up to 2.5 hours) | 2 hours (15 min quick charge gives 7 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
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
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 ↗ · Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e?
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e costs $30 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e?
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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e?
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e takes 1. Weight: 253 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.