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Apple AirPods 5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Apple AirPods 5 against Bose QuietComfort Ultra, side by side.

Cheaper to start

Apple AirPods 5

Starts about $300 lower.

Rated higher

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

9.0 vs 0.0 on our design scale.

Standout

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Best sustained comfort in the category

Apple AirPods 5

Apple's first open-ear earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, alongside a redesigned Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness.

Specifications

  • Audio / Adaptive AudioBlends Transparency and ANC dynamically
  • Audio / Adaptive EQNext-generation Adaptive EQ
  • Audio / ArchitectureNew multiport acoustic architecture
  • Audio / Conversation AwarenessAuto-lowers volume when you start speaking
  • Audio / Spatial AudioPersonalized Spatial Audio (requires iPhone with TrueDepth camera)
  • Audio / Transparency ModeImproved Transparency mode
  • battery—
  • Battery / With ANCUp to 4 hours per charge (vs 3 hours on AirPods 4)
  • Battery / With Wireless Charging Case + ANCUp to 22 hours total
  • bluetooth—
  • Case / ChargingWireless charging (Apple Watch chargers, Qi, USB-C)
  • Case / ControlsForce sensor with volume swipe (Wireless Charging Case version)
  • Case / Materials70% recycled plastic
  • codecs—
  • DesignOpen-ear form factor; improved dust, sweat, and water resistance (no IP rating published)
  • features—
  • Noise CancellationActive Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design; removes up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4
  • Siri / Head GesturesNod or shake your head to respond to Siri
  • weight—
Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

The comfort benchmark for over-ears worn all day, at $429.

Where it wins, where it doesn't

Pros

  • Best sustained comfort in the category
  • Excellent cancellation across low-frequency travel noise
  • Well-judged tuning for long listening without fatigue

Cons

  • Warm, smoothed tuning is wrong for critical listening or mixing
  • 24 hours of battery trails Sony's 30, and Immersive Audio cuts it to 18
  • Bulkier to pack than folding competitors

Specifications

  • Audio / Adaptive Audio—
  • Audio / Adaptive EQ—
  • Audio / Architecture—
  • Audio / Conversation Awareness—
  • Audio / Spatial Audio—
  • Audio / Transparency Mode—
  • battery24 hours (18 hours with Immersive Audio)
  • Battery / With ANC—
  • Battery / With Wireless Charging Case + ANC—
  • bluetooth5.3
  • Case / Charging—
  • Case / Controls—
  • Case / Materials—
  • codecsSBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
  • Design—
  • featuresMultipoint, Immersive Audio
  • Noise Cancellation—
  • Siri / Head Gestures—
  • weight254 g