Versus Engine
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
Apple AirPods 5
Custom high-excursion Apple driver
Apple AirPods 5
Apple's first open-ear earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, alongside a redesigned Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Custom high-excursion driver and high dynamic range amplifier for high-quality audio
- Improved Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness for better situational awareness
- Up to 22 hours of total battery life with the charging case
- Dust, sweat, and water-resistant (IP57)
Cons
- Battery life is relatively short at up to 4 hours with ANC enabled
- Compatibility is limited to Apple devices only
Specifications
- AccessibilityLive Listen audio Headphone levels Headphone Accommodations
- 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)
- Charging CaseAirPods 5: Works with USB-C connector AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case: Works with USB-C connector, Apple Watch charger, or Qi-certified chargers
- ChipH2 headphone chip
- codecs—
- ConnectivityBluetooth 5.3 wireless technology
- ControlsPress once to play or pause media Press once to answer a call or mute or unmute Press once for camera remote Press twice to end a call Press twice to skip forward Press three times to skip back Press and hold to switch between listening modes Swipe up or down to adjust volume (AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case) Say “Hey Siri” or just “Siri” to do things like play a song, make a call, or get directions With Siri Interactions, nod your head yes or gently shake your head no when Siri asks if you want to answer an incoming call, hear a text message, manage notifications, and more
- Current Price is—
- DesignOpen-ear form factor; improved dust, sweat, and water resistance (no IP rating published)
- Dust, Sweat, and Water ResistantDust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57)
- features—
- MaterialsAirPods 5 are made with 40% recycled content, including: 100% recycled aluminum in the hinge of the case 100% recycled cobalt in the battery
- Noise CancellationActive Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design; removes up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4
- Original Price is—
- SensorsDual beamforming microphones Inward-facing microphone Optical in-ear sensor Motion-detecting accelerometer Speech-detecting accelerometer Force sensor
- Siri / Head GesturesNod or shake your head to respond to Siri
- Size and WeightAirPods 5 (Each): Height: 1.19 inches (30.2 mm), Width: 0.72 inch (18.3 mm), Depth: 0.71 inch (18.1 mm), Weight: 0.15 ounce (4.3 grams), Charging Case (USB-C): Height: 1.82 inches (46.2 mm), Width: 1.97 inches (50.1 mm), Depth: 0.83 inch (21.2 mm), Weight: 1.14 ounces (32.3 grams)
- Size and Weight (Each)Height: 1.19 inches (30.2 mm) Width: 0.72 inch (18.3 mm) Depth: 0.71 inch (18.1 mm) Weight: 0.15 ounce (4.3 grams)
- System RequirementsiPhone models with the latest version of iOS iPad models with the latest version of iPadOS Apple Watch models with the latest version of watchOS Mac models with the latest version of macOS Apple TV models with the latest version of tvOS Apple Vision Pro with the latest version of visionOS
- weight—
- Year introduced2026
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
- Accessibility—
- 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—
- Charging Case—
- Chip—
- codecsSBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Connectivity—
- Controls—
- Current Price is$279.00
- Design—
- Dust, Sweat, and Water Resistant—
- featuresMultipoint, Immersive Audio
- Materials—
- Noise Cancellation—
- Original Price is$429.00
- Sensors—
- Siri / Head Gestures—
- Size and Weight—
- Size and Weight (Each)—
- System Requirements—
- weight254 g
- Year introduced—