Headphones / Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Apple AirPods Max 2
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Apple AirPods Max 2
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
The most effective ANC you can buy, and the most comfortable flagship here.
Wins overall by 0.9 points
Quick Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.9 points. The most effective ANC you can buy, and the most comfortable flagship here.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Apple AirPods Max 2 are both closely matched headphones models, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is $100 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max 2 ($449 vs $549). On Travel, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads (9.5 vs 6.0/10) — foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips. On Comfort, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads (9.2 vs 6.5/10) — clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions. On Value, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads (7.5 vs 5.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. Overall, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores 8.4/10 across our 10 scoring categories versus 7.5/10 for the Apple AirPods Max 2. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Apple AirPods Max 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $549.00 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 30✓ | 20 |
| Battery (ANC off) (hrs) | 45 | Apple rates only the 20-hour ANC-on figure |
| Quick Charge (min for 3hrs) | 15 | 10✓ |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Weight (g) | 250✓ | 386 |
| Driver Size (mm) | Not published by Bose | Not published by Apple |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC with updated ActiveSense and CustomTune ear-canal calibration, with manual ANC levels in the app | Apple Active Noise Cancellation on the H2 chip, using 8 of the 9 microphones, with Adaptive Audio, Transparency and Conversation Awareness |
| Multipoint Pairing | Yes | Yes, but only across compatible Apple devices |
| Microphones (mics) | Not published by Bose for the Ultra | 9 |
| Foldable | Yes | No |
| Water Resistance | None | None |
| App EQ | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White Smoke, Midnight Violet | Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange |
Category Scores
Battery
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on playtime, standby, and charging speed. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.9 against 9.0 — a 0.9-point margin on how well ambient noise is blocked. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.2 against 6.5 — a 2.7-point margin on clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sound Quality
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on driver performance, tuning, and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call & Mic Quality
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Apple AirPods Max 2 are level here, at 8.5/10 each. voice clarity and background noise rejection on calls is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Travel
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.0 — a 3.5-point margin on foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Gaming
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Apple AirPods Max 2 are level here, at 7.0/10 each. latency, low-lag mode support, and soundstage is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.0 — a 2.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on app ecosystem, multipoint, spatial audio, extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if…
- • Travel matters most to you — the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores 9.5/10 here (foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips).
- • Comfort matters most to you — the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores 9.2/10 here (clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions).
- • Value matters most to you — the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores 7.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Battery matters most to you — the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores 8.0/10 here (playtime, standby, and charging speed).
- • You want to spend less — it's $100 cheaper.
Choose the Apple AirPods Max 2 if…
- • Durability matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Max 2 scores 9.5/10 here (build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity).
Pros & Cons
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +The most effective noise cancelling available, narrowly ahead of Sony
- +CustomTune ear-canal calibration genuinely improves both ANC and sound
- +aptX Adaptive and USB-C lossless added this generation
- +Lightest flagship here at 250g and superbly comfortable
Cons
- −Wired listening still requires battery power, unlike most rivals
- −Immersive Audio costs you seven hours of battery
- −No LDAC
- −Bose publishes neither driver size nor microphone count
- −Only an iterative update over the first generation
Apple AirPods Max 2
Pros
- +Exceptional build — stainless steel and machined aluminium, the most premium object here
- +24-bit lossless over USB-C with ultra-low latency
- +Best-in-class Spatial Audio with head tracking on Apple devices
- +Live Translation and studio-quality recording
Cons
- −386g, a full 74g heavier than the next heaviest here, and it tells over long sessions
- −Still no EQ of any kind, at any price
- −AAC and SBC only, so Android users get the worst codec support here
- −Almost every headline feature requires an Apple device, including firmware updates
- −20 hours is the shortest battery here
- −No true power off — only the Smart Case
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or Apple AirPods Max 2 better overall?+
Based on our 10-category scoring, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Travel, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores higher on Travel (9.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips.
Which is better for Comfort, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores higher on Comfort (9.2/10 vs 6.5/10) — clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions.
Which is better for Value, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores higher on Value (7.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Battery, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) scores higher on Battery (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — playtime, standby, and charging speed.
Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) worth the price difference over the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $449 versus $549. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Travel.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about commute. The Apple AirPods Max 2 is the better fit for professionals or office.
What's the warranty on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple AirPods Max 2 ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 — $479.00
Premium Option
Sony WH-1000XM6 — $449.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.