Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC vs Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2
Between the AirPods 4 with ANC and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2, the AirPods 4 with ANC comes out ahead in driver size and weight per bud, while the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 wins on battery — buds and battery — with case. Overall, the AirPods 4 with ANC scores 58.3 and the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 scores 58.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (58.3 vs 58.4). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the AirPods 4 with ANC if you care most about driver size and weight per bud. The biggest gaps in its favor are driver size, weight per bud, water resistance.
Pick the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. Its strongest claims are battery — buds, battery — with case, multipoint.
Both ship with comparable active noise cancellation, spatial audio, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Why Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC wins
- ▲Driver size — 7.53% more. 10 mm vs 9.3 mm.
- ▲Weight per bud — 1.90 g less. 4.3 vs 6.2.
- ▲Water resistance: IP54 (vs IPX4).
Why Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 wins
- ▲Battery — buds — 20.00% more. 6 h vs 5 h.
- ▲Battery — with case — 20.00% more. 24 h vs 20 h.
- ▲Has Multipoint.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | openlead | in-ear |
| Weight per bud | 4.3 glead | 6.2 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP54lead | IPX4 |
Audio
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 10 mmlead | 9.3 mm |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 5 h | 6 hlead |
| Battery — with case | 20 h | 24 hlead |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.4lead |
| Codecs | AAC,SBC | aptX Adaptive,AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | false | truelead |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, AirPods 4 with ANC or QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2?+
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 lasts 6h per charge vs 5h.
Do AirPods 4 with ANC or QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 support multipoint?+
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 supports multipoint; AirPods 4 with ANC does not.
Which has ANC, AirPods 4 with ANC or QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2?+
Both have active noise cancellation.
Spec-level deep dives
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