Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC vs Bose - QuietComfort Earbuds (II)
Between the AirPods 4 with ANC and QuietComfort Earbuds (II), the AirPods 4 with ANC comes out ahead in battery — with case and driver size, while the QuietComfort Earbuds (II) wins on battery — buds. Overall, the AirPods 4 with ANC scores 58.3 and the QuietComfort Earbuds (II) 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 battery — with case and driver size. The biggest gaps in its favor are battery — with case, driver size, weight per bud, among others.
Pick the QuietComfort Earbuds (II) 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.
Both ship with comparable active noise cancellation, multipoint, 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
- ▲Battery — with case — 11.11% more. 20 h vs 18 h.
- ▲Driver size — 7.53% more. 10 mm vs 9.3 mm.
- ▲Weight per bud — 1.90 g less. 4.3 vs 6.2.
- ▲Has Spatial audio.
- ▲Water resistance: IP54 (vs IPX4).
Why Bose - QuietComfort Earbuds (II) wins
- ▲Battery — buds — 20.00% more. 6 h vs 5 h.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Bose - QuietComfort Earbuds (II) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Earbuds (II) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 10 mmlead | 9.3 mm |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | truelead | false |
Battery
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Bose - QuietComfort Earbuds (II) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 5 h | 6 hlead |
| Battery — with case | 20 hlead | 18 h |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Bose - QuietComfort Earbuds (II) |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | AAC,SBC | AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | false | false |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, AirPods 4 with ANC or QuietComfort Earbuds (II)?+
QuietComfort Earbuds (II) lasts 6h per charge vs 5h.
Do AirPods 4 with ANC or QuietComfort Earbuds (II) support multipoint?+
Neither supports multipoint.
Which has ANC, AirPods 4 with ANC or QuietComfort Earbuds (II)?+
Both have active noise cancellation.
Spec-level deep dives
More from the same brands
vsMars is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.