Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST experience with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Apple AirPods Max and tell you which is better, after personally owning both products. I have thoroughly tested each of these headphones for hundreds of hours, and aim to offer a critical opinion from the perspective of an audiophile and professional music producer.
I’ll be comparing these two head to head on categories like price, comfort, features, battery life, noise cancelling performance, and sound quality.
Then at the end, I’ll share which is the best overall value for the money, and my overall recommendation on which you should buy.
I’ve also conducted a separate in-depth Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review and Apple AirPods Max Review, for those who are interested in reading more detailed thoughts about each headphone after. (Links open in a new tab.)
Key Takeaways
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra has best-in-class noise cancelling performance, all-day comfort, and audiophile-level sound quality after applying EQ.
- Apple AirPods Max has better stock sound quality, better build quality, more premium materials, and works flawlessly with Apple ecosystem devices.
- The Apple AirPods Max is typically $50-$120 more expensive than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, depending on sales.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Apple AirPods Max Price Compared
Overall, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is anywhere from $50 to $120 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max at current market prices for brand new. They can be much closer in price depending on current sales, and whether you’re buying new, renewed, or used.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Prices
- Retail: $429.00
- New: $429
- Renewed: N/A
Apple AirPods Max Prices
- Retail: $549.00
- New: $480
- Renewed: $380 (save up to $100!)
Order Here for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
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Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
Comfort
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is one of the lightest and most comfortable headphones available in the market currently.
On my scale, the Bose QC Ultra is 133.4 grams lighter than Apple AirPods Max:
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra weight: 254.4 grams
- Apple AirPods Max weight:Â 387.8 grams
This weight difference is immediately felt when putting on each pair of headphones back-to-back.
True to its name, I’ve always found the Bose “QuietComfort” series headphones to lead the pack when it comes to both comfort and noise cancelling. The QC Ultra carries on the torch with its light weight and very plush cushioning on both the headband and earpads.
The only other headphone in this class and price range that is equal to the QC Ultra on comfort is the Sony WH-1000XM5.
On the other hand, we can see the AirPods Max has a whopping 133.4 gram weight penalty over Bose.
Although the additional weight is immediately felt, the AirPods Max actually feels lighter than the numbers suggest due to its suspension headband design. I feel very little top-of-head pressure when wearing the heavy AirPods Max.
Where the “APM” loses points on comfort is due to its clamping force that is felt around the ears. It’s not overly excessive, but its presence is certainly felt and where most of the added weight transfers to.
That said, I still find the AirPods Max fairly comfortable to wear for hours, and they seemed to have loosened up a bit after wearing them.
But compared to the Bose QC Ultra, there’s no question it’s a step below.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Comfort: 5 out of 5
Apple AirPods Max Comfort: 4.0 out of 5
Winner: Tie
Features / Build Quality / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling
Features
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra was released in late-2023, and is a few years newer than the Apple AirPods Max released in late-2020.
That said, they’re pretty much equal when it comes to having all the modern features like Spatial Audio, Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, and built-in microphones for calls.
The Bose QC Ultra has much more customizability in its noise cancelling feature and EQ which we’ll discuss below.
One design flaw for the AirPods Max is the “smart case”, required to ensure the headphones enter low-power mode since the headphones don’t feature any concrete OFF button. This is pretty impractical on a daily basis and poor user experience, a rare misstep from Apple.
On the other hand, the Bose QC Ultra folds nicely into an included small and compact hardshell case. I love the size of this case for traveling and throwing into a backpack.
Build Quality
If you want to see where some of the price difference is justified, the build quality of the Apple AirPods Max is superior to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra in every way.
Where its added weight was a penalty for the comfort category, picking up and feeling the sheer heft of the APM inspires confidence in its materials.
And it should, since the APM is made with aluminum and stainless steel, seen throughout on both the shiny earcups and metal hinges.
I’ve owned my pair for years now, and as long as you take care of it, they still look brand new. The mesh material on the earpads also seems to age better than a lot of leather-like materials, as far as creases and such are concerned.
On the other hand, picking up the lightweight and mostly plastic Bose QC Ultra doesn’t exactly scream $400+ headphones.
To achieve its weight, much like the Sony XM5, Bose had to rely heavily on plastic throughout the construction of these headphones.
One place where Bose clearly used metal is in the hinges, and I think that’s the best compromise you can make when it comes to long-term durability.
Where I do feel confidence in the QC Ultra is in the solid feel of these metal hinges, very much unlike the plastic hinges on the Sony XM5 which is prone to breaking.
Looks
The Apple AirPods Max features arguably the most-striking and distinct design of any headphones to date, which you can easily see from a mile away.
The rectangular shape and satin metallic sheen of the earcups stands out when every other headphone is just plain black plastic ovals.
I actually wasn’t initially in love with the design of the APM when I first got them (I thought the earcups were about 20% too big), but as time goes on, the APM’s design has aged like a fine wine.
Judging by all the YouTube thumbnails, they’ve officially become a fashion statement for coders, productivity YouTubers, and even fitness channels.
On the other hand, the Bose QC Ultra is quite subdued for a $400 headphone.
This isn’t a bad thing by any means, it just means you won’t be making any impressions when wearing them like the AirPods Max does.
The QC Ultra looks about 80% similar to every QuietComfort before it, but they added a two-tone thing with grey hinges contrasting against the black. It’s a very streamlined and minimalistic design.
I like that the Ultra is less bulky than most other headphones and looks quite form-fitting and sleek when worn.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Apple AirPods Max Battery Life Compared
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra has 4 more hours of battery life on a single charge compared to the Apple AirPods Max:
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
- Apple AirPods Max Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
In my testing, I found both of these manufacturer’s battery ratings to be accurate, but needing the use of the “smart case” for the AirPods Max adds additional hassle.
And if you forget to put it in there, I’ve had instances where the battery drained down overnight.
Now, that was a while ago, so I’m guessing Apple updated some firmware to be better about switching automatically to low-power mode.
Either way, the Bose QC Ultra still has slightly longer battery life, and 4 hours extra could be an extra day or two without needing to charge.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Apple AirPods Max Noise Cancelling: Which is better?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra has superior noise cancelling performance to the Apple AirPods Max, and is accentuated most on airplane travel.
Although I still find the AirPods Max’s noise cancelling to be very good, I consider it a step below the QC Ultra, which is currently the best in the market.
The AirPods Max is wholly fine for your typical everyday noisy environments like an office or busy coffeeshop, but I find it gets exposed more on airplane travel with the jet engine noise.
Bose’s bread and butter has always been its noise cancelling, and the technology they put into the Ultra is better than ever, with 11 levels of customization between noise cancelling and transparency mode.
Personally, I don’t think it needs that level of granularity, but it surely works and the performance speaks for itself. It’s so good that Bose should get a perfect score in this category for its noise cancelling alone.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 5 out of 5
Apple AirPods Max Features / Battery Life / Noise Cancelling: 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Apple AirPods Max Sound Quality Comparison
Before we dive into the sound quality comparison, I have to make a very important note about the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
When I first listened to them, I wasn’t that impressed. My immediate first impression was that they were way too bass-heavy, and this drowned out the rest of the frequency spectrum.
But then I decided to give them another shot by spending a few days tweaking the EQ via the free Bose companion app, which is required to use the headphones anyway.
To my surprise, after dialing in the EQ, I was shocked that this made the QC Ultra sound like a completely different headphone entirely.
So my comparison on sound quality will be specifically using the EQ settings shared below, since it brings out the full potential of these headphones, and is free/easy to do.
Best Bose QuietComfort Ultra EQ settings
- Bass: -7
- Mid: +2
- Treble: +2
Result: Much more balanced, hyper-detailed, “neutral bright” sound. Bass is much more controlled yet still present and impactful. Treble is intentionally pushed forward to bring out all the micro-detail.
Comparing Sound Quality AFTER EQ…
Let’s get this out of the way first, both headphones have excellent sound quality for wireless, noise cancelling headphones.
But only one of these $400+ headphones is actually approaching audiophile-worthy territory.
And in a shocking twist of events, it’s…
*Dramatic pause*
… The Bose QuietComfort Ultra… with EQ.
Yes, the Bose QC Ultra, from a brand that was never particularly class-leading on headphone sound quality, just changed the game with this one (after EQ at least).
So… what makes it better exactly?
On the Bose QuietComfort Ultra…
First, the QC Ultra has a much better sense of space with its bigger soundstage, clearer separation, and imaging.
These are typical audiophile-level terms that don’t tend to apply to wireless noise cancelling headphones, at least not in a positive way.
What this all translates to is making everything from music to movies feel more immersive and “3D”. Layers of vocals and instruments are more spread out and easier to pinpoint and separate from each other.
Now, the AirPods Max does feature a very good Spatial Audio feature that can even things up a bit, but most songs aren’t available in Dolby Atmos yet, so just listening to your typical Stereo MP3s would expose this difference.
Also, Bose has a very competent “Immersive Audio” feature that is about on par with Spatial Audio.
Now moving onto the different sound signatures…
As mentioned earlier, I have EQ’d the Bose QuietComfort Ultra to have a “neutral bright” sound that is more reference-like and honestly, I tried to replicate something similar to studio monitors or the “Hifiman” house sound.
Despite the limitations of the very rudimentary 3-band EQ in the Bose app, I’m quite pleased with the results.
I’ve never heard wireless headphones this detailed with so much resolution and clarity on the finer micro-details. We’re talking about the ad lib vocals, reverb tails, delay (echoes), breathing noises.
Frankly, I was noticing things I never really noticed before. And that’s a statement that I have never uttered with a wireless headphone.
Despite turning the bass down to -7, it’s still fully present and impactful with plenty of body. I truly do enjoy bass, but I just want it to be clean and focused as opposed to overpowering the balance.
The sub-bass reaches all the way down to the lowest frequencies, much better than the AirPods Max, which is primarily mid-range focused.
If I was forced to really critique the QC Ultra, I’d say that the bass isn’t that ultra clean and fast Planar bass (which I prefer), and the timbre on certain instruments and vocals can be unnatural and unrealistic. Also, as good as the soundstage is for a closed-back headphone, it’s simply not as wide, tall, and deep as open-back.
On the AirPods Max…
I think the funniest thing about this comparison is that despite the Bose QC Ultra effectively being able to beat the AirPods Max anywhere (with the help of EQ), it actually loses the stock sound battle.
And I don’t even personally prefer the warmer, more mid-ranged focus sound signature of the AirPods Max, but I’d rather listen to them than the stock Bose QC Ultra. Yes, the Bose stock tuning is that bad.
If there’s one thing that the AirPods Max does arguably better than any of the wireless headphones in its class, it’s that the stock tuning is quite balanced and an excellent all-arounder, likely to please anyone and any genre.
Now that I’ve tested all of its competition and revisited, I have to say that it’s done very tastefully.
I will say that with the generous help of EQ, I truly believe the QC Ultra can beat the AirPods Max anywhere, except when it comes to timbre.
Despite the QC Ultra being more hyper-detailed, more spacious, and more bass-friendly, I can’t help but think that the AirPods Max simply sounds more realistic when it comes to the timbre of most instruments and vocals.
There is something quite charming and inoffensive about listening to the AirPods Max and how it really is a jack-of-all-trades, right out of the box.
Overall, I prefer the EQ’d Bose QuietComfort Ultra and believe it to be more audiophile-level than the AirPods Max, but both are very enjoyable to listen to and at the top of their class.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Sound Quality: 8.9 out of 10 (after EQ)
Apple AirPods Max Sound Quality:Â 8.6 out of 10
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (after EQ)
Value
At $429 retail, there’s only a handful of noise cancelling headphones that would make the Bose QuietComfort Ultra seem relatively affordable. Unfortunately, the $549 Apple AirPods Max is one of them.
With the AirPods Max’s price serving as a bit of an “anchor”, I actually think the QC Ultra is fairly priced for the overall package that it provides, with world-class noise cancelling, comfort, and even sound quality.
The AirPods Max, on the other hand, is harder to justify the full retail price, but can be found on sale for much closer to the QC Ultra these days.
At its lower price and arguably better overall package, the QC Ultra is the better value dollar for dollar.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Value: 4.0 out of 5
Apple AirPods Max Value: 3.5 out of 5
Winner:Â Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Overall Rating
- Audiophile-level sound quality (after EQ)
- Unrivaled noise cancelling performance
- Insanely comfortable and lightweight
- Expensive
- Sound signature without EQ is disappointing
- Materials feel mediocre for price
Apple AirPods Max Overall Rating
- Excellent sound quality
- Very good noise cancelling
- Switches easily between Apple devices
- Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support
- Expensive!
- Worse noise cancelling than Sony/Bose
- Heavy, less comfortable than Sony/Bose
Overall Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
This is the one to beat, folks.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra wins this comparison on account of its world-class noise cancelling performance, all-day comfort, and superior sound quality after EQ.
Factoring in its relatively lower price to the AirPods Max, it’s simply a better value for your money, and the strongest overall package for a noise cancelling headphone to date.
Now, I still think Apple AirPods Max has its redeeming qualities like superior build quality, premium materials, better stock sound, and being a dream for Apple-ecosystem users.
Overall, it’s likely that you wouldn’t be disappointed by either headphones (aside from the initial investment), and it just boils down to what you prioritize more.
Some extremely strong alternatives in this class of noise cancelling headphones and price range are the Sony WH-1000XM5, and Sennheiser Momentum 4. I highly recommend you check those out next!
Lastly, if you’d like to save some money and keep supporting RecordingNOW.com’s 100% independent, unbiased reviews, do consider using some of our affiliate links below to shop and even just compare prices. We purchase all products we review with our own money to maintain the highest level of integrity, and your support goes into that plus a continuously improving site experience.
Order Here for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):Â
Want to save up to an additional $100?
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase all of the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment. Noise cancelling performance is tested in the real-world, primarily on airplane flights, coffee shops, and walking around large metropolitan city environments.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, musician, tech journalist, and audiophile.
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