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Last Updated on June 21, 2025 by Eve Dawes
How to choose between Bose QuietComfort and QuietComfort Ultra earbuds | Feature by feature comparison
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds look very similar at first glance but there are a few key differences that might help you decide which model’s best for you. I’ve had mine for about a month and have been playing around with the features in the app to customize them for me, the earbuds and putting them to the test on long haul flights, cities and around the pool. In this Bose QuietComfort earbuds review and in-depth comparison of their top-tier earbuds: the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds I’ll share their differences and what made me choose the regular vs the ultra wireless earbuds.
This article contains gifted items and affiliate links but all opinions are my own.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds overview
Both models offer exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation, but they cater to different preferences and budgets. I was torn between the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and read a lot of comparison reviews before deciding. Normally you’d just expect the more expensive pair to be the best but that wasn’t the case and it really depends on what features are most important to you.
Mine were gifted so I could easily of chosen the more expensive pair but there were reasons that I’ll get to why I didn’t. So let’s look at their key differences to help you decide which pair suits your needs best.
Bose QuietComfort & QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review comparison
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs. QuietComfort Ultra earbuds: which should you choose? Both models offer exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation, but they cater to different preferences and budgets. I’m sharing my thoughts on their key differences to help you decide which pair suits your needs best.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds & Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review | Their similarities
Let’s start with their similarities. Both Bose QuietComfort noise cancelling earbuds have:
- Noise canceling. The Ultra is just 3% better so not significant enough to sway me.
- A choice of ear tips and stability bands to ensure a secure fit for comfort, sound quality and staying in place.
- IPX4 rating which makes them resistant to splashes and sweat. I normally use mine for working out so this is important to me.
Why I chose the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
I chose the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds instead of the more expensive Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for a few reasons:
Battery Life
This was one of the main selling points and deciding factors for me as I use my earbuds on long haul flights to Europe. The QuietComfort Earbuds have up to 8.5 hours of playback time with an additional 2.5 charges provided by the wireless charging case.
Whereas QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds only provide up to 6 hours of playback or 4 hours with Immersive Audio enabled. The charging case does not support wireless charging out of the box.
Wireless Charging
The second reason was that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer wireless charging versus the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds whose charging case does not support wireless charging out of the box.
Sound Quality
QuietComfort Earbuds have an upgraded 5-band equalizer for personalized sound adjustments VS QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer a 3-band EQ for customization. They also have Bose’s Immersive Audio technology to make your music feel more lifelike and a slightly more emphasized sub-bass and treble. This is going to be personal preference, rather than 1 model being better than the other.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds comparison reviews suggest the Ultra are only really worth buying if you want the best connection quality and Immersive Audio features.
Remote Selfie feature
I don’t know how much I’ll use this feature but it’s pretty cool and as a content creator I appreciate having it as an option. You can set up in the Bose app how you want to use this e.g. how many taps on which side of your earbuds. You can also say “Hey Bose, take a photo.” Yes, seriously! They’re that clever as they have voice controls. The Ultra model doesn’t have either of these features.
Voice controls
I’ve never had voice controlled headphones before and this is a pretty epic feature that’s unique to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and is not in the Ultra model.
Noise Canceling
I found QuietComfort Earbuds noise cancellation excellent. They reduce external noise by an average of 81%. There’s also different options in the app to choose from off, spacial awareness or regular noise cancelling. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds provide just 3% more reduction (84%) in external noise, so not enough to make a real difference or sway my choice.
Price
The QuietComfort Earbuds are significantly cheaper and currently sell for $179.00 vs QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds which are $299.00.
My Top Pick
Obviously my top pick are the ones I chose (Bose QuietComfort noise cancelling earbuds VS the Ultra) for the reasons mentioned above. As well as the fact I preferred the shape to the Ultra as they looked like they’d be more comfortable and are more compact. They’re also the best value. So if you’re seeking excellent noise cancellation and sound quality, as well as some cool new features like the voice control and remote selfie feature the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are a great choice at a more affordable price.
However, if you’re really into your sound quality and audio technology such as spatial audio and slightly superior noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds might be better for you if you don’t care about the other features like wireless charging and voice controls. Unfortunately, you can’t have it all, or at least not yet anyway.
Bose quietcomfort earbuds final thoughts
I was really impressed with the amount of noise canceling they provided and the sound for quality for music and calls. I haven’t found a use for the remote Selfie feature yet but it works well. Value wise, I think you get what you pay for and I’m happy I chose this model.
Shop Bose Earbuds
The Bose QuietComfort earbuds come in 5 colors; White Smoke (which is what I have), Black, Petal Pink, Chilled Lilac and Twilight Blue. Whereas the Ultra earbuds only come in 4 colors; black, limited Diamond 60th Edition, Lunar Blue and White Smoke. I just wish the white was a true white vs the White Smoke.
