Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2. nesil) / Apple AirPods (3rd generation)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2. nesil): True wireless in-ear · wireless charging case

Apple AirPods (3rd generation): AirPods (3rd generation) launched in 2021 with the MagSafe Charging Case; from 2022 a version with the Lightning Charging Case was also sold. The earbuds are the same with either case. AirPods 4, AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro are separate models.

SpecificationBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2. nesil)Apple AirPods (3rd generation)
Release year20252021
TypeIn-ear true wireless earbuds Bose—
Noise cancellingAdaptive active noise cancelling (ANC) · Aware (ambient) mode

ANC picks up outside sound with microphones and cancels it with an opposing signal. Bose says this generation changes cancellation levels more smoothly when sudden noises occur.

Bose		—
Microphones4 microphones per earbud · AI-powered call noise suppression Bose—
MultipointTwo source devices at once Bose—
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3 · range up to 9 m

Bose states the earbuds do not receive LE Audio content.

Bose		—
CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive (Snapdragon Sound)

aptX Adaptive adjusts quality and latency to connection strength; the phone must also support this codec.

Bose		—
BatteryEarbuds up to 6 hours (4 hours with Immersive Audio on) · up to 24 hours in total with the case

Immersive Audio is Bose's spatial audio mode and shortens battery life.

Bose		Up to 6 hours of listening per charge (5 hours with Personalised Spatial Audio on); up to 30 hours with the case; 5 minutes in the case ≈ 1 hour of listening Apple
ChargingUSB-C · wireless charging case · up to 2 hours of use from a 20-minute charge

The earbuds take about 2 hours and the case about 3 hours to charge fully.

Bose		—
Water resistanceEarbuds IPX4 · case not water resistant

IPX4 is protection against splashing water, not against immersion.

Bose		—
Weight0.017 lb (about 7.7 g) per earbud · case 0.132 lb (about 60 g) Bose—
DimensionsEarbud 2.99 × 1.25 × 2.49 cm · case 6.63 × 5.97 × 2.69 cm Bose—
ColoursBlack, White Smoke, limited-edition Deep Plum Bose—
Design and fit—Open-fit in-ear design without silicone tips; short stem

Because the earbud does not seal the canal, ambient sound is heard; fit depends on ear shape and there are no interchangeable tips.

Apple
Audio technology—Custom high-excursion Apple driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ

Adaptive EQ measures what is heard in the ear with the inward-facing microphone and adjusts the tuning to the fit in real time. Head tracking anchors sound to the Apple device’s screen. There is no active noise cancellation or transparency mode.

Apple
Chip and connectivity—H1 headphone chip; Bluetooth 5.0

Automatic device switching, “Hey Siri” and one-tap pairing work with Apple devices.

Apple
Sensors and microphones—Dual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone, skin-detect sensor, motion and speech-detecting accelerometers, force sensor

The skin-detect sensor pauses playback when an earbud is removed.

Apple
Controls—Press the stem once to play/pause or answer a call; twice to skip forward or end a call; three times to skip back; press and hold for Siri

There is no on-bud volume control.

Apple
Charging case—MagSafe Charging Case (MagSafe, Qi and Lightning) or Lightning Charging Case

The included cable is Lightning to USB-C; there is no adapter.

Apple
Sweat and water resistance—IPX4: earbuds and charging case

IPX4 protects against splashes; it is not for submersion.

Apple
Size and weight—Earbud (each): 30.79 × 18.26 × 19.21 mm, 4.28 g; case: 46.40 × 54.40 × 21.38 mm, 37.91 g Apple