Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2. nesil) / Apple AirPods 4

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

Apple AirPods 4: AirPods 4 (2024), the basic model without active noise cancellation; USB‑C charging case. The same-design AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and the AirPods Pro models are separate.

SpecificationBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2. nesil)Apple AirPods 4
Release year20252024
TypeIn-ear true wireless earbuds BoseOpen-fit (no silicone tips) wireless earbuds; USB‑C charging case

This is the basic AirPods 4 without active noise cancellation. The identical-looking “AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation” is a separate product.

Apple
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 5 hours listening per charge; up to 30 hours total with the case; 5 minutes in the case ≈ 1 hour listening

Apple measured these figures at 50% volume with Spatial Audio off.

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		Charging case with USB‑C port; USB‑C cable sold separately

Apple says the case is more than 10 percent smaller in volume than its predecessor. Charging with an Apple Watch charger or Qi-certified charger is specific to the ANC model.

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

Adaptive EQ tunes the sound to the fit in the ear. Spatial Audio needs supported content; the personal profile is created with an iPhone that has a TrueDepth camera.

Apple
Noise control—Vent system for pressure equalisation; active noise cancellation only on the separately sold ANC model

At launch Apple offered two distinct models: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. This model has an open design that does not seal the ear canal.

Apple
Chip—H2 headphone chip

H2 enables Voice Isolation, Siri Interactions with head gestures and Personalised Spatial Audio.

Apple
Microphones and sensors—Dual beamforming microphones, inward‑facing microphone, optical in‑ear sensor, motion- and speech-detecting accelerometers, force sensor

The speech-detecting accelerometer helps detect when you are speaking; the optical sensor resumes playback when the bud is put in.

Apple
Controls—Press the stem: once to play/pause or answer, twice to skip forward or end a call, three times to skip back, press and hold for Siri; “Siri” voice activation; nod or shake your head to answer calls

Apple’s control list does not include volume adjustment on the stem.

Apple
Durability—IP54 dust, sweat and water resistance (earbuds and case)

According to Apple this is for non-water sports and exercise; resistance is not permanent and may decrease with wear. Do not charge when wet.

Apple
Connectivity—Bluetooth 5.3

It works as a Bluetooth headset with Android and other devices, but Apple says functions may be limited. Full features require current iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS or tvOS.

Apple
Size and weight—Earbud: 30.2 × 18.3 × 18.1 mm, 4.3 g; case: 46.2 × 50.1 × 21.2 mm, 32.3 g Apple
Accessibility—Live Listen, headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations Apple