Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): QCUH2-HEADPHONEARN · second-generation over-ear Ultra
Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020): AirPods Max 1, the first version with a Lightning charging port (2020); Silver, Space Grey, Sky Blue, Pink and Green. The 2024 USB‑C version and AirPods Max 2 are separate models.
| Specification | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2025 | 2020 |
| Launch | Announced 10 September 2025; available from 2 October 2025 Bose | — |
| Noise control | Active noise cancellation; Quiet and ambient-sound Aware modes Bose | — |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.4; multipoint connection to two devices Bose | — |
| Digital audio | USB-C; 24-bit / 48 kHz lossless audio support Bose | — |
| Analog audio | 2.5 mm headphone input; included 3.5 mm–2.5 mm cable; headphones must be powered on Bose | — |
| Battery | Up to 30 hours with ANC on and immersive audio off; 23 hours with immersive audio; 45 hours with both off Bose | Up to 20 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency on; up to 20 hours of movies with Spatial Audio on; 5 minutes of charge gives about 1.5 hours of listening Apple |
| Charging | USB-C; up to 3 hours for a full charge; 15 minutes for up to 3 hours with ANC on Bose | — |
| Controls | Power/Bluetooth and multifunction buttons; touch volume strip; wear detection Bose | Digital Crown (volume, play/pause, calls, track skip, Siri) and noise control button Apple |
| Weight and size | Headphones about 264 g; 4.5 × 16.0 × 20.5 cm Bose | — |
| In the box | Carry case; 3.5–2.5 mm audio cable; 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable Bose | — |
| Modes | Quiet, Aware, Immersion, Cinema; EQ and shortcuts in the Bose app Bose | — |
| Water resistance | No IP rating; avoid situations where the headphones may get wet Bose | — |
| PC calls | 8.2.20 and later: two-way PC audio over USB-C; app compatibility varies Bose | — |
| Software 10.12.12 | 8 September 2026: LE Audio beta on compatible Android/Windows devices and improved USB calls Bose | — |
| Audio technology | — | Apple-designed dynamic driver; Active Noise Cancellation; Transparency mode; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ Apple |
| Chip | — | Apple H1 headphone chip in each ear cup Apple |
| Microphones | — | Nine microphones in total: eight for noise cancellation; three for voice pickup (two shared with noise cancellation) Apple |
| Sensors | — | Optical, position and case-detect sensors plus an accelerometer in each cup; gyroscope in the left cup Apple |
| Charging and case | — | Charging via Lightning; the battery enters an ultra-low-power state in the Smart Case Apple |
| Connectivity | — | Bluetooth 5.0 Apple |
| Size and weight | — | 187.3 × 168.6 × 83.4 mm; 384.8 g with cushions; Smart Case 134.5 g Apple |
| Compatibility | — | Apple devices running the latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS or tvOS Apple |