Bose
QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2
However this obtained me pondering: how do the AirPods Max 2 evaluate to the very best noise-cancelling headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2nd Gen? Bose gear is the reigning champion of ANC — Dr. Bose actually invented ANC — and the QC Extremely 2 are broadly thought of industry-leading cans.
To seek out out which cans come out on prime, maintain studying this AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely showdown.
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AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0
Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2
AirPods Max 2
Value
$449/£449
$549/£499
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4
Bluetooth 5.3
ANC
Sure
Sure
Sturdiness
No IP ranking
No IP ranking
Battery
30 hours
20 hours
Weight
8.8 ounces
13.6 ounces
Dimensions
7.7 x 5.5 x 2 inches
7.4 x 6.6 x 3.28 inches
Colours
Black, white, navy, beige, black/gold
Starlight, midnight, orange, purple, blue
Compatibility
iOS, Android
iOS, Android
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Value
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The AirPods Max 2 are the identical value as their predecessor: $549 within the U.S. and £499 within the U.Ok.. This makes the AirPods Max 2 a few of the costliest life-style Bluetooth headphones available on the market proper now.
Certain, the AirPods Max 2 sound superior, and are the right cans for somebody like me — a great deal of Apple gear, loves huge, wealthy soundscapes with loud-but-not-overpowering bass — however I will not fake they don’t seem to be overpriced.
Of the “important gamers”, solely the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 ($799), Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 ($1,200) and the Focal Bathys MG ($1,099) outprice the AirPods Max.
The Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2nd Gen are comparatively inexpensive by comparability — $449 within the U.S. and £449 within the U.Ok.. To your $449, you get industry-leading ANC, supreme consolation, and bass-heavy sound — for many clients, the “holy trifecta” of headphone options.
The $100 saving makes the Bose extra in-keeping with the remainder of the flagship Bluetooth headphone market: the Sony WH-1000XM6 are $449, and the Beats Studio Professional are $349. I additionally lately examined the Nothing Headphone (a), which, granted, do not sound anyplace close to nearly as good because the AirPods Max 2 or Bose QC Extremely, however will set you again simply $199.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2nd Gen.
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Design
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The AirPods Max 2 take the award for “prettiest headphones”, fingers down. There are some issues Apple dominates the market in, and design is certainly one of them. The AirPods Max 2 feel and appear just like the premium cans they’re: attractive, shiny ear cups, intuitive controls, and a weight-bearing mesh headband that forestalls headphone complications as a lot as attainable.
What to learn subsequent
As compared, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2nd Gen look slightly, dare I say, low cost.
After all, there are swings and roundabouts right here: the AirPods Max 2 feel and appear extra premium, however they’re extremely heavy. Conversely, the Bose QC Extremely really feel slightly cheaper and so they’re not as fairly, however they’re nearly half the burden of the AirPods, and are a lot comfier to put on for lengthy intervals.
Your choice will, after all, depend upon you. Would you somewhat a smooth metal-forward design, or a barely plasticky, but light-weight end?
Personally, I desire the feel and appear of the AirPods Max.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
Controls are additionally a slam-dunk for Apple: every thing is managed by way of two tactile buttons on the best cup. You’ve got obtained Apple’s “Digital Crown” for issues like play/pause, Siri, and quantity. The tab-shaped button controls ANC.
The Bose controls are slightly complicated, and took me some time to get used to. You regulate the amount by rubbing the underside of the best cup. To pause, you press the multi-function button on the best cup — whereas looking for this, I by chance elevated the amount.
You additionally use this button to modify between Immersion, Quiet, and Conscious modes. You can’t flip ANC off on the Bose cans.
For me, this alternative was straightforward. Sure, I’m begging Apple to make the AirPods Max lighter, however the straightforward controls and premium look means the Maxes take this spherical.
Winner: AirPods Max 2.
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Options & connectivity
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If you happen to’re deep within the Apple ecosystem, on the floor it makes extra sense to get the AirPods Max 2 as they combine seamlessly along with your iPhone and MacBook.
Nevertheless, there’s a lot, way more to each the AirPods Max 2 and the Bose QuietComfort Extremely than that. The Bose QC Extremely even have multipoint connectivity; I used to be in a position to hook up with my iPhone 16 Professional and MacBook Air M2 and change between each simply as simply.
The Bose run on Bluetooth 5.4, and the AirPods Max 2 have Blueooth 5.3. I am shocked to see such “outdated” Bluetooth variations on flagship new merchandise, particularly as Samsung launched its Galaxy Buds 4 line with Bluetooth 6.1 simply weeks earlier than the AirPods Max 2.
Though there are not any life-changing variations between Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth 6.1, the extra fashionable model helps future-proof the product and permits for a wider and extra dependable connection. I might wish to see each Bose and Apple go for the 6.1 model with its subsequent releases.
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Connectivity complaints apart, each the AirPods Max 2 and Bose QC Extremely boast an enormous vary of options, some extra “fashionable” than the others.
Apple has gone for a extra “sensible tech” angle with the AirPods Max 2, stuffing the cans with Dwell Translation, Siri integration, a digicam distant in your iPhone — no, I am not joking — and AirPods Professional features like Dialog Consciousness.
Bose has leaned extra into the “do one factor and do it rather well” angle. As a substitute of those sensible options, the QC Extremely 2nd Gen sound nice, really feel nice, and have supreme ANC. So when you will not be capable of translate different languages whereas on trip, your long-haul flight to your vacation vacation spot might be a heck of quite a bit comfier with the Bose.
It actually is dependent upon what you personally search for in a pair of headphones, however seeing because the AirPods Max 2 provide far more options, I am giving Apple the win.
Winner: AirPods Max 2.
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Sound high quality
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Alright, now let’s get into the meat of it: sound high quality.
Apple and Bose gear have totally different sound signatures, so they’ll, inevitably, sound totally different. Whereas Apple goes for a extra expansive, immersive, and detail-focused soundscape, Bose affords a deeper, richer, and bassier listening expertise.
There is no proper or improper technique to do sound, so your private choice will possible differ from mine. I lean extra in the direction of the Apple facet of the spectrum — I like immersive music that handles bass with readability and focus and permits every layer of the monitor to shine.
That is to not say I dislike Bose’s sound — by no means. The QuietComfort Extremely sound immense, with highly effective, bass-driven power and readability throughout a lot of the frequency vary.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
I performed the identical three songs by way of Spotify Lossless to even the enjoying discipline — utilizing Apple Music can be unfair in favor of the AirPods Max 2 — and analyzed every monitor independently.
First, I performed an digital monitor: “Birth4000” by Floating Factors. This music is constructed over a glitchy, fearless synth bassline and digital hi-hats, clattering tambourines enjoying within the background, and a punchy kick-drum retaining the entire thing going.
The QC Extremely dealt with this monitor excellently, unafraid of the pulsing, glitchy bassline, not permitting the kick drum to get misplaced within the melee. Even so, the low-end was essentially the most pronounced a part of the monitor, considerably overshadowing delicate high-frequency stereo results within the left ear.
Once I performed this monitor with the AirPods Max 2, I used to be shocked to listen to a squeaky, wobbly sound impact within the left ear. Within the Bose cans, this was nearly fully overpowered by bass.
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I additionally listened to “Common John” by Queens of the Stone Age, a heavy rock monitor with raucous bass and a wealthy rhythm guitar part. The AirPods Max 2 dealt with the vocals fantastically, clearly separating them from the wealthy instrumental and specializing in the feel in Homme’s voice.
Comparatively, I feel this music sounded slightly muddied within the Bose QC Extremely, like all of the sonic layers have been competing for a similar quantity and the identical level on the frequency vary.
The AirPods Max 2 made this music sound way more expansive and huge, and separated the devices with extra precision.
Lastly, I performed “Run Your Mouth” by the Marias, a soul-pop monitor with funky basslines and sunsoaked synth layers. The breathy vocal and soulful guitars sounded clear and balanced by way of the AirPods Max 2, and the samba-esque bass did not overpower the vocals. Once I listened with the QuietComfort Extremely, the vocals have been equally as efficient, however the bass and kick drum have been introduced ahead, somewhat than the synth chord progressions.
Sound is a really subjective expertise, however I personally desire the broader, clearer soundscape of the AirPods Max 2.
Winner: AirPods Max 2.
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: ANC
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It goes with out saying that Bose wins this spherical. Spoilers, guys, sorry. However, yeah, Bose continues to be the undefeated champion of ANC. What can I say? The corporate invented it.
No different headphones come shut. Once I was testing the QC Extremely across the metropolis, I could not hear a single automobile. No engines, no buses, no motorbikes. I used to be in my very own little bubble, simply me and my music in opposition to the world.
It’s a little irritating that you may’t flip off ANC in any respect — not like on AirPods, there isn’t any ‘Off’ mode, simply ‘Immersive’, ‘Quiet’, and ‘Conscious’ — as this may inevitably drain the battery slightly extra.
Even so, the clue’s within the title — QuietConsolation, in spite of everything. You purchase Bose cans for the ANC.
As compared, Apple’s ANC is nice, however not fairly Bose-level but. I may nonetheless hear a couple of high-frequency sounds leaking by way of, however a lot of the low, grumbly environmental noise — like automobile engines — was blocked out.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Extremely
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Name high quality
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We have reached some extent the place all flagship headphones have similar name high quality. There is no method round it. It simply is.
Apple claims the AirPods Max 2 have a “studio-quality” microphone. Whereas I might somewhat have probably the greatest microphones if I have been a content material creator or vocalist, I’ll say that, on work calls, my colleagues reported my voice sounded clear and clear.
Comparatively, the QC Extremely have 12 mics (versus the AirPods’ one), however my name recipients could not inform the distinction between every headphone.
I feel you possibly can use both for work calls or private calls, and you’d sound crystal clear and audible, even in loud environments.
Winner: Draw.
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Battery
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Battery life is a little bit of a sore spot for AirPods Max customers. The unique Maxes tapped out at 20 hours, which, even in 2020, trailed far behind the {industry} customary of ~30 hours (ANC on).
So, think about my shock when the AirPods Max 2 have been launched with the identical battery life. 20 hours in 2020 was one factor — 20 hours in 2026 is wildly audacious. Apple claims the battery’s “effectivity” has been improved, however it’s nonetheless 20 hours.
The Bose QC Extremely have a 30-hour battery life (ANC on, as you can’t flip it off), which drops right down to 23 hours with ‘Immersive’ ANC mode on.
That is nonetheless not notably spectacular: I lately examined the $199 Nothing Headphone (a), which final for a jaw-dropping 135 hours on a single cost, 75 hours with ANC on. That is incomprehensibly lengthy. If you happen to wore the headphones from the second you stepped by way of the workplace door till the second you left, you’d get nearly two weeks out of the Nothing cans.
Certain, they’re most likely driving a lot much less energy than the AirPods Max and the QuietComfort Extremely, however you’d hope the 2 behemoths of audio may outlast a comparatively new, underdog British firm.
So, whereas the Bose technically win this spherical, I actually need to give the win to Nothing.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort Extremely.
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Verdict
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Each the Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2nd Gen and the AirPods Max 2 are glorious, flagship cans worthy of the reward directed at them. You would not be upset with both headphone — each are smooth, sound nice, and have improbable ANC.
After all, the Bose QC Extremely block out a contact extra sound and are slightly comfier for longer intervals, however personally? I am going for the AirPods Max 2. I desire Apple’s wider, extra advanced sound tuning (true of AirPods Professional, too). The seamless connection between my iPhone, MacBook, and work MacBook makes shifting between units a breeze.
If you happen to desire a bassier soundscape and also you journey quite a bit, I might advocate the Bose QuietComfort Extremely over the AirPods Max 2. But when, like me, you predominantly use your headphones for work and working errands, and you’ve got a whole lot of Apple gear, it is gotta be the AirPods Max 2. These cans took the time period “flagship” and ran with it.
AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Extremely: Rankings scorecard
Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0
AirPods Max 2
Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2nd Gen
Value (5)
3
4
Design & controls (15)
12
8
Options (10)
8
7
Sound high quality (25)
24
20
ANC (20)
19
20
Name high quality (10)
9
9
Battery (15)
8
11
Whole rating (100)
83
77
