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AirPods Max · Arctic White — Over-ear · 2020
Apple

AirPods Max · Arctic White

Over-ear · 2020

88
/ 100
From $549
VS
Bose QuietComfort Ultra wins by 5
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive
Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive

93
/ 100
From $429
Specdex verdict

Bose QuietComfort Ultra takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, AirPods Max · Arctic White lands at 88 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra at 93. That puts Bose QuietComfort Ultra ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick AirPods Max · Arctic White if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra if…

  • ✓Best comfort in class
  • ✓Excellent ANC
  • ✓Immersive Audio spatial feature
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Tuning, detail, and staging

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on sound (92 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

ANC strength for commute and travel

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on anc (96 vs 86).

Comfort

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Long-session wearability

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on comfort (98 vs 87).

Value for money

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Bose QuietComfort Ultra more score per dollar ($429 vs $549).

AirPods Max · Arctic White 88
vs
93 Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Score breakdown

AirPods Max · Arctic White
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
93
anc 96
sound 92
comfort 98
battery 86
features 90

Specs side-by-side

AirPods Max · Arctic White versus Bose QuietComfort Ultra — full spec comparison
Spec AirPods Max · Arctic White Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Type
Over-ear
—
Release year
2020
—
Driver
—
35 mm dynamic
Battery
—
24 h (Immersive Audio off) / 18 h (on)
Weight
—
253 g
Codecs
—
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive

AirPods Max · Arctic White

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Pros
  • +Best comfort in class
  • +Excellent ANC
  • +Immersive Audio spatial feature
Cons
  • −Bose app fiddly
  • −No USB-C audio (3.5 mm + Bluetooth only)
  • −No LDAC support

FAQ: AirPods Max · Arctic White vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Which is better, AirPods Max · Arctic White or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is AirPods Max · Arctic White worth the price? +

At $549, AirPods Max · Arctic White delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra worth the price? +

At $429, Bose QuietComfort Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in comfort.

Does AirPods Max · Arctic White or Bose QuietComfort Ultra last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound quality, AirPods Max · Arctic White or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on sound (92 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, AirPods Max · Arctic White or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on anc (96 vs 86). ANC strength for commute and travel.