A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple Airpods Max provide an excellent noise isolation quality which is perfect for air travel and environments with a lot of ambient noise; however, they are heavier and less portable, making them less ideal for exercise or on-the-go use. On the other hand, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are more comfortable and have a higher score for exercise use. They are also significantly lighter and offer great sound quality, making them versatile for various everyday situations and better for active users, but their noise isolation is not rated quite as high as the Airpods Max if that's a priority for you. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods Max
- Excellent for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Phone Calls
6.6
5.1
The Apple Airpods Max is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
6.0
The Apple Airpods Max is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
5.7
6.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0
9.1
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent.
Battery
21.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$549
$199
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II costs $199.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Key similarities
Music
7.3
7.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Apple Airpods Max are both good for music.
Gaming
5.5
5.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Apple Airpods Max are both poor for gaming.
Build Quality
9.0
9.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Apple Airpods Max both have excellent build quality.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple Airpods Max and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods Max | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $199 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2020 | September 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.6/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 21 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 20 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 10/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 385.5 Grams | 7.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Apple Airpods Max
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Adam Molina | July 2023
"Objectively, the AirPods Max is a spectacular pair of headphones. I appreciate the smart features like auto-pause and the transparency mode are super practical. It also sounds great, is well-built, and has solid battery life."
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
See more
Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Apple Airpods Max vs. Sennheiser IE600
VS
Compare Apple Airpods Max vs. Master & Dynamic MW75-Neuro
VS
Compare Apple Airpods Max vs. AKG K712 Pro
VS
Compare Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs. Apple Airpods Pro 2
VS
Compare Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs. Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
VS
Compare Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs. Audio Technica ATH-TWX7
VS
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
123,500
Recommendations made
18,525
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
Featured in
