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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you require headphones for extensive phone calls, watching TV, or video gaming, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra might be the better choice despite the higher price, due to their superior comfort, active noise cancelling, and low-latency performance; however, if you're looking for something more affordable that’s good for music during exercise and has a secure fit, the Beats Powerbeats Pro would be suitable, especially since they're optimized for use with Apple devices and offer excellent portability and sweatproof certification, though they may not perform as well for calls or gaming. 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 Beats Powerbeats Pro
Good for phone calls
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
Very good for music
Excellent for gaming
Excellent for TV and video
Best in class for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.5/10
8.3/10
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good for music, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro is only fair.
Gaming
5.5/10
9.3/10
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro is poor.
Phone Calls
7.0/10
5.3/10
The Beats Powerbeats Pro is good for phone calls, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.2/10
6.0/10
The Beats Powerbeats Pro is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair.
TV and Video
5.7/10
9.0/10
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
4.6/10
9.1/10
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
29.0 Hours
The Beats Powerbeats Pro has 10 hours of battery life. The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life.
Cost
$124
$429
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Beats Powerbeats Pro has a price of $124 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones costs $429.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones to have excellent build quality, while the Beats Powerbeats Pro has very good build quality.
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How the Beats Powerbeats Pro and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones compare to other earbuds and headphones
"Sweat resistance, actual noise isolation, and a secure fit in your ears make these the true wireless earphones you want in Apple-land. Android users may find other options they like better, as these only support AAC."
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
Get a great deal on the Beats Powerbeats Pro or the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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.