Head to head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Beats Studio Pro
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones leads 2 to 1 on the 3 rankable specs, but Beats Studio Pro costs $80 less. Most of the 14 attributes tracked here are descriptive rather than numeric.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 2 to 1
Buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
- Leads 2 of 3 rankable overall specs; Beats Studio Pro takes 1.
- Weight: 253 g vs 260 g
- Multipoint Bluetooth: Yes vs No
- Beats Studio Pro is $80 cheaper. Pay the difference only if weight matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, S…Trips:Beats Studio Pro · AAC, SBC, Lossless audio via USB-C
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · No official IP ratingTrips:Beats Studio Pro · No official IP rating
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Bose
253 g (8.9 oz)
Beats
260 g (9.17 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bose
Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration)
Beats
Yes (Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling)
Battery life≠
Bose
24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on)
Beats
24 hours (ANC/Transparency on) / 40 hours (ANC off)
Comfort, Clamp & Travel Fit Check
Ergonomic factors that affect daily comfort, glasses wearers, and luggage space.
Folding & Travel Packability
Folds flat & collapses into compact travel case
Standard folding earcups
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Ultra-plush gentle clamp (~4.1 N, best-in-class glasses comfort)
Standard headphone clamp
Weight & Crown Pressure
253g (featherweight travel balance)
Standard headphone weight
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Bose: What to watch for
- Hardware Quirk
Capacitive touch volume strip can be overly sensitive.
- Software / Apps
Occasional Bluetooth multi-point audio handover stutter.
Beats: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 1-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | Over-ear, closed-back |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 253 g (8.9 oz) (wins this row: lower) | 260 g (9.17 oz) |
| Foldable | Yes (fully collapsible hinges) | Yes (folds into compact carrying case) |
| Carrying case | Reinforced zippered hard carry case included | Woven fabric zippered carrying case with cable storage |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 35 mm dynamic biocellulose driver | 40 mm custom active drivers (ultra-low distortion) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration) | Yes (Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) | Yes (Transparency mode) |
| Supported codecs | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC, Lossless audio via USB-C (up to 24-bit/48kHz) |
| Microphones | Advanced microphone array with voice isolation | Upgraded voice-targeting beamforming microphones |
Connectivity & Battery
3 differences| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth multipoint 2 devices) (wins this row: has it) | No (Google Fast Pair multipoint on Android; one-touch Apple iCloud switching) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on) | 24 hours (ANC/Transparency on) / 40 hours (ANC off) |
| Charging time | 3 hours (15 min quick charge gives up to 2.5 hours) | 2 hours full charge (Fast Fuel: 10 min charge gives 4 hours) (wins this row: lower) |
Ownership
1 differences| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose's flagship wireless headphones featuring Bose Immersive Audio, CustomTune sound calibration, and world-class quiet.
- Exceptional noise cancellation in low-frequency rumble and vocal bands
- Folds completely compact into slim travel case
- Bose Immersive Audio provides wide virtual soundstage
What you give up
- Battery life drops to 18 hours with Immersive Audio on
- Custom EQ in app is limited to 3 bands
Pick this one if
Beats Studio Pro
Over-ear wireless ANC headphones with custom 40mm drivers, lossless USB-C audio, and cross-platform native pairing for iOS and Android.
- Lossless 24-bit/48kHz audio playback via USB-C cable
- Strong battery life (up to 40 hours with ANC off / 24 hours with ANC on)
- Dual Apple and Android one-touch native pairing ecosystems
What you give up
- Plastic build feel compared to aluminum rivals
- No automatic wear-detection auto-pause
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
Too close to call on flights & commutes from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets. Only multipoint bluetooth is rankable here.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones ↗ · Beats Studio Pro ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Beats Studio Pro?
Beats Studio Pro costs $80 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Beats Studio Pro?
Beats Studio Pro has this deal-breaker: no LDAC or aptX. Android phones stream at standard AAC or SBC quality.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Beats Studio Pro?
Too close to call on flights & commutes from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here. Active Noise Cancelling: Yes vs Yes Transparency mode: Yes vs Yes
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 11 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.