Apple AirPods 5 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation)
Buy the AirPods 5 if you use an iPhone and want the lower price: $129 at Apple as of November 3, versus $160 at eBay for the Bose. Buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) if noise cancellation and bass matter more than ecosystem features. The AirPods 5 have been as low as $114.99 on November 2; the Bose has been as low as $229 since October 30, so the $160 eBay price is well below its recent range.
Today the Apple AirPods 5 costs $31.00 less at its best price.
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Apple AirPods 5
4.6Choose the AirPods 5 if you own an iPhone, want Siri, Live Translation and Adaptive Audio, and want to pay $129 at Apple rather than $160 for the Bose.
- Lowest price of the pair at $129 at Apple.
- IP57 rating handles dust, sweat and rain better than the Bose's IPX4.
- Tight iPhone integration: instant pairing, Siri AI and Live Translation.
- Adaptive Audio blends ANC and Transparency automatically.
- Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking.
What separates them
| Apple AirPods 5 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price as of November 3, 2026 | $129 at Apple | $160 at eBay |
| Battery life per charge | 4 hours | 6 hours (4 with Immersive Audio) |
| Case battery | Charging case included, charge count not stated | 18 hours total with case |
| Water and dust resistance | IP57 | IPX4 |
| Noise cancellation | Adaptive ANC, up to 50% better than the previous generation | CustomTune ANC with Quiet, Aware and Immersion modes |
| Fit options | Fixed open-ear design | Nine eartip and stability band combinations |
| Bluetooth codecs | AAC-focused, Apple devices | SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Price history
- Apple AirPods 5: lowest $114.99 on Nov 2 at Walmart; $129.00 on Nov 4.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation): lowest $229.00 on Oct 30 at Amazon; $229.00 on Nov 3.
Prices at every store
Apple AirPods 5
- Best BuyNew
In stock
$129.00Free shippingObserved at 10:45 PM - AppleNew
In stock
$129.00Free shippingObserved at 10:45 PM - StaplesNew
In stock
$129.00Free shippingObserved at 10:45 PM - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
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$129.00Free shippingObserved Nov 3, 2026, 5:36 PM
Also available at
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- eBayCheck price at eBay
- BrandsMart USACheck price at BrandsMart USA
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation)
- Beach CameraNew
In stockReturn policy
$299.00Observed at 10:43 PM - eBayNew
Availability unknownSold by primefinds_44 (99.4% positive, 922 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.
$160.00+ $12.67 shippingVerified - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
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$229.00Free shippingObserved Nov 3, 2026, 5:36 PM - 6 Ave ElectronicsNew
Availability unknown
$286.49Observed Nov 3, 2026, 6:35 PM
Also available at
- AdoramaCheck price at Adorama
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- TargetCheck price at Target
Specs compared
| Spec | Apple AirPods 5 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Headphone style | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Noise control technology | Active Noise Cancellation | Active Noise Cancellation |
| Wireless | Y | Y |
| Brand | Apple | Bose |
| Assembled product weight | 0.28 lb | 5 lb |
| Color | White | Other |
| Battery consumption type | Integrated Rechargeable Battery | Integrated Rechargeable Battery |
| Power type | Battery | Battery |
| Generation | 5th Gen | QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds |
| Headphone type | Earbuds |
What reviewers say
Apple AirPods 5
Reviewers rate the AirPods 5 well overall, praising sound, comfort and noise cancellation. The open design is a trade-off: it keeps you aware of your surroundings but lets noise in, and one shopper found the fit insecure. Views on whether it is worth upgrading from AirPods 4 are split.
- Sound quality
- Comfortable fit
- Active noise cancellation
- Open-ear design keeps you aware of surroundings
- Open design lets in noise and distracts from music
- Earbuds can fall off the ears
- Seen by one reviewer as a minor upgrade over AirPods 4
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation)
Owners rate the earbuds 4.3 out of 5 across 4,104 ratings and consistently praise the sound, comfort and noise cancellation. Complaints center on battery life, oversensitive touch controls and fit issues with the right earbud.
Questions and answers
- Which has better noise cancellation, the AirPods 5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
- The Bose. Its CustomTune ANC is tuned per ear and reviewers rate it strong for travel. The AirPods 5 improve ANC by up to 50% over the previous generation, but their open design lets more noise in.
- Which lasts longer on a charge?
- The Bose: 6 hours, or 4 with Immersive Audio, plus 18 hours with the case. The AirPods 5 are rated at 4 hours.
- Are the AirPods 5 worth it over the Bose at these prices?
- At $129 at Apple versus $160 at eBay, the AirPods 5 are the better value if you use an iPhone and do not need top-tier ANC. Pay the extra for the Bose if noise blocking and bass are your priority.
- Which is better for running and rain?
- The AirPods 5, at IP57 versus IPX4 for the Bose. The Bose offers more eartip and stability band combinations, but some users report the buds slip out when sweating.
- Do the Bose earbuds work with an iPhone?
- Yes. They support AAC and Siri, plus Google Assistant. They also add aptX Adaptive and multipoint, which help more with Android and laptops.
- Which is better for calls?
- Both have microphones and voice pickup. The Bose uses four microphones per earbud with noise filtering; the AirPods 5 lean on Siri and Apple device handoff.
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