Apple Airpods Pro 3 vs Bose Quietcomfort Ultra Earb

Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if you use an iPhone and want the most complete earbuds for it. Buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) instead if you commute or fly and want the quietest earbuds.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated November 2, 2026 1 min read

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Buy

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Best for iPhone owners

Typically $219–$249

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Buy

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Best for Best noise cancelling

Typically $249–$299

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

Feature	Apple AirPods Pro 3	Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Verdict	Buy	Buy
Typical price	$219–$249	$249–$299
Best for	iPhone owners	Best noise cancelling
Key feature	Stronger noise cancelling, heart-rate sensing and hearing health features in a familiar fit	Class-leading earbud noise cancelling with a comfortable stability-band fit
Noise cancelling	Adaptive ANC	CustomTune ANC
Battery (buds)	Up to 8 hours	Up to 6 hours
Water resistance	IP57	IPX4
Charging	USB-C, MagSafe	USB-C, wireless
Where to buy	Check Price Paid link	Check Price Paid link

Main differences

Noise cancelling

Apple AirPods Pro 3: Adaptive ANC; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): CustomTune ANC.

Battery (buds)

Apple AirPods Pro 3: Up to 8 hours; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): Up to 6 hours.

Water resistance

Apple AirPods Pro 3: IP57; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): IPX4.

Charging

Apple AirPods Pro 3: USB-C, MagSafe; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): USB-C, wireless.

Why buy it

Apple AirPods Pro 3: stronger noise cancelling, heart-rate sensing and hearing health features in a familiar fit; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): class-leading earbud noise cancelling with a comfortable stability-band fit.

Made for

Apple AirPods Pro 3: iPhone owners; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): best noise cancelling.

Usual price

Apple AirPods Pro 3: $219–$249; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): $249–$299.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if you

you use an iPhone and want the most complete earbuds for it
value excellent ANC

Check Price Paid link

Choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) if you

you commute or fly and want the quietest earbuds
value best-in-class noise cancelling

Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every model we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best wireless earbuds.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Sony · Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM5

Buy it if you want premium sound and ANC with any phone, iPhone or Android.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Sound quality
Typical price: $229–$299

Pros

Excellent sound
Top ANC

Cons

Foam tips not for everyone

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Samsung · Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Buy it if you use a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Samsung owners
Typical price: $179–$249

Pros

Great with Galaxy phones
Strong ANC

Cons

Features locked to Samsung

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Apple AirPods Pro 3 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): which should I buy?

Is the price difference worth it?

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 usually costs $219–$249 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249–$299. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Apple AirPods Pro 3 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): the full reasoning

Apple AirPods Pro 3 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)? Both are strong wireless earbuds, which is exactly why the choice is hard. Here is the short version first: buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if you use an iPhone and want the most complete earbuds for it, and buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) if you commute or fly and want the quietest earbuds. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 wins on stronger noise cancelling, heart-rate sensing and hearing health features in a familiar fit. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) answers with class-leading earbud noise cancelling with a comfortable stability-band fit. Noise cancelling: Adaptive ANC on the Apple AirPods Pro 3, CustomTune ANC on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). Battery (buds): Up to 8 hours on the Apple AirPods Pro 3, Up to 6 hours on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). Water resistance: IP57 on the Apple AirPods Pro 3, IPX4 on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). Charging: USB-C, MagSafe on the Apple AirPods Pro 3, USB-C, wireless on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).

Reasons to buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3

Excellent ANC, Heart-rate tracking for workouts, Hearing aid and hearing test features. What to accept: best features need an iPhone, case still lacks a loop for some users. Usual price: $219–$249. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 3 review.

Reasons to buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Best-in-class noise cancelling, Comfortable fit, Immersive audio. What to accept: large case, immersive mode cuts battery. Usual price: $249–$299. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best wireless earbuds has every other model with its own call. Match your phone: AirPods work best with iPhone, Galaxy Buds with Samsung, Pixel Buds with Pixel; cross-platform models suit everyone else.

Also consider the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($229–$299): detailed sound and top noise cancelling in a small shell, on any phone. Buy it if you want premium sound and ANC with any phone, iPhone or Android.

Also consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($179–$249): every Galaxy feature, including 24-bit audio and live translate, with strong ANC. Buy it if you use a Samsung Galaxy phone.

US buyer tip

Buy from Amazon.com itself or the brand's storefront: counterfeit earbuds from third-party sellers are common, and they will not get warranty service.

Prices on Amazon.com move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land on Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in October and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday week, with smaller drops around Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and back-to-school. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the crossed-out list price.