Bose QuietComfort vs. QuietComfort SE vs. QuietComfort Ultra – What are the differences?

If you are looking for which quality wireless headphones to buy, you have probably come across the Bose brand as one of the possible candidates. But, how to choose between the variety of models you have? That’s what we asked ourselves, and to prove it, we analyzed three of their most popular wireless headphones to see the differences between them. Specifically, we have focused on the Bose QuietComfort, the QuietComfort SE and the QuietComfort Ultra. 

Before we start, let us clarify that the QuietComfort SE are exactly the same as the QuietComfort 45, only that the case has a soft shell, instead of a hard one. In fact, we have to admit that it took us longer to identify the differences between the Bose QuietComfort and the SE version, since their similarities are practically all. Both have the same sound quality, the same functionalities and the same processor. To distinguish something, the Bose QuietComfort have a minimally longer autonomy, but the difference is negligible.

On the other hand, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are a level above their two rivals, both in quality when canceling noise, and in clarity in playback. In addition, they include some additional features, such as CustomTune, which we found very useful and which we will explain to you in more detail later. Of course, its price is higher.

Therefore, the question is: is it worth paying more for the QuietComfort Ultra? And if not, are there enough differences to choose the Bose QuietComfort over the SE? We answer these questions below.

Bose QuietComfort vs QuietComfort SE vs QuietComfort Ultra – Comparison Table

In the following table you can see the most important characteristics of the three Bose wireless headphones that we have analyzed. This way, it will be easier for you to decide which one best suits what you are looking for:

(Swipe the table to see all the content)

Few differences in design

Aesthetically, there are hardly any differences between the three Bose headphones. In fact, the Bose QuietComfort and QuietComfort SE are identical, except for the fact that the QuietComfort is available in a special edition cypress green color. For their part, the QuietComfort Ultra are very similar, although we found some more aesthetic differences.

Especially on the headband, which has thicker padding. These wireless headphones are also about 10 grams heavier, but it is a difference that is not very noticeable. On the other hand, all three are equipped with a carrying case, rectangular in the QuietComfort and SE, and more oval in the Ultra.

The QuietComfort Ultra add one more mode

One of the differences between these wireless headphones is that the QuietComfort Ultra have 3 modes, compared to the 2 that the other two headphones have. Let’s start with what they share, which are active noise cancellation and ambient mode. That is, in all three cases we can decide if we want total isolation or simply keep external noise as background.

According to Bose, the QuietComfort has better noise cancellation than the QuietComfort SE, but we didn’t notice any difference. On the other hand, it is perceived that the Ultra improve performance in this aspect. In addition, they add a third mode: the immersive one. It is what other brands call spatial audio, which provides a more immersive and three-dimensional sound.

On the other hand, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra have ActiveSense in immersion mode, with which the cancellation is reinforced if it detects that there are sudden noises so that they do not interfere with your music.

CustomTune, only on Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Another quality that distinguishes the Ultra headphones from the standard and SE headphones is the CustomTune technology. Basically, it is a system that allows sound to be customized to the shape of your ears, based on the physical properties of your ear canal. In short, it is a technology that allows you to adapt the sound in the most optimal way according to your ear, which makes the level of customization total. And, as we have said, this function is only found in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.

Does the sound quality improve on the Ultra headphones?

Yes, if we’re honest, it gets better. Firstly, because Bose has improved noise cancellation compared to the QuietComfort and the SE, and that gives the sensation of higher audio quality. And, on the other hand, because it incorporates a total of 10 microphones, compared to the 6 that the other two have. The additional microphones work very well when it comes to minimizing wind noise, and that makes the clarity when talking on the phone or listening to music much better.

Battery life: similar performance

The autonomy of wireless headphones is one of the main decision criteria. And, therefore, it usually varies little between the most competitive headphones on the market. In this case, they all have an autonomy of around 24 hours, although, according to the brand, the Bose QuietComfort SE would remain at 22. As this also depends on the use we make of the headphones, it is not a difference to take into account, because it is possible that, with any of the other two, we will not reach 24 hours. In fact, the autonomy of the Ultra is reduced to 18 hours if we activate the immersive mode.

What they do share is fast charging, with which, in 15 minutes, they recover between 2 and 4 hours of energy, approximately. However, they all take about 2.5-3 hours to fully recharge using normal charging.

Same way to handle wireless headphones

When it comes to the control of the headphones, there are not many differences between the three protagonists of the review. In fact, all of them are compatible with voice control, because they integrate an assistant. And, to execute any action, we only have to press the appropriate button, since none of them have a touch sensor.

On the other hand, the Bose Music app is a perfect complement to adjust the equalization level, the sound mode and, in general, the headphone settings. And, if you have a Bose sound bar, you’ll be interested to know that all three headphones have SimpleSync, the feature that allows you to sync them with the bar.

Which Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones are worth the most?

At this point, you have seen that the differences, especially between the Bose QuietComfort and SE, are minimal. Therefore, we ask ourselves which of the three headphones is worth buying, something to which, to answer, you have to have clear search priorities. That is, if you prefer to opt for sound technology and audio quality, we recommend opting for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but they are the most expensive. Now, they far surpass their two little brothers in this regard.

That you can’t afford such a high expense or is one of the more mid-range wireless headphones enough for you? In this case, we recognize that we have more doubts about whether to choose the QuietComfort or the QuietComfort SE. They are practically identical, but the QuietComfort have a higher price. It is true that they are more recent and, in theory, they improve noise cancellation. But, honestly, we did not notice such an improvement that the price difference is justified. They allow a slightly more advanced noise cancellation adjustment, but it is not a huge qualitative leap.

But, as we always tell you, only you can decide which of the three Bose wireless headphones best meets your needs. If you can be sure of one thing, it is that any of them enjoy the highest quality of the brand. The question is deciding what level of sophistication you are looking for.