The catch
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Unlike the standard QuietComfort models, it cannot play analog audio without power.
Side by side
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen vs MOMENTUM 4 Compared: Momentum keeps an unpowered fallback, Bose folds
Quick verdict
Go with Bose Ultra 2nd Gen for a lighter folding design and immersive modes. MOMENTUM 4 is the one that delivers more claimed battery life and an unpowered analog fallback.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Plan your charging around how long you listen
Listening eight hours a day, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) claims the equivalent of 3.8 days in standard ANC mode and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless claims 7.5 days. Leave headroom for real use.
Where this comes from
Formula: claimed ANC runtime / 8 hours per day, with 30 and 60 hours as inputs. It converts separate manufacturer maximums for planning and is not a measured endurance result.
The catch
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
The cups swivel flat, yet they do not fold inward.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Why pick it
- Travel with a headphone that folds
- Like an over-ear design that weighs less
- The catch
- Unlike the standard QuietComfort models, it cannot play analog audio without power.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Why pick it
- Cut down on charging stops
- Listen on by cable when the battery is flat
- The catch
- The cups swivel flat, yet they do not fold inward.
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What this page compares
Bose Ultra 2nd Gen is the choice for a lighter folding design and immersive modes. MOMENTUM 4 offers more claimed battery life and an unpowered analog fallback.
Bose packs down more easily
Day to day
How each one fits your routine
Before buying for work, check the firmware and the microphone
The MOMENTUM 4 guide documents USB playback and recording on a computer in so many words. Bose supports PC USB calls too, but calling was added after launch and application limits are still stated, so the installed software version matters. Pick the model whose exact host and meeting app you can confirm. USB-C or an advertised lossless playback format should not settle this work requirement by themselves.
Where this comes from
PC USB calls arrived on Bose in 8.2.20, and compatibility was improved afterward. Sennheiser says to select MOMENTUM 4 as the recording device as well as for playback. What this shows are connection routes and not a ranking of call quality.
Bose documents a button press that returns you to the paired phone
Say you play music from a computer and then take a call on a separate phone. Bose’s guide describes switching by hand between USB and a Bluetooth device connected earlier. MOMENTUM 4’s USB setup starts by disconnecting any possible Bluetooth links instead. If that documented switching routine fits your day, go with Bose. For a USB session you deliberately keep to a single source, go with Sennheiser, and do not assume its multipoint label guarantees a simultaneous wired-and-phone workflow.
Where this comes from
Bose’s instruction calls for selecting the source with a button and does not mix audio automatically. Sennheiser’s instruction is a setup requirement and does not prove that every other USB/Bluetooth arrangement is technically impossible.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Travel with a headphone that folds
Ultra folds inward at 264 grams, whereas MOMENTUM 4 weighs 293 grams. USB audio works on both, so that connection alone does not settle the choice.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Better fit
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Depends
Cut down on charging stops
Up to 60 hours with ANC is its claim, and passive analog playback is supported. Bose needs power even with its analog cable.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Depends
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Better fit
Look at the whole setup
For flights or older audio equipment, verify the exact playback mode. Ultra 2nd Gen is rated at 30 hours normally and at 23 with immersive audio enabled.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Depends
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Depends
Keep analog playback going when the headphone battery is dead
Passive analog playback still works on MOMENTUM 4. Ultra 2nd Gen does support a physical audio cable, yet its analog route needs power.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Not suitable
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Plan your charging around how long you listen
Listening eight hours a day, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) claims the equivalent of 3.8 days in standard ANC mode and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless claims 7.5 days. Leave headroom for real use.
How we worked this out
Formula: claimed ANC runtime / 8 hours per day, with 30 and 60 hours as inputs. It converts separate manufacturer maximums for planning and is not a measured endurance result.
Weigh what you will wear on your head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is 264 grams, Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless is 293 grams, and the gap is 29 grams. Comfort still comes down to clamp force, fit and padding.
How we worked this out
The absolute weight difference is |264 - 293| grams. Cases and most accessories are not part of manufacturer headset weights.
A dead battery treats these wired modes differently
Passive analog playback still works on MOMENTUM 4. Ultra 2nd Gen does support a physical audio cable, yet its analog route needs power.
How we worked this out
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen needs battery power, whereas MOMENTUM 4 supports passive analog playback. Powered USB and analog playback are not the same thing as a passive circuit that needs no battery.
Plug in your setup
Which headphones suit the way you listen?
Start with how you listen. Charging over USB is not the same as playing audio over USB, and some headphones need power even on a cable. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Battery figures are maker claims for the stated mode. They do not reflect measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age all change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak some sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not judge sound quality, mic quality or amplifier power.
Option A
Bose, QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Ultra 2 beats the original Ultra on USB-C listening and on its longer 30-hour Quiet-mode claim. If analog playback has to keep working with a completely flat battery, pick QuietComfort 2 instead.
- Best for
- Travel with a headphone that folds
Facts we checked
- Headphone weight: 264 g
- Standard ANC battery claim: Up to 30 h
- USB digital audio: Yes
- Battery-free analog playback: No
Option B
Sennheiser, MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
If you would rather charge rarely than fold the headphones small, this is a strong fit. It combines a 60-hour ANC claim with USB audio and a passive analog fallback.
- Best for
- Cut down on charging stops
Facts we checked
- Headphone weight: 293 g
- Standard ANC battery claim: Up to 60 h
- USB digital audio: Yes
- Battery-free analog playback: Yes
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headphone weight | 264 g | 293 g | The figure leaves out the case, accessories and cables. |
| Standard ANC battery claim | Up to 30 h | Up to 60 h | Runtime can drop with volume, calls, codec choice and special modes. |
| USB digital audio | Yes | Yes | Having a charging port does not by itself mean audio is supported. |
| Battery-free analog playback | No | Yes | Powered noise cancellation is not part of passive listening. |
| Folds inward | Yes | No | Folding affects the shape you pack in addition to the headphone's weight. |
| Two-device Bluetooth multipoint | Yes | Yes | Automatic switching tied to one brand is a separate feature. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- A separate 23-hour battery claim applies to Immersive Audio.
With Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Accentum Plus weighs 66 g less than its 293 g.
Decision guide
How to decide
Pick Bose Ultra 2nd Gen for a lighter folding design and immersive modes. Pick MOMENTUM 4 for more claimed battery life and an unpowered analog fallback.
Bose packs down more easily
Ultra folds inward at 264 grams, whereas MOMENTUM 4 weighs 293 grams. USB audio works on both, so that connection alone does not settle the choice.
Sennheiser has the better battery fallback
Up to 60 hours with ANC is its claim, and passive analog playback is supported. Bose needs power even with its analog cable.
A cable does not always give you battery-free listening
For flights or older audio equipment, verify the exact playback mode. Ultra 2nd Gen is rated at 30 hours normally and at 23 with immersive audio enabled.
What this page can’t tell you
- A hands-on performance test is not part of these conclusions, which rest on published specifications and the stated calculations.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the headphones we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) |
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| Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Travel with a headphone that folds
See price & reviews on AmazonSennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Cut down on charging stops
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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