Over twice the battery
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- About 56 hours in one review
- Spacious, detailed sound
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Catch: Heavier, and doesn't fold
About a third cheaper
Cheaper alternatives to the Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Three cheaper pairs that outlast the Bose: richer sound, lighter build, or calmer tuning.
Updated 5 November 2026
Lighter still
Sony WH-CH730N
- Just 207 g
- Rated about 50 hours
Smallest price
Sennheiser Accentum Wireless
- Even, natural sound
- Over 2 days per charge
The original
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Worth it if: You want near silence when you travel
- Terrific noise cancelling on trains and planes
- Comfy all day at 230 g
What are you actually paying extra for with the QuietComfort (2nd Gen)?
What the extra money buys
- Terrific noise cancelling on trains and planes
- Comfy all day at 230 g
- Folds into a hard case
Worth it if
- You want near silence when you travel
- You'll wear them for hours at a time
Not worth it if
- You'd rather charge once a week
- You mostly listen at home
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
SoundGuys measured around 56 hours with noise cancelling on and liked its thick, comfy pads. Expert Reviews praised its spacious, musical sound but found Bose blocks a little more. At 293 g it's heavier, and the cups only swivel flat.
Sony WH-CH730N
What Hi-Fi rated it highly for calls once the Clear EQ preset was on; out of the box it sounded muffled. TechRadar found it middling against keyboards and chatter. Tom's Guide picked it as the UK budget choice, though it can sound thin loud.
Sennheiser Accentum Wireless
What Hi-Fi heard clean, balanced sound that lacks a little punch, and noise cancelling that handles trains and roads well. Tom's Guide rated its battery class-leading. Like the Bose it has no wear sensor, and it has no wired option at all.
Final recommendation: The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is the best swap for most: far more battery and a richer sound, if you can live without folding. The Sony WH-CH730N is lighter still and costs much less. Choose the Sennheiser Accentum to spend the least on calm, long-lasting sound. Keep the Bose for flights and all-day comfort.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Affordable | Affordable | Budget | Budget |
| Battery, noise cancelling on (claimed) | Up to 24 hours | Up to 60 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours |
| Weight | 230 g | 293 g | 207 g | 222 g |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Two devices at once | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folds / case | Folds, hard case | Doesn't fold (cups turn flat), carry case | Folds flat, no case | Doesn't fold, no case |
| Headphone cable | USB-C audio, 3.5 mm adapter cable | 3.5 mm and USB-C audio | No | No |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Is the Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) worth it over the Ultra?
Expert Reviews found it close in price to the Ultra, which is a strike against it. T3 agreed it's the price gap, not the headphones, that makes it a harder buy.
Does the Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) pause when you take it off?
No. Expert Reviews noted it has no wear detection, so music keeps playing until you press pause.
Which of these is best for flying?
The Bose, for the deepest quiet and its folding hard case. The Momentum 4 is the best alternative for long-haul battery.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Bose UK: QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), Expert Reviews: Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review, T3: Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review, Sennheiser UK: Momentum 4 Wireless, SoundGuys: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4, Expert Reviews: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review, Sony UK: WH-CH730N product page, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WH-CH730N review, TechRadar: Sony WH-CH730N review, Tom's Guide: Sony WH-CH730N review, Sennheiser: introducing Accentum Wireless, What Hi-Fi?: Sennheiser Accentum Wireless review, Tom's Guide: Sennheiser Accentum review.