Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Cheaper alternatives to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Updated 4 November 2026
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Momentum 4 instead of QC Ultra (2nd Gen)?
Momentum 4 pros
About half the price
Big saving, similar sound
Far longer battery
Charge once a week
Momentum 4 cons
Slightly less quiet
Felt on long flights
Heavier, no folding
Bulkier to carry
- Is the Momentum 4 as good?
- Nearly: a little less quiet, far more battery.
- What's the difference?
- Bose: quieter, lighter, folds. Sennheiser: longer battery.
- Is the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) worth the extra?
- Yes if you fly often and want the quietest pair.
What are you actually paying extra for with the QC Ultra (2nd Gen)?
What the extra money buys
- The strongest noise cancelling we've seen reviewers report
- Featherlight at 250 g for long wear
- Folds into a compact hard case
- Lossless audio through a USB-C cable
Worth it if
- You want near-silence on flights
- You wear them for hours every day
- Small, folding headphones suit your bag
Not worth it if
- You mainly listen at home
- You'd rather charge less often
Other alternatives
Best on a budget
Soundcore Space 2
- Memory-foam pads that Expert Reviews rated very comfortable
- LDAC for higher-quality Bluetooth on Android, plus a cable
Best for: All-day comfort on a small budget
Catch: Voices get through, and reviewers disagree on its sound.
About a third of the QC Ultra (2nd Gen)'s price
Good to know
Why we picked the Momentum 4, and our final recommendation.
Only with the Momentum 4
- Much longer battery per charge
- A more natural, detailed sound
- About half the Bose's price
- A little of the Bose's quiet on low drone
- The lighter, folding design
The Momentum 4 gives up a sliver of silence for much more battery and a more natural sound. Expert Reviews found the Bose blocks slightly more noise, but the gap is small on a city commute. It weighs 293 g, the cups only swivel flat, and its touch panel is very sensitive.
Final recommendation: Our advice: the Sennheiser Momentum 4 suits nearly everyone: long battery, natural sound and good quiet for about half the price. Go for the Soundcore Space 2 when comfort and cost come first. Keep the Bose for frequent flying, all-day wear or a small folding pair.
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 | Premium | Affordable | Budget |
| Battery, noise cancelling on (claimed) | Up to 30 hours | Up to 60 hours | Up to 50 hours |
| Weight | 250 g | 293 g | 264 g |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Two devices at once | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folds / case | Folds, hard case | Doesn't fold (cups turn flat), carry case | Folds flat, no hard case |
| Headphone cable | Yes, USB-C audio or 2.5 mm cable | 3.5 mm and USB-C audio | Yes, 3.5 mm |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
What changed on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)?
Small things. Reviewers found the noise cancelling and sound slightly better, the rated battery longer and USB-C music new. The look, comfort and case haven't changed, so first-generation owners can skip it.
Is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 as quiet as the Bose?
Almost. Reviewers found it removes most noise, but the Bose is a little quieter on low drone. On buses and trains the gap is small, and it's most noticeable on a plane.
Which pair suits long-haul flights best?
The Bose: it's the lightest and quietest here and folds into a case. The Momentum 4 lasts longer per charge, which also helps on long trips, but it's bulkier in a bag.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 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 Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), What Hi-Fi?: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review, TechRadar: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review, Sennheiser UK: Momentum 4 Wireless, SoundGuys: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4, Expert Reviews: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review, Soundcore UK: Space 2 product page, Tom's Guide: Soundcore Space 2 review, What Hi-Fi?: Soundcore Space 2 review, Expert Reviews: Anker Soundcore Space 2 review.