Comparison guide
AirPods 4 (ANC) vs Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: which should you choose?
AirPods 4 (ANC) and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds compared under one framework. One recorded specification difference is Battery per bud: 7.5 h on the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds against 5 h on the AirPods 4 (ANC). Specifications and their sources are recorded alongside.
Published: 2026-08-10 · Updated: 2026-09-21
Earbuds verdict
Undocumented scoring basis · overall score and upgrade ranking withheld. The table records stored representative configurations; confirm the configuration and price on the merchant page before buying.
- AirPods 4 (ANC): An open-fit that still cancels noise — enjoy the H2 chip's smart audio without sealing your ears.
- Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: An ear-clip that leaves your ears open — hear your surroundings during workouts and outdoors with Bose sound.
- Undocumented quality and performance advantages are not ranked
- Specification field coverage (not accuracy): 100%
Choosing between AirPods 4 (ANC) and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds starts with the real use case and the problem to solve, not with which product is newer. No independent laboratory test is implied.
Core specifications on one baseline
| Item | AirPods 4 (ANC) | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery per bud | 5 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 7.5 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | +50% |
| Battery with case | 30 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 27 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | -10% |
| Driver size | 11 mm AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 12 mm AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | +9.1% |
| Weight per bud | 4.3 g AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 6.4 g AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | +48.8% |
| ANC type | Open-ear ANC | Open-ear (no ANC) | Different |
| Chipset | Apple H2 | Bose audio SoC | Different |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | Different |
| Color | White | Black | Different |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, AAC, SBC | Bluetooth 5.3, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | Different |
| Region | GLOBAL | GLOBAL | Same |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX4 | Different |
8 of the 22 values in this table carry a source. The rest have no source on record, which is not the same as being wrong.
How to read Same, Different, No data, Unverified and Not applicable is documented on the configuration-level specification screen. If a condition you require is unknown, withhold the decision and match the exact model, sales region and configuration against the sources on that screen.
Differences recorded in the table
4 fields can be ranked on the same basis, listed by weight.
- Battery per bud · Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 7.5 h, AirPods 4 (ANC) 5 h (+50%)
- Battery with case · AirPods 4 (ANC) 30 h, Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 27 h (-10%)
- Driver size · Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 12 mm, AirPods 4 (ANC) 11 mm (+9.1%)
- Weight per bud · AirPods 4 (ANC) 4.3 g, Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 6.4 g (+48.8%)
The decision axes and the checking order for the whole category are on the Earbuds comparison page.
The two products this comparison names
Match the listing against these models first. The recorded-field count is catalogue completeness, not product quality.
- AirPods 4 (ANC) · Apple · model number A3053 · released 2024 · recorded fields 11/11
- Bose Ultra Open Earbuds · Bose · model number 881046 · released 2024 · recorded fields 11/11
Fields the two products share
1 recorded field holds the same value for both stored representative configurations, so nothing in this list separates them.
- Region · GLOBAL
Who should choose AirPods 4 (ANC)
AirPods 4 (ANC) leads the table on Battery with case, Weight per bud. An open-fit that still cancels noise — enjoy the H2 chip's smart audio without sealing your ears.
Who should choose Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds leads the table on Battery per bud, Driver size. An ear-clip that leaves your ears open — hear your surroundings during workouts and outdoors with Bose sound.
How to read price and purchase availability
No merchant link is shown: neither product has an approved listing whose name and configuration match the catalogue, and AsKrs does not guess a destination.
- AirPods 4 (ANC) · No verified purchase link currently available
- Bose Ultra Open Earbuds · No verified purchase link currently available
This comparison is built from published specifications and stored representative configurations. The use context, configuration checks, switching costs, and the scope and limits for Earbuds are documented on the Earbuds comparison page.