Main trade-off
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
The standard ANC rating is 24 hours, compared with Sennheiser's 60-hour claim.
Head-to-head
Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4: Bose folds smaller, Momentum stretches charging gaps
The short answer
Choose QuietComfort 2nd Gen if you want less weight and headphones that fold into a busy bag. Choose MOMENTUM 4 if you often forget to charge. Both support USB audio and a passive analog backup, so those connections do not decide this pair.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Choose between 63 g less weight and 36 more rated hours
Bose is about 21.5% lighter than MOMENTUM 4. Sennheiser trades that extra mass for a 60-hour ANC claim against 24 hours. Neither number measures comfort or noise reduction.
What this is based on
(293 - 230) / 293 × 100 = 21.5%. 60 - 24 = 36 hours. Bose weight is rounded from 0.507 lb.
Main trade-off
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
MOMENTUM 4 weighs 63 g more and does not fold inward.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Choose it for
- Keep headphone weight below 250 g
- Fold the headphones inward for packing
- Main trade-off
- The standard ANC rating is 24 hours, compared with Sennheiser's 60-hour claim.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Choose it for
- Get more rated ANC listening between charges
- Use aptX Adaptive with a compatible source
- Main trade-off
- MOMENTUM 4 weighs 63 g more and does not fold inward.
About this comparison
Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen and MOMENTUM 4 compared by weight, packing shape, ANC battery ratings and wired backup. Choose for your travel routine.
Choose QuietComfort 2nd Gen if you want less weight and headphones that fold into a busy bag. Choose MOMENTUM 4 if you often forget to charge. Both support USB audio and a passive analog backup, so those connections do not decide this pair.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
I want headphones at or below 250 g
QuietComfort 2nd Gen is approximately 230 g. MOMENTUM 4 is listed at 293 g.
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Good
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Not suitable
I listen for about 30 hours between charging opportunities
Thirty hours exceeds the Bose 24-hour maximum. Sennheiser advertises 60 hours with ANC under its test conditions.
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Caution
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Better fit
I need USB at my desk and a dead-battery analog backup
Both document these two wired paths. Use the included model-specific analog lead.
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Good
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Good
I need the earcups to fold inward
Bose folds inward. MOMENTUM 4 turns flat, which leaves a wider packed outline.
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Good
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Not suitable
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Choose between 63 g less weight and 36 more rated hours
Bose is about 21.5% lighter than MOMENTUM 4. Sennheiser trades that extra mass for a 60-hour ANC claim against 24 hours. Neither number measures comfort or noise reduction.
How we reached this conclusion
(293 - 230) / 293 × 100 = 21.5%. 60 - 24 = 36 hours. Bose weight is rounded from 0.507 lb.
A 30-hour listening week crosses only one published ceiling
Six five-hour listening days add up to 30 hours. That exceeds the Bose standard rating by six hours and sits halfway through Sennheiser's maximum. MOMENTUM 4 is the safer starting point for that charging routine.
How we reached this conclusion
6 × 5 = 30 hours. 30 > 24 and 30 / 60 = 0.5. This is planning against claimed maximums, not a prediction of actual battery life.
Cable flexibility is shared, so keep it out of the upgrade argument
Both models cover USB audio and passive analog listening. Buying MOMENTUM 4 for a bigger charging margin does not force you to give up the Bose-style fallback when power runs out.
How we reached this conclusion
Both manufacturer records document digital USB listening and an analog mode without battery power. Passive playback does not include ANC.
Check your own setup
Which headphones work with the way you listen?
Start with the way you listen. USB charging is not the same as USB audio, and some headphones need power even with a cable. These choices are examples until you apply yours.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Battery figures are manufacturer claims for the stated mode, not measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not assess sound quality, microphone quality or amplifier power.
Choice A
Bose, QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
An unusually flexible travel pick: USB audio at a desk, Bluetooth on the train and passive analog playback when the battery is empty. The longer battery claim belongs to Ultra 2.
- Best matched use
- USB-C listening plus a battery-free airplane cable
Checked facts
- USB audio supports input up to 24-bit, 48 kHz.
- Rated up to 24 hours, or 18 hours with Immersive Audio.
- The included analog audio cable works in passive mode with a depleted battery.
- Manufacturer weight is 0.507 lb, approximately 230 g.
Choice B
Sennheiser, MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
A strong fit when charging less often matters more than folding the headphones into a small shape. Its 60-hour ANC claim is paired with USB audio and a passive analog fallback.
- Best matched use
- Long stretches between charges with flexible wired listening
Checked facts
- Rated up to 60 hours over Bluetooth with ANC, tested with an iPhone at mid volume.
- Approximate weight is 293 g.
- Supports USB audio and a detachable 2.5-to-3.5 mm analog cable.
- Supports SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive.
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headphone weight | About 230 g | 293 g | Bose is about 63 g lighter without counting the cases. |
| ANC playback rating | Up to 24 hours | Up to 60 hours | Sennheiser has a much larger published charging interval, under its own test conditions. |
| Packing | Folds inward | Turns flat without folding inward | A folding shape can fit into gaps that a flat headset cannot. |
| Immersive listening mode | Up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio | 60-hour figure is ordinary ANC music playback | The Bose 18-hour mode is a different workload from either standard rating. |
| USB audio and passive analog | Both supported | Both supported | Both can cover a USB desk and an unpowered analog backup with the right cables. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Immersive Audio reduces the Bose rating further, to 18 hours.
If you choose Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
- Its flat case still needs a dedicated space in your bag.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
A 250 g weight limit is firm
Choose Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). Bose meets it at approximately 230 g. Sennheiser does not.
I need the largest advertised ANC charging margin
Choose Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. The 60-hour Sennheiser claim is 2.5 times the 24-hour Bose claim.
I need a guarantee of 30 real hours under my own settings
Choose neither. These are manufacturer maximums. Neither specification guarantees a personalized runtime.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
A shorter charge interval can be a fair trade for less weight
If you charge every evening, unused battery capacity offers little day-to-day benefit. Bose removes about 63 g and folds inward. For someone carrying a laptop, charger and work documents, that can matter more than a longer headline runtime. Fit still needs to be checked on your own head.
Count your listening hours before choosing the battery winner
An hour each way on a five-day commute is ten hours, below both published limits. Add full workdays of music and the picture changes quickly. MOMENTUM 4 gives much more nominal headroom, especially when access to a charger is irregular. Calls and volume can shorten either result.
The Bose generation matters
The second-generation QuietComfort adds a useful USB audio path and uses a USB-C-to-3.5 mm lead for analog sources. Do not substitute a first-generation QuietComfort listing or an Ultra listing and assume the same connection behavior. Read the complete product name on Amazon.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- Battery figures are manufacturer maximums under their stated test conditions. We have not measured sound quality, noise reduction, fit or call quality for this comparison.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current headphones comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
Compared set
None of the 60 models checked covers every part of “I want headphones weighing 250 g or less”, “My bag is already full”, “I would rather charge less often”, and “I want sound through a USB-C cable”, so the recommendation favors the closest practical compromise.
0 matching models from 60 checkedSee the checked facts and calculation notes
Match countThe count uses the current product-to-need assignments for “I want headphones weighing 250 g or less”, “My bag is already full”, “I would rather charge less often”, and “I want sound through a USB-C cable”. A need with no documented match does not count.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) |
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| Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Keep headphone weight below 250 g
See price & reviews on AmazonSennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless
Get more rated ANC listening between charges
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.