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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a more immersive experience for music and gaming, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds provide superior sound quality and are particularly comfortable, which is great for long listening sessions. However, they may not be as suitable for calls and meetings due to lower microphone quality. In contrast, the Apple Airpods Pro 2 are slightly less expensive, offer good overall sound quality, have a low latency mode for better synchronization during videos and gaming, and have a higher microphone quality making them more versatile for calls. Both options feature active noise cancelling and similar battery life, but the AirPods have a slight edge in portability and are optimized for Apple devices, whereas Bose earbuds offer app-based customization which could be a deciding factor for Android users. Consider also the Bose's aptX Adaptive support for high-quality audio over Bluetooth if that is important to you. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods Pro 2
Good for phone calls
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Very good for music
Very good for TV and video
Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
7.0/10
8.6/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
Phone Calls
7.8/10
5.1/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8/10
6.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
Cost
$270
$299
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has a price of $270 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $299.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Apple Airpods Pro 2 are both very good for gaming.
TV and Video
7.8/10
8.1/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to be very good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
8.9/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Airpods Pro 2 to be excellent for noise reduction, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good.
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
9.0/10
9.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds both have excellent build quality.
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How the Apple Airpods Pro 2 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
"Apple's upgraded H2 chip begets better active noise canceling (ANC) and battery life, while the case's U1 chip and integrated speaker lets you precisely locate it from the Find My app. If you own an iPhone, the new AirPods Pro is an obvious choice."
"Bose put the time in to fix the major issues with the previous earbuds, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are very befitting of its price point. While you might be tempted to save a few bucks and go with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II on sale, fight the urge. There are enough upgrades here to justify the newer model."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro 2 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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