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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If budget is a main concern and you're content with good overall sound quality, the less expensive Beats Solo 3 might suit you. They also have a very good build quality and are foldable, adding to their portability. However, if you frequently travel or work in noisy environments and value sound quality and comfort, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones might be worth the extra cost with their best-in-class comfort, excellent noise isolation, and active noise cancelling. The Bose also offers a better experience for TV and video with low latency and features like virtual surround. Keep in mind, while the Bose offers an app with equalizer and audio control customization, the Beats might not provide such features. 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 Beats Solo 3
- The Beats Solo 3 has no clear advantages over the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones.
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Best in class for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.3
8.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good for music, while the Beats Solo 3 is only fair.
Gaming
5.3
9.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.7
5.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is somewhat better.
TV and Video
5.6
9.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
9.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Battery
41.5 Hours
29.0 Hours
The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life. The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life.
Cost
$117
$429
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Beats Solo 3 has a price of $117 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones costs $429.
Build Quality
8.0
9.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the Beats Solo 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
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How the Beats Solo 3 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Solo 3 | Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$117 | $429 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2016 | November 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.3/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.3/10 | 9.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.9/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 41.5 Hours | 29 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 4.2 | 5.3 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.7/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 213.1 Grams | 255 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Beats Solo 3
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | May 2023
"The Beats Solo3 Wireless is an old set of headphones but still works reliably well with iPhones, due to W1 chip integration and AAC support. The Beats Solo3 Wireless holds up well today with just a few features showing its age."
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
Get a great deal on the Beats Solo 3 or the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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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Why trust us
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
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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