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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Beats Solo 3 headphones, being over-ear, provide more passive noise isolation compared to Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and they offer a longer battery life, which could be important if you spend long hours away from a charger. However, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have superior active noise cancelling and are rated higher for comfort, making them better for travel and use in noisy environments. The Bose also have a more durable build quality and offer better sound quality, which could enhance your listening experience during calls, meetings, or music. They're also more portable, sweatproof, and come with stability bands for a secure fit during exercise. If you're looking for a less expensive option and don't mind a bulkier form, the Beats may be suitable, but for a higher price, the Bose earbuds offer advanced features and better overall performance, particularly if you value comfort and noise cancellation. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
6.3
7.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the Beats Solo 3 is only fair.
TV and Video
5.6
6.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
9.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Battery
41.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$117
$199
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Beats Solo 3 has a price of $117 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II costs $199.
Build Quality
8.0
9.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Beats Solo 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.3
5.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
4.7
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Solo 3 | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$117 | $199 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2016 | September 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.7/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 41.5 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 4.2 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 20 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.7/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 213.1 Grams | 7.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Get a great deal on the Beats Solo 3 or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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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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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