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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds offer excellent noise isolation and comfort, making them ideal for air travel and daily use. However, they are notable for mediocre microphone quality, which might be a drawback for calls. On the other hand, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have superior overall sound quality, and their lower latency makes them more suitable for gaming and watching TV. Also, they support AptX Adaptive codec for better sound quality with compatible devices. If you prioritize sound quality for various media and gaming, the Ultra version is the better choice, though at a premium price. In contrast, the original Quiet Comfort Earbuds might be the go-to for regular use with good noise isolation and comfort at a less expensive price tag. 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 Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
- Very good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
7.1
8.6
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good.
Gaming
5.6
8.8
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6
5.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
6.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
TV and Video
6.0
8.1
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Cost
$199
$249
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $249.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds to be excellent for noise reduction, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to have excellent build quality, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $249 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | September 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 21 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.9/10 | |
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 | 6.2/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 7.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
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Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2023
"The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is a great do-it-all option for anyone, so long as you can afford it. This is a great alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. You can choose the degree of noise canceling, and enjoy premium features like automatic ear-detection. These earbuds merit an IPX4 rating, making them a fine workout companion."
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
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Soundguys
Christian Thomas | October 2023
"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 Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
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
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