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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you value noise isolation for air travel or need to concentrate in noisy environments, the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds with excellent noise-cancelling capabilities are the better option. However, these come at a higher cost and with a bulkier carry size. On the other hand, if gaming is a priority, JBL Tune Flex offers a low latency mode and a longer battery life for extended play sessions, at a more affordable price but with less effective noise isolation. Both have good sound quality for music, but Bose excels in calls and book/podcast listening. Neither are ideal for wired connections as they're wireless-only earbuds. 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 JBL Tune Flex
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Good for exercise
Key differences
Gaming
5.6
8.5
The JBL Tune Flex is very good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is poor.
TV and Video
6.0
7.8
The JBL Tune Flex is good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
6.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Tune Flex is only fair.
Cost
$199
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the JBL Tune Flex costs $60.
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Key similarities
Music
7.1
7.3
The JBL Tune Flex and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are both good for music.
Phone Calls
6.6
6.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and JBL Tune Flex are both only fair for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds to be best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Tune Flex is excellent.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The JBL Tune Flex has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
8.9
8.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and JBL Tune Flex both have very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the JBL Tune Flex compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | JBL Tune Flex |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | September 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
JBL Tune Flex
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MajorHiFi
Gabby Bloch | May 2023
"JBL is offering a similar design and arguably better resolution than the more expensive AirPods 3rd Generation. Add to that a comfortable and versatile fit, an equalizer and pretty decent ANC, and you’ve got a quality wireless earphone. I would have loved longer battery life and more crystal calls, but for the price, you can’t complain. A solid deal overall."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds or the JBL Tune Flex
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.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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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