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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 superior noise isolation, making them ideal for air travel and busy environments, along with a comfortable fit. However, they come at a higher price and have a lower mic quality compared to the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick. The Ear Stick, on the other hand, provides a better value proposition with high-quality calls, a lighter build, and low latency ideal for gaming. They also have open enclosures which may offer a more natural sound with less isolation. For fitness enthusiasts, the Ear Stick is sweatproof and designed for exercise, while the Bose's comfort fit might be better for extended wear. 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
- Good for music
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.1
6.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
5.6
8.1
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6
8.6
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
8.4
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good.
TV and Video
6.0
7.5
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is excellent for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$99
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $99.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick 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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $99 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | November 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 22 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 2.5/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 4.4 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."
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | December 2022
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds or the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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