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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize noise isolation and are frequently traveling by air, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones with their active noise canceling and comfortable over-ear design may be worth the higher price. They also excel in TV and video use due to their excellent sound quality but may not be the best for calls. For an everyday option that's good for calls and you'll use while exercising, and if you're looking for something more affordable, "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick might be preferable, even more so because they're sweatproof and have a stem design that's optimized for Android and Apple. However, keep in mind they won't block noise as effectively as the Bose, particularly for air travel. 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 Ultra Headphones
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.3
6.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
9.3
8.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good.
Phone Calls
5.3
8.6
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.4
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair.
TV and Video
9.0
7.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Battery
29.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$429
$99
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $99.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick both have excellent build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $99 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | November 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 29 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 1.2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 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 | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 4.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
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."
"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 Ultra Headphones 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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