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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize noise isolation, comfort during extended use, and suitability for air travel and exercise, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II would be a better choice, also offering excellent build quality but at a higher price. However, if budget is a concern and you're seeking earbuds that are still good for casual use with some features like a sweatproof design and app equalization, then the Creative Labs Zen Air could serve you well. Note that the Zen Air also supports wireless charging and has a shorter charging time. Neither is ideal for gaming or watching TV due to latency issues, and while both support AAC codec for better audio quality with Apple devices, they lack aptX for high-quality Android playback. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Creative Labs Zen Air
- The Creative Labs Zen Air has no clear advantages over the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Key differences
Music
7.4
6.8
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
6.2
5.6
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
7.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$30
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Creative Labs Zen Air costs $30.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Creative Labs Zen Air are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Creative Labs Zen Air are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.2
9.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Creative Labs Zen Air both have excellent build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Creative Labs Zen Air compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Creative Labs Zen Air |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Creative Labs | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | December 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 6.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 12 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
See more
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."
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Creative Labs Zen Air
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 Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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