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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If price is a significant consideration, the Google Pixel Buds A Series are much more affordable. They offer a good balance of quality for music and are particularly strong for calls and meetings, as well as gaming, with their low latency mode and better microphone quality. However, if you prioritize noise isolation for travel or in loud environments, and comfort for long listening sessions, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II would be a better choice, despite the higher cost. The Bose also have active noise cancelling, which the Pixel Buds lack, making them more suitable for noisy settings. Keep in mind that both have similar battery life and neither offers a wired connection, ensuring portability and ease of use during exercise. 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
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Google Pixel Buds A Series
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
6.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is only fair.
Gaming
5.5
8.6
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
8.5
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.4
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
7.8
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is good for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
4.6
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel Buds A Series has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$58
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Google Pixel Buds A Series costs $58.
Build Quality
9.2
7.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series has good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Google Pixel Buds A Series compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Google Pixel Buds A Series |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $58 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | June 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 5.1 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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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."
Google Pixel Buds A Series
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | October 2022
"For the person who doesn’t want to think about their earphones while using them, Google has created the Pixel Buds A-Series. For a reasonable price, Google packs in a bevy of features like touch controls and a good fit into this Android-friendly set of earbuds to make productivity and life easier."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Google Pixel Buds A Series
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 Google
Mainly known as the most popular search engine on the planet, Google is a multinational technology company that also offers a variety of audio-oriented products. Beside their smart speakers under the Nest product line, Google offers several models of true wireless earbuds under the Pixel line, some of which happen to be an affordable but very powerful option for those already in the Android ecosystem.
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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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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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