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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are a better choice if you need wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation for travel or exercise, and they offer great comfort and control customizations via an app. However, the Philips Fidelio X2HR offer superior overall sound quality and a more expansive soundstage due to their open-back design, making them ideal for home listening and TV or video use. But, since they are wired and lack features like noise cancellation and app support, they would not be as fitting for on-the-go scenarios or noisy environments. Consider your main use case and whether the convenience of wireless connectivity and active noise cancellation justifies the price difference for the Bose, or if you prefer a more natural sound for stationary use at a more modest price point with the Philips. 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
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
9.3
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Gaming
5.5
7.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
7.9
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
8.8
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$148
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR costs $148.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
5.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.2
9.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Philips Fidelio X2HR both have excellent build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Philips Fidelio X2HR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Philips Fidelio X2HR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $148 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | September 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 7.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | N/A | |
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 | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 390 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
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."
Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Liquid Audio
Stefan | May 2022
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Philips Fidelio X2HR
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 Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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