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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize noise isolation and sound quality for immersive music listening, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are an excellent choice with active noise cancelling and better overall sound. However, if you want headphones for calls, outdoor activities, and prefer awareness of your surroundings, the Shokz OpenMove, with bone conduction technology, allows you to hear external sounds more clearly, and is more sweat and dustproof, making it suitable for exercise. The Shokz are lighter and generally less expensive than the Bose, but they don't offer as good sound isolation or quality. Both are wireless but the Bose offers more advanced app features for customization. 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 Shokz OpenMove
Good for phone calls
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4/10
4.8/10
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the Shokz OpenMove is poor.
Gaming
5.5/10
4.9/10
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Shokz OpenMove are both poor for gaming, though the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
7.8/10
The Shokz OpenMove is good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0/10
7.9/10
The Shokz OpenMove is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2/10
5.0/10
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the Shokz OpenMove is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
2.5/10
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Shokz OpenMove is poor.
Cost
$199
$80
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Shokz OpenMove costs $80.
Build Quality
9.2/10
8.5/10
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Shokz OpenMove has very good build quality.
"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."
"The Shokz OpenMove are a bit more affordable than the company's other bone conduction headphones, making them a more appealing option for athletes on a budget. These headphones support premium features like multipoint connectivity and a durable build, but you lose other niceties like fast charging and a long battery life. Still, for less than $80, these are nice bone conduction headphones that will keep you safe when exercising."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Shokz OpenMove
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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