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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 use during activities like exercise or air travel, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer excellent noise cancellation and are sweatproof, which could justify their higher price. However, they have limited battery life and are not optimized for gaming or TV due to potential latency. On the other hand, if budget is a concern and you mainly listen to music or watch TV, the Sony MDREX15AP, while lacking wireless capability and noise cancellation, provide good sound quality for music and are excellent for TV, at a significantly lower cost and without the need for recharging. Both options have different strengths: Bose is feature-rich and versatile, while Sony offers simplicity and wired reliability. Consider what features align best with your lifestyle and use cases. 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 Sony MDREX15AP
- Very good for music
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.4
8.3
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Gaming
5.5
6.7
The Sony MDREX15AP is only fair for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
3.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Sony MDREX15AP are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
TV and Video
6.2
9.3
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
7.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony MDREX15AP is good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Sony MDREX15AP does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$20
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
Build Quality
9.2
8.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDREX15AP has very good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Sony MDREX15AP compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Sony MDREX15AP |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | March 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 4.6/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 3.1 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."
Sony MDREX15AP
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Dig into reviews and images
Make It Sound Great
Pete Anthony | June 2022
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Sony MDREX15AP
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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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