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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If noise cancellation is a priority for you, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, with their superior active noise canceling feature, may justify the higher price. However, if you're budget-conscious and looking for solid, reliable earbuds for everyday use without the need for top-tier noise cancellation, the Google Pixel Buds A Series offer good sound quality at a lower cost. The Bose earbuds may provide a more immersive listening experience, whereas the Pixel Buds offer Google Assistant integration, which could be a deciding factor if you're embedded in the Google ecosystem. Keep in mind that the higher price of the Bose earbuds also reflects their build quality and brand reputation, which might translate to better durability and customer support. Please consider how important these factors are to you when making your decision. 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 Ultra Earbuds
- Very good for music
- Very good for TV and video
- 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 podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.6
6.4
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.1
8.5
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 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 Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.9
4.6
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel Buds A Series has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$249
$58
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the Google Pixel Buds A Series costs $58.
Build Quality
9.0
7.4
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has excellent build quality, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
8.8
8.6
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Google Pixel Buds A Series are both very good for gaming.
TV and Video
8.1
7.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to be very good for TV and video, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is good.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Google Pixel Buds A Series compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | Google Pixel Buds A Series |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$249 | $58 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | June 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.7/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 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 | 21 | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.9/10 | 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 | 6.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 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 Ultra Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | October 2023
"Bose put the time in to fix the major issues with the previous earbuds, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are very befitting of its price point. While you might be tempted to save a few bucks and go with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II on sale, fight the urge. There are enough upgrades here to justify the newer model."
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 Ultra Earbuds 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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Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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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