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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds provide an immersive music experience with higher overall sound quality and are better suited for use in noisy environments due to their active noise cancellation capabilities. They are excellent for travel and exercise, but their high latency may hinder suitability for gaming and TV. On the other hand, the Grado GT220 earbuds offer a smaller form factor and longer battery life in the case, as well as wireless charging capability, which the Bose lacks. However, their sound quality is not rated as high as the Bose, and they lack active noise cancellation, making them less ideal for noisy settings. 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 gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Grado GT220
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.6
6.3
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the Grado GT220 is only fair.
Gaming
8.8
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
6.9
The Grado GT220 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.8
The Grado GT220 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
TV and Video
8.1
5.5
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for TV and video, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.9
5.3
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Grado GT220 has 5.5 hours of battery life.
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Key similarities
Cost
$249
$259
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the Grado GT220 costs $259.
Build Quality
9.0
8.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to have excellent build quality, while the Grado GT220 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Grado GT220 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | Grado GT220 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$249 | $259 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Grado | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | September 1, 2020 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 21 | 36 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.9/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.2/10 | 6/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 5 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."
Grado GT220
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Major HiFi
Alex Schiffer | October 2020
"With its superb and functional interface and its highly satisfying imaging, Grado has shown a new talent for delivering a solid true wireless system, and with future improvements, has the potential to really be one of the best."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Grado GT220
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 Grado
Grado Labs is a small, family-owned, business based in Brooklyn New York that specializes in high-end, boutique, dynamic headphones and turntable cartridges. They boast a particular house sound, that is to say their products have a particular sound signature unique to Grado, that some audiophiles seem to really like and are unable to find anywhere else. Their high-end headphones are all hand made, completely in house, from a variety of exotic woods and materials going so far as to making one of their most popular products out of hemp.
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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.
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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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