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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If noise isolation and comfort for longer listening sessions are key, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds provide very good noise isolation and comfort. They're suited for traveling and exercise with features like active noise cancelling and sweatproof certification. However, they have limited battery life compared to JBL Live Flex 3. The JBL Live Flex 3 earbuds, while somewhat less expensive, offer significantly longer battery life and wireless charging but have an open design that doesn't isolate noise as effectively. They are not ideal for gaming or TV due to their latency and poor soundstage, but they come with a unique Smart Charging Case with an LED touch display for easy controls. 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 gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the JBL Live Flex 3
- The JBL Live Flex 3 has no clear advantages over the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
Key differences
Music
8.6
8.0
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and JBL Live Flex 3 are both very good for music, though the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is somewhat better.
Gaming
8.8
5.5
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
TV and Video
8.1
5.7
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.9
8.3
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and JBL Live Flex 3 are both very good for noise reduction, though the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is somewhat better.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Flex 3 has 10 hours of battery life.
Cost
$249
$216
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the JBL Live Flex 3 costs $216.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Flex 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
5.2
The JBL Live Flex 3 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the JBL Live Flex 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | JBL Live Flex 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$249 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.7/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | 5.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 21 | 40 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.9/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.2/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 8.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
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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."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the JBL Live Flex 3
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 JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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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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.
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