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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize top-notch active noise cancellation and sound quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are superior; however, they come with a significantly higher price. On the other hand, if you're looking for good earbuds at a more reasonable price and can forgo some of the premium features, the JBL Live Free NC+ could be a satisfying compromise. The Bose earbuds may also have a slight edge in battery life, while the JBL earbuds offer a balance between quality and affordability. Neither has aptX for Android devices, but only Bose supports AptX Adaptive, which might be important if you desire high-quality streaming and have a compatible device. Both models lack low-latency features, making neither ideal for gaming or watching TV where audio sync is crucial. 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
Advantages of the JBL Live Free NC+
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.6
5.8
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
8.8
5.0
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
7.6
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.4
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
TV and Video
8.1
5.6
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.9
7.0
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$249
$60
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the JBL Live Free NC+ costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the JBL Live Free NC+ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | JBL Live Free NC+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$249 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | March 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.7/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | 5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.1 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 21 | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
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 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 7 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."
JBL Live Free NC+
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Dig into reviews and images
HeadphoneCheck
Maike Paeßens | 2020
"JBL has added great-sounding, rock-solid all-rounders with a pleasant, warm sound character to their range. They are equipped with a high level of functionality that can be customised via the app. Some compromises have to be made with the active noise cancellation, which has a discreet effect, while the ambient mode and the Talkthru function proved to be powerful despite a perceptible background noise."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the JBL Live Free NC+
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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