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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and noise isolation for activities such as air travel or using during exercise, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are superior. They also offer better build quality and active noise cancelling, which the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick lacks. However, the Ear Stick comes out ahead in mic quality, making it better for calls and meetings. The Ear Stick is also more affordable, lighter in weight, and provides slightly longer battery life. Keep in mind that the Ear Stick has an open design which may be less isolating than the closed design of the Bose. If portability and cost are key factors, "Nothing" Ear Stick is preferable, but for premium sound and isolation, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are recommended. 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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
Very good for phone calls
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.6/10
6.1/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
8.8/10
8.1/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both very good for gaming, though the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
8.6/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0/10
8.4/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
TV and Video
8.1/10
7.5/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for TV and video, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good.
Noise Reduction
8.9/10
2.5/10
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$249
$99
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $99.
"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."
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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.
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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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