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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value noise isolation and portability, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, with strong active noise cancelling and a compact design, excel in these areas, making them ideal for travel and use in noisy environments. However, they come at a premium price. The Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones offer a wider soundstage, which gives a more immersive listening experience, especially for music and TV. They also have an open-back design and are best suited for quiet environments where you won't disturb others, as they lack noise cancelling. Additionally, the Fidelio X2HR are more wallet-friendly, but they aren't as convenient for on-the-go use due to their size and the need for a wired connection. 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 exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Excellent for music
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.6
9.3
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good.
Gaming
8.8
7.0
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
7.9
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
TV and Video
8.1
8.8
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are both very good for TV and video, though the Philips Fidelio X2HR is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
8.9
2.5
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery.
Cost
$249
$148
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR costs $148.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
5.0
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Philips Fidelio X2HR both have excellent build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Philips Fidelio X2HR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | Philips Fidelio X2HR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$249 | $148 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | September 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | 7.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 21 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.9/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.2/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 390 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
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."
Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Liquid Audio
Stefan | May 2022
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Philips Fidelio X2HR
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 Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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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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