Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds vs. QuietComfort Earbuds II

Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds

Greatest Bose earbuds

Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds supply breakthrough spatialized audio for immersive listening that makes music really feel extra actual than ever earlier than. The improved microphone will fulfill customers who discovered the standard missing within the QuietComfort Earbuds II. Those that worth top-tier streaming high quality will respect the power to play high-res and lossless audio.
Execs

Immersive audio launched over its predecessor

As much as 9 totally different ear tip and wing tip configurations

Now able to high-res, lossless audio

Hello-Fi streaming
Cons

Nonetheless no Bluetooth multipoint

Wi-fi charging would have been good
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

A extra price range possibility

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II nonetheless holds its personal after its successor was launched in late 2023. If you happen to’re not too involved about streaming high-res music or using immersive audio, you need to do your financial institution steadiness a favor and go along with the older era. With good ANC and refined audio, there’s nonetheless a lot to like in regards to the QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Execs

4 totally different ANC modes

Versatile throughout totally different genres due to tuned drivers

They provide a cosy, snug match

Nonetheless an ANC champion
Cons

Microphone high quality is fairly dangerous

A bit older

When Bose revamped its in style ANC vary in late 2023, it took many without warning. In spite of everything, the extensively acclaimed QuietComfort Earbuds II solely hit the cabinets simply over a yr previous to this overhaul of its flagship product lineup. While its launch accomplice, the QuietComfort Ultra over-ears has hit all the suitable notes, how do the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds examine to its in style predecessor?

It is no secret that we thought extremely of the QuietComfort Earbuds II, with incredible ANC and Bose’s signature thrilling but refined audio. Is the $100 distinction value it for the brand new QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds? Nicely, at this time, we’re placing the 2 face to face.

Associated

What is ANC? How the hotly contested headphone tech works

Most fashionable in-ear or over-ear headphones characteristic ANC. This is what that spec actually means, the way it works, and why it is well worth the larger price ticket.

It is a harder determination than it’s possible you’ll assume. Maybe due to the quick house of time the 2 earbuds fashions had been launched, there are fairly a number of similarities. For instance, the battery life, design, movement controls and ANC are all very comparable. However, the Ultras have some severe enhancements in streaming capabilities and have joined the spatial audio revolution by introducing ‘Immersive Audio.’ So there are a bunch of issues to consider whenever you’re selecting out your subsequent pair of Bose earbuds.

Head-to-head specs and value

	Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds	Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Noise Cancellation	Sure	Sure
Microphones	4 in every bud	4 in every bud
IP score	IPX4	IPX4
Supported codecs	aptX Adaptive, SBC, AAC	SBC and AAC
Dimensions (earbuds)	1.72 x 3.05 x 2.24cm	1.72 x 3.05 x 2.24cm
Charging	USB-C	USB-C
Driver dimension	9.2mm	9.3mm
Weight	6g (buds), 60g (case)	6g (buds) 60g (case)
Shade	Black, White Smoke	Triple Black, Soapstone, Eclipse Grey, Midnight Blue
Spatial Audio	Sure	No
Earbuds battery life	As much as six hours (ANC on)	As much as six hours (ANC on)
Charging case battery life	As much as 24 hours (ANC on)	24 hours
Dimensions (charging case)	5.94 x 6.63 x 2.67cm	5.94 x 6.63 x 2.67cm

For the reason that QuietComfort Extremely buds are the latest addition to the lineup, it is anticipated that they arrive with a barely larger price ticket and sometimes retail for $300.

However, the QuietComfort Earbuds II supply a extra budget-friendly possibility. Normally priced round $279, being the earlier era means they typically go on sale. The QCIIs embrace every little thing the Ultras do: earbuds, charging case, USB-C cable, and Bose Match Package.

Design — is smaller higher?

When Bose launched the QuietComfort Earbuds II, they proudly boasted that its design was 30% smaller than its predecessor, the first-gen QuietComfort buds. The second era’s design change was a substantial enchancment and the buds had been made way more glossy. The design change between the QuietComfort Extremely and QCII buds is much less drastic; actually, they’re nearly equivalent.

Whereas the primary era of the QuietComfort buds had been fairly cumbersome, Bose appears happy with this smaller, sleeker design that debuted with the QCIIs and caught to its weapons with the Ultras.

Consolation is the secret and each the Ultras and the QCIIs match within the ear very properly. Bose consists of its Match Package with each earbuds, and you will get three totally different sizes of eartips and stability bands, so you will discover essentially the most snug match for you. Additional similarities embrace the buds’ stem as that is the place the on-board contact controls are housed.

Tapping will pause/play music and supply fundamental name controls, while swiping will management the quantity. Moreover, each fashions can help you personalize the contact controls utilizing Bose’s app, permitting you to assign totally different ANC modes to the contact controls based mostly in your preferences.

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Though the 2 are pretty neck and neck in design, for the time being, Bose provides you a bit extra selection in colours with the QCIIs than with the Ultras. Colours like Eclipse Grey and Midnight Blue, which are not obtainable for the Ultras, add some additional fashion factors to the QCIIs.

It is value mentioning that the charging circumstances are equivalent in dimension. Whereas they could appear a tad bulkier in comparison with circumstances like Apple’s AirPods, their ergonomic design suits comfortably in your pocket with out feeling cumbersome.

Connectivity, battery life and name high quality

Each the Bose QuietComfort Ultras and the QuietComfort II earbuds make the most of Bluetooth 5.3 and boast a spread of 30 toes, so there’s not a lot distinction right here.

Associated

Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are an ANC triumph, but there’s a catch

With unimaginable ANC, spatial audio smarts, and a cushty match, these buds nearly deserve the $299 price ticket, however miss on some key options.

By way of calling, there stay 4 microphones in every bud. Bose has claimed a major improve within the name high quality capabilities of the Ultras, primarily by specializing in figuring out the microphone with the bottom efficiency and minimizing noise interference throughout calls.

Nonetheless, from our exams, the decision high quality is a little bit inconsistent. Though you will hear the recipient loud and clear, your personal voice could dip out and in relying on the severity of the background noise.

The QCIIs additionally boast 4 microphones purportedly designed to attenuate exterior noise, and unsurprisingly, with such comparable {hardware}, name high quality outcomes are largely the identical.

The battery life additionally stays unchanged between the 2 with a playback of six hours from a full cost.

Nonetheless, the Extremely’s Immersive Audio mode drains the battery quicker, decreasing playback time to round 4 hours when activated. Each the QCIIs and Ultras charging are able to three full costs totaling to the listening playback for twenty-four hours when every little thing is totally charged. Additionally, each buds characteristic handy fast-charging capabilities, offering two hours of playback from only a fast 20-minute cost.

The QuietComfort Earbuds II weren’t outfitted with Bluetooth multipoint or wi-fi charging, so it was fairly disappointing that Bose did not introduce these options on the Ultras.

Contemplating the Ultras retail for $300, many really feel aggrieved that the Ultras do not include multipoint or wi-fi charging both, particularly contemplating there are some buds in the marketplace that retail for half their value with these options. There’s nonetheless the selection to go for an extra wi-fi charging case cowl, however this retails for round $50, an added additional many will not be pleased with paying.

Noise-cancelling on the highest stage

On the subject of ANC, that is an space the place Bose continues to excel. In truth, the model labeled the ANC on the QCIIs as ‘world-class.’ With 4 distinct noise-canceling modes, the QCIIs excel at blocking out exterior noises, proving Bose’s declare to be spot on.

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The Ultras have been engineered and based mostly on the QCIIs, so in addition they proceed Bose’s incredible legacy of best-in-class ANC. On each fashions you’ll be able to cycle via the totally different ANC modes on the buds’ contact management stem, and you may add your personal ANC modes via the app, tweaking the extent of noise-cancellation as you so need.

Black and silver Bose QC Ultra Earbuds in ear

Each the Ultras and QCII buds characteristic Conscious mode, Bose’s transparency mode that enables exterior noise in when the microphone detects noise directed at you, reminiscent of somebody making an attempt to converse with you, and Quiet mode, which supplies most noise cancelation. There’s a characteristic on each buds referred to as ActiveSense when in Conscious mode, which may be toggled via the Bose app. This expertise works by blocking out sudden loud noises, like passing building or when an ambulance zooms by throughout your commute to work.

Audio options and a stand-out streaming winner

{Hardware}-wise, there was no change between the Ultras and the QCIIs. They each characteristic a 9.3mm driver in every bud, which is a beneficiant dimension contemplating the general building dimension. Between the 2, Bose’s signature sound is on full show, with a strong bass response, and a daring, full-bodied efficiency. These earbuds are removed from impartial, however that is not what Bose goes for. As a substitute, anticipate thrilling, tastefully coloured audio that has loads of punch.

Nonetheless, it is within the audio realm that the Ultras emerge because the front-runner, significantly when you take pleasure in the most effective streaming high quality potential.

It is because Bose has rolled out Snapdragon’s Sound Expertise Suite, which helps Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive lossless streaming, which actually amps up the audio high quality. If you happen to’ve received an Android gadget or one other music participant that may deal with lossless streaming, you will undoubtedly discover some important audio upgrades. Each nuance is heightened and the tracks’ meant dynamics and musicality are felt way more powerfully.

Immersive audio enters the spatial realm

If you wish to get on board the spatial audio revolution, the Ultras simply take prime spot. Though Bose has named it ‘immersive audio’, it is making an attempt to realize the identical results as spatial audio with an encompassing all-round sound which feels just like the audio is coming from each route. We’re delighted to report that it excels on this facet, doubtlessly even surpassing the efficiency of Sony and Apple’s choices. The expansive soundstage it supplies for tracks is really addictive.

The Immersive Audio works with each stereo tracks and spatial audio mixes and can be utilized in both Nonetheless or Movement mode, the place the music will comply with wherever your head strikes. When we tested the Ultras out, we were very impressed with the results. As quickly as you flip Immersive mode on, the audio takes on a completely three-dimensional character and strikes upwards, nearly like it’s floating above your head. More often than not, the processing is spot on, and the Ultras do very properly at precisely monitoring your head actions. Nonetheless, this expertise is comparatively new, and there are some tracks that do not fairly carry out properly in Movement mode.

Verdict: Which Bose buds bode greatest for you?

After totally evaluating the design, options, battery life, noise-cancelling, and audio high quality, it is evident that each the QCIIs and the Extremely Earbuds are evenly matched. Nonetheless, the Ultras achieve a slight benefit with their functionality to make the most of Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive lossless streaming and the incorporation of Immersive Audio.

The help for high-resolution audio is straight away spectacular, and Bose could have crafted the best three-dimensional audio playback obtainable at this time. Moreover, the ANC efficiency stays distinctive, making them unmatched of their capacity to dam out exterior noise amongst present choices in the marketplace. Nonetheless, Bose missed the possibility to include Bluetooth multipoint or wi-fi charging into the Ultras, which could possibly be a letdown for some folks.

Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds

Editor’s Selection

$249 $299 Save $50

If lossless streaming is not on the prime of your record, or if you do not have a tool that helps it, you would possibly discover the QuietComfort Earbuds II to be a superb different. Whereas they could lack Immersive Audio, which is taken into account cutting-edge expertise, if that characteristic is not essential for you, you’ll be able to take pleasure in some financial savings.

Furthermore, the QCIIs supply the identical spectacular battery life, glossy design, superior noise-canceling expertise, {hardware}, and handy onboard contact controls because the Ultras, making them a worthy possibility regardless of being from the earlier era. Lastly, the QuietComfort Earbuds IIs are supplied in a number of extra shade choices than the Ultras, so when you respect having a number of extra aesthetic selections, that is more likely to make you smile.