In today’s time, wireless buds can be considered a dime a dozen. But the exceptions are always there, and the one we can think of is the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Bose has been a long-time player in the market when it comes to wireless headphones and earphones. One of the most popular includes the Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones. The QuietComfort line is not limited to headphones, however, and also boasts a successful generation of wireless headphones.
Bose has returned with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to the realm of wireless headphone production. So, to test them, we will also compare them with their predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I in the article.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Overview
Released almost 2 years after the release of its previous generation Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I, Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II have once again outperformed their competitors.
While you may think we are exaggerating, we are not. Look at the ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) feature that has stood out among several A-brands. In fact, the excellent ANC itself has made the Bose QuietComfort the winner and allows it to hold the title of ANC King. ?
But when it comes to the price, people have doubts and doubts whether they are worth it. So, in this review, we’ll help clarify your decision by providing a comprehensive and unbiased review of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. Now, let’s start with its specifications.
Technical specifications
Now we will start with the specifications of the Bose QC Earbuds II to help you understand its basics a bit. With the help of the table below, you’ll get an idea of the feature you’re looking for and what the pair has to offer.
Characteristics | Specifications |
Guy | In the channel |
Headphone dimensions | 17.2 × 30.5 × 22.4mm |
headset weight | 6.24g each |
wireless | Yeah |
wireless charging | No, USB-C |
Waterproof | Sweat resistant (IPX4) |
connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, SBC, AAC |
Battery duration | 6 hours (with the case, up to 24 hours) |
Year | 2022 |
Bluetooth range | up to 30 feet |
Charging case dimensions | 59.4 × 66.3 × 26.7mm |
Weight of the charging case | 59.8g |
Colors | Triple Black, Soapstone, Midnight Blue, and Eclipse Gray |
Price | $299 |
As you already know the different specifications of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, let’s take a look at their features and how well they do their job.
Characteristics
If you’re looking for wireless headphones, here are some important features to consider before making a final decision on the Bose QC Earbuds II.
If we have to talk about the design of the Bose QC Earbuds II, we cannot avoid making a comparison with the previous generation. Well, they are clearly lighter, more compact, and 30% smaller than the Bose QC Earbuds I. However, users have complained that they don’t fit perfectly. While for some yes, for others no.
And in case you’re concerned about the same thing, there are stability band options you can choose from. You can also install the Bose Music app before getting a QCE II pair. This will help you get an idea of the correct size and fit of the headphones.
The overall design of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is sleeker and smaller, very different from the QCE I. There are different sizes of eartips available in case you think the fit isn’t quite right and even for you. With a multi-function button on the back, you also get helpful prompts and alerts once the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II pair is connected.
There is no doubt that the Bose QC Earbuds II provide well-balanced sound with precise details. But when it comes to call quality, they don’t really offer the best. It’s pretty mediocre because whenever you’re on call the voice keeps getting a little muffled like you’re on speakerphone, making it sound like you’re stuck in traffic.
Compared to the Bose QCE II, the previous model lacked bass. So we can say that CustomTune is doing its job and giving away its magic. With next-level ANC, users can have an enjoyable experience while listening to anything on the QCE II.
For a pair of wireless headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II last a good amount of time. During our tests, we played music at about 75 dB, and battery life was 7 hours and 15 minutes on a single charge.
Interestingly, Bose’s claimed amount of time for battery life is 6 hours. So, as you already know, in the test that we ran, the amount of time is extra. And this is a pretty decent time for wireless headphones. However, we do not recommend using them for a whole day at work in order not to have to charge them once more.
Now let’s see how your software works and if there are any factors you need to pay attention to.
There’s no need to worry about how the software works on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. The work of technology in ECB II is quite simple and straightforward. And furthermore, it also plays an important role in how one comes to experience pleasant sounds with ANC.
CustomTune in the QCE II adjusts the signal to reduce or cancel noise, and that’s how you can avoid crying babies and busy streets. However, the QCE II detects noise in transparency mode, as a result of ActiveSense.
When Aware mode is enabled, CustomTune allows users to access the natural sounds around them. But like most brands, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are no exception in providing muffled sound in Transparency mode. In this case, it lags behind Apple, which does a pretty decent job with the mode on.
If you’re thinking about the sync or compatibility factor while using the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, there’s really no problem. Since they can be connected to any device, they work the same on all devices, and you don’t have to think that they will work differently for a specific device.
For a better experience, you can download the Bose companion app. In the app, you can manage touch controls and control ANC strength. It also allows you to adjust the audio equalizer, which is a nice part that not all apps offer.
Also, the layout of the app is easy to understand and easy to use. You can have shortcuts, different modes, product tips, and an eartip seal test too.
Taking up the expansive surface area on the back of your Bose QC Earbuds II, the touchpad on the Bose QC Earbuds II has a look all its own. It works quite well for different actions, and one might need them when not having their phone within reach or just running errands.
So we are going to provide the points below for different inputs and their action outputs.
- One touch: play/pause music or answer a call
- Double tap: to track music forward
- Triple tap: keep track of the music
- Long press: Voice assistant
- Swipe up or down: for volume
Bose QC Earbuds II do a good job in most parts. However, two things that can be annoying are the price and the missing features offered by most competitors, such as wireless charging, spatial audio and multipoint connection.
Another fundamental aspect is the pros and cons of the product, and in the case of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, they are detailed below.
Pros and cons
Now, let’s turn to one of the most important factors that a potential buyer considers before buying any product: its pros and cons. Listed below are what we think are the good and bad points of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II after testing them.
- Light
- Smaller with a comfortable design.
- Excellent noise canceling quality
- sweat resistance
- Good controls with decent call quality.
- Good battery life
- Expensive
- complicated assembly
- No wireless charging
- Lack of multipoint connectivity
So compared to the cons, the pros definitely outweigh. And if you’re someone who can adjust to the listed drawbacks, go for it! Now let’s move on to the pricing section and see what the deal is with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Prices
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II still sell for a whopping $299 on the official Bose website and are also available on Amazon. They come in four different colors: Triple Black, Soapstone, Midnight Blue, and Eclipse Grey.
The Midnight Blue color somehow sounds like Apple, as it also came out with the 13-inch MacBook Air M2, in the same color. Speaking of Apple, interestingly the AirPods Pro 2 are 17% cheaper at $250 than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Now back to the price part, many have questioned whether the Bose QC headphones are really worth the high price. So in conclusion, it varies from person to person and what your pocket allows.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
If you’re wondering whether to go for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I, instead of buying the II, wait! There are some points of distinction which we are going to list below in the given comparison table between the two.
basis of comparison | QuietComfort II Headphones | QuietComfort II Headphones | Winner ? |
---|---|---|---|
Design | The overall design and look is slightly bulky. | The new QC Earbuds are 30% lighter than the previous ones. | Bose Quiet Comfort II Headphones |
The size of the case is larger despite not giving wireless charging. | They offer a wider range of eartips and stability bands. | ||
Battery duration | It claims 6 hours of use per charge, with 2 more charges for 18 hours total. | There are comfortable smooth controls. | |
Do not offer wireless charging. | The QCE II claims a battery life of up to 6 hours and 3 additional charges. | Bose Quiet Comfort II Headphones | |
Characteristics | No active sense technology. | There’s also no option for wireless charging on the QCE II. | |
CustomTune, Bose’s sound calibration technology, is missing. | He has a good conscious mode. | Bose Quiet Comfort II Headphones | |
Sound quality | The previous generation of Bose QC Earbuds still provides all the details even after two years. | It provides excellent noise cancellation. | |
Active-Sense technology is impressive. | |||
The Bose QC Earbuds II sound much better than the BCE I. | Bose Quiet Comfort II Headphones | ||
Call sound quality is improved with the same number of microphones. |
So the clear comparison winner here is the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. If you’ve made up your mind and need a little more guidance, read the final verdict.
Also read:
GetAssist Final Verdict: Do We Recommend Buying The Pair?
If your priority for getting a pair of wireless headphones is to get the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature, with added perks, then you can definitely go for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. And of course, one of the most essential points, if your pocket allows it.
You may now have an idea of what the deal is with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. And the final call is entirely up to you.
There are several other options available on the market such as the LucidSound LS31 Wireless that provide the right features that one might look for in wireless headphones or earphones. However, they can cost less or more than the Bose QC Earbuds II, depending on their features.
Categories: Technology
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI