Beats Powerbeats (2010) vs Bose QuietComfort 20

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Powerbeats (2010) compared with QuietComfort 20

	BeatsPowerbeats (2010)	BoseQuietComfort 20
Overview
Released
Released	2010	2013
Sound
Type
Type	In-ear	In-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	–	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	None (wired)	None (wired)
Drivers
Drivers	Two drivers in each earpiece, described in the original maker announcement as a bass driver and a midrange/tweeter. Driver diameters are not published.	–
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Ported tips deliberately admit surrounding sound; no active noise cancelling.	A microphone inside and outside each earbud feeds the noise-cancelling processor in the in-line module; Aware mode lets more surrounding sound through without stopping music
Audio features
Audio features	–	Bose TriPort acoustic ports and Active EQ processing when powered
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	No battery (wired)	Up to 16 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	–	Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the in-line module; around 16 hours from a two-hour USB charge; wired audio remains available with the power off
Design
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	Cable remote provides playback, track navigation, volume, calls and voice commands on compatible devices; functionality varies by device.	Power switch and status lights on the battery module; Aware mode and call controls on the cable remote
Microphones
Microphones	Microphone built into the cable remote.	Two microphones per earbud for noise cancellation; an in-line microphone for calls
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Bendable rubber ear hooks and interchangeable silicone ear tips. The maker guide identifies these as in-ear headphones despite the hooks resting over the ear.	StayHear+ tips rest at the entrance to the ear canal and come in three sizes
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	No IP code is published in the maker sources used. The guide advises avoiding liquids and warns that wet internal circuitry can be permanently damaged.	–
Works with
Works with	Wired 3.5 mm stereo connection. The guide lists iPod, iPhone, iPad, HTC, BlackBerry and Android devices, with remote functions dependent on the device.	3.5 mm wired connection; QC20 has a single-button remote for most Android and other smartphones, while the contemporaneous QC20i has an Apple-compatible three-button remote
Colours
Colours	Black, red and white in the September 2010 maker announcement. Apple's November 2010 price list includes the black and red models; the precise first sale month is unproved, so the release retains year precision.	Grey at launch; Black and White variants followed in 2015
In the box
In the box	Earphones, interchangeable ear tips and protective case in the maker guide.	Earbuds, three sizes of StayHear+ tips, clothing clip, USB charging cable and carrying case