Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones

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QuietComfort Earbuds compared with QuietComfort Headphones

	BoseQuietComfort Earbuds	BoseQuietComfort Headphones
Overview
Released
Released	September 2024	September 2023
Sound
Type
Type	In-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	SBC and AAC
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Quiet mode (full noise cancelling) and Aware mode; noise cancelling adjustable or off in the Bose QCE app; six microphones in total (three per earbud) for noise cancelling and voice pickup	Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling) and Aware Mode (full transparency), plus custom modes with adjustable noise cancelling in the Bose app; Wind Block can be added to any mode; microphones inside and outside the ear cups
Audio features
Audio features	Five-band adjustable EQ in the Bose QCE app; Low Latency Audio mode for games and video	TriPort acoustic structure; three-band EQ (bass, mid-range, treble) with presets in the Bose app
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 8.5 hours	Up to 24 hours
With the case
With the case	Up to 30 hours	–
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	Yes	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet mode (full noise cancelling); the case holds 2.5 full charges, which the owner's guide gives as up to 30 hours in total (Bose UK's product page says 31.5 hours, and its footnote gives 9 hours per charge)	Up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL; the headphones don't play while charging
Charging case
Charging case	USB-C and Qi wireless charging; earbuds charge in up to 1.5 hours, the case in up to 2 hours	–
Fast charging
Fast charging	20 minutes of charging gives up to 3 hours of playback	15 minutes gives up to 4 hours (Bose UK FAQ; Bose UK's comparison table says 2.5 hours); full charge in up to 2.5 hours (owner's guide and spec table; the FAQ says 2 hours)
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	10.9 g (better)	236 g
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	IPX4	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.3	5.1
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	–	Yes
Controls
Controls	Touch surface on each earbud (tap to play or pause, double-tap to skip forward, triple-tap to skip back; volume and noise cancelling controls); single, double and triple taps and press-and-hold are customisable in the app; "Hey headphones" voice commands through the Bose QCE app, including answering calls and Remote Selfie; in-ear detection pauses audio when an earbud is removed and can answer calls	Physical buttons on the back of the ear cups; on the right, a Power/Bluetooth switch, volume up and down and a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls); on the left, an Action button for modes, customisable as a shortcut to Spotify Tap or battery level
Microphones
Microphones	Three microphones per earbud; adaptive microphone system for calls with adjustable self-voice (sidetone)	Built-in microphones for calls; the audio cable has an in-line microphone
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Eartips and stability bands in small, medium and large; eartips interchangeable with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds; either earbud can be used on its own	Around-ear (circumaural) with removable protein leather cushions; steel in the headband; metal and plastic build; folds for the carry case
Case weight
Case weight	0.104 lb (about 47 g) on Bose UK's spec table	–
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	IPX4 for the earbuds; Bose says resistance might decrease with normal wear	No water resistance rating published
Works with
Works with	Bose QCE app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; can connect to Bose soundbars and speakers with SimpleSync, though Bose says it isn't fully optimised; no Snapdragon Sound	Bose app (launched with Bose Music) for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; SimpleSync with Bose smart soundbars and speakers; Spotify Tap
Colours
Colours	Black, White Smoke and Chilled Lilac at launch; Bose UK now also sells Dewdrop Mint	Black, White Smoke and limited-edition Cypress Green at launch
In the box
In the box	Earbuds, charging case, USB-C cable (USB-A to USB-C, 30 cm), Fit Kit with small, medium and large eartips and stability bands, safety sheet	Headphones, carry case, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable with microphone, USB-C (A to C) cable (30 cm), safety sheet