Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

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QuietComfort Earbuds compared with QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

	BoseQuietComfort Earbuds	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Overview
Released
Released	September 2024	October 2023
Sound
Type
Type	In-ear	In-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	–	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive
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), Aware Mode and Immersion Mode, plus custom modes with noise cancelling levels in between; CustomTune tailors sound and noise cancelling to your ears
Audio features
Audio features	Five-band adjustable EQ in the Bose QCE app; Low Latency Audio mode for games and video	Bose Immersive Audio (Still keeps the sound in place as you turn your head; Motion lets it follow); three-band EQ in the Bose app; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices, normally at 44.1 kHz and up to 48 kHz for high-resolution listening, with a low-latency mode
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 8.5 hours	Up to 6 hours
With the case
With the case	Up to 30 hours	Up to 24 hours
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	Yes	No
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 6 hours per charge with Immersive Audio off, 4 hours with it on; the case holds three full charges; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet Mode
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	USB-C; earbuds charge in up to 2 hours, the case in up to 3 hours; an optional silicone case cover (sold separately) adds wireless charging
Fast charging
Fast charging	20 minutes of charging gives up to 3 hours of playback	20 minutes in the case gives up to 2 hours of playback
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	10.9 g	7.7 g (better)
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	IPX4	IPX4
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.3	5.3
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	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	Touch surface on each earbud (tap to play, pause or answer calls; double-tap to skip forward or end calls; triple-tap to skip back; swipe up or down for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to switch modes or the voice assistant)
Microphones
Microphones	Three microphones per earbud; adaptive microphone system for calls with adjustable self-voice (sidetone)	Adaptive microphone system with adjustable self-voice; TechRadar counts four microphones per earbud
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	Silicone eartips in small, medium and large (medium fitted); stability bands in sizes 1, 2 and 3 (size 1 fitted), with a notch that aligns them on the earbud; extra-small and extra-large sizes available from Bose Support; either earbud can be used on its own
Case weight
Case weight	0.104 lb (about 47 g) on Bose UK's spec table	0.132 lb (about 60 g)
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	IPX4 for the earbuds; Bose says resistance might decrease with normal wear	IPX4 for the earbuds; the inside of the case resists water left on the earbuds, but Bose advises keeping the outside of the case dry
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 since a July 2024 update; Google Fast Pair; SimpleSync with Bose smart soundbars and speakers
Colours
Colours	Black, White Smoke and Chilled Lilac at launch; Bose UK now also sells Dewdrop Mint	Black and White Smoke at launch; Bose UK now sells Lunar Blue
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	Earbuds, charging case, eartips (small and large; medium fitted), stability bands (sizes 2 and 3; size 1 fitted), USB-C to USB-A cable