Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

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QuietComfort Earbuds compared with QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

	BoseQuietComfort Earbuds	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Overview
Released
Released	September 2024	October 2023
Sound
Type
Type	In-ear	Over-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
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	–	No
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	Eight microphones for feedback and adaptive feed-forward noise reduction; Quiet, Aware and Immersion modes plus custom modes; Aware Mode with ActiveSense briefly applies noise cancelling during very loud sounds; noise cancelling adjustable in the Bose app; Wind Block setting; CustomTune calibrates sound and noise cancelling to your ears each time you put them on
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) using an onboard IMU; three-band EQ (bass, mid-range, treble) in the Bose app; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices
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 Immersive Audio off, 18 hours with it on; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet Mode; the headphones don't charge while switched on
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 2.5 hours with Immersive Audio off, 2 hours with it on (owner's guide; Bose UK's FAQ says 3 hours); full charge in up to 3 hours
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	10.9 g (better)	254 g
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	IPX4	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.3	5.3
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	On the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power button, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls, modes) and a capacitive volume strip (swipe for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to Immersive Audio settings, Spotify Tap, the voice assistant or battery level); on-head detection pauses and resumes audio and wakes or sleeps the headphones
Microphones
Microphones	Three microphones per earbud; adaptive microphone system for calls with adjustable self-voice (sidetone)	Eight microphones in total; four are used for calls (two on each ear cup), in a beamforming array
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 an adjustable headband; removable protein leather cushions; plastic, aluminium and protein leather; fold flat 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 since a July 2024 update; Google Fast Pair; Spotify Tap; SimpleSync with Bose smart soundbars and speakers; 2.5 mm analogue input needs the headphones powered on; no USB audio
Colours
Colours	Black, White Smoke and Chilled Lilac at launch; Bose UK now also sells Dewdrop Mint	Black and White Smoke at launch; What Hi-Fi lists later Lunar Blue and Diamond 60th Edition finishes
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, USB-C (A to C) cable (50.8 cm), safety sheet