Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Nothing Ear (3)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) compared with Ear (3)

	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)	NothingEar (3)
Overview
Released
Released	June 2025	September 2025
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	No
Driver size
Driver size	–	12 mm
Impedance
Impedance	–	32 ohms
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive	SBC, AAC and LDAC
Drivers
Drivers	–	12 mm dynamic driver with a patterned PMI dome and TPU surround; 20 Hz – 40 kHz frequency range
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling) and Aware Mode with an updated ActiveSense that smooths sudden noise spikes; noise cancelling adjustable in the Bose app; CustomTune tailors sound and noise cancelling to your ears	Real-time adaptive ANC, up to 45 dB depth and 5000 Hz bandwidth (Nothing's figures); High, Mid, Low and Adaptive modes; Transparency mode and ear-tip fit test
Audio features
Audio features	Bose Immersive Audio (Still keeps the virtual speakers in place as you turn your head; Motion lets them follow) and Cinema Mode; up to seven custom modes; adjustable EQ in the Bose app; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices, which Bose says adapts to lossless audio and low latency	Static spatial audio; Personal Sound hearing profile by Audiodo; advanced EQ, Dynamic Bass Enhancement and low-latency mode
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 6 hours	Up to 5.5 hours
With the case
With the case	Up to 24 hours	Up to 22 hours
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	Yes	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 4 hours per charge with Immersive Audio on; the case holds three full charges, for 24 hours in total with Immersive Audio off; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet Mode	AAC with ANC provides up to 5.5 hours, or 22 hours including case recharges; without ANC, 10 hours or 38 hours total. LDAC with ANC provides 3.5 hours, or 5.5 hours without ANC. Tested at 50% volume and 25°C; 55 mAh per bud and 500 mAh case
Charging case
Charging case	USB-C (5 V, 1 A) and wireless charging; 680 mAh output capacity; the case charges in up to 3 hours and the earbuds in up to 2 hours	USB-C charging to full in 70 minutes, or wireless charging in 120 minutes; case base made from 100% recycled aluminium
Fast charging
Fast charging	20 minutes in the case gives up to 2 hours of playback	With ANC off, 10 minutes charging provides up to 10 hours including case recharges; 5 minutes provides up to 1 hour from earbuds alone
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	7.3 g	5.2 g (better)
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	IPX4	IP54
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.3	5.4
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	Touch surface on each earbud (tap to play, pause or answer calls; double-tap to skip forwards; triple-tap to skip back; swipe up or down for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to modes, Immersive Audio settings, Spotify Tap or the voice assistant); touch controls can be turned off in the app; in-ear detection pauses audio when an earbud is taken out	Customisable pinch controls and in-ear detection; TALK button selects the case Super Mic
Microphones
Microphones	Eight microphones in total; AI-based SpeechClarity noise suppression for calls	Three MEMS microphones and a voice pickup unit per bud; dual-microphone Super Mic in the case for calls and voice notes
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Silicone eartips in S, M and L (M fitted) with a guard against earwax build-up; stability bands in sizes 1, 2 and 3 (size 1 fitted)	Four sizes of silicone ear tips (XS, S, M and L)
Case weight
Case weight	59.9 g (Bose lists 0.132 lb)	Earbuds and case together weigh 71.4 g; standalone case weight not specified
Dimensions
Dimensions	–	Each bud 30.5 × 21.5 × 20.75 mm (H × W × D); case 55.5 × 55.5 × 22.25 mm (H × W × D)
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	IPX4 for the earbuds only	IP54 for both earbuds and case
Works with
Works with	Bose app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair on Android; Spotify Tap	Nothing X app; Android 6.0 or later and iOS 13 or later; two-device connection, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. Essential Space voice-note transcription and ChatGPT integration require compatible Nothing OS devices
Colours
Colours	Black, White Smoke and Deep Plum at launch; Bose UK now also sells Midnight Violet and Desert Gold	Black, White
In the box
In the box	Earbuds, wireless charging case, eartips (S, M, L), stability bands (1, 2, 3), 30 cm USB-C (A to C) cable, safety sheet	Earbuds, charging case, four sizes of ear tips, USB-C cable, safety information and user guide