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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds · Bose official press archive, exact member Images/Bose QuietComfort Earbuds_01.JPG

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
Photo 1 of 15

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds · Bose official press archive, exact member Images/Bose QuietComfort Earbuds_01.JPG

Bose · QuietComfort

QuietComfort Earbuds

Released September 2024

The QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) are Bose's mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds, suited to everyday listeners who want Bose noise cancelling, long battery life and a wireless charging case for less than the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Battery
8.5 h
With case
30 h
Best codec
AAC
Weight
10.9 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree the noise cancelling is excellent for the price and the sound is powerful and enjoyable, with a comfortable fit. The common complaint is a bulky, plasticky case; SoundGuys had connection problems, Tom's Guide found voice commands too easily triggered and missed advanced codecs, and What Hi-Fi? notes the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds still do better.

From soundguys.com, techradar.com, whathifi.com and tomsguide.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Transparency mode
Yes
Bluetooth codecs
SBC and AAC
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
Audio features
Five-band adjustable EQ in the Bose QCE app; Low Latency Audio mode for games and video

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 8.5 hours
With the case
Up to 30 hours
Wireless charging
Yes
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)
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
20 minutes of charging gives up to 3 hours of playback

Design

Weight (each earbud)
10.9 g
Water and sweat resistance
IPX4
Bluetooth
5.3
Two devices at once
Yes
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
Microphones
Three microphones per earbud; adaptive microphone system for calls with adjustable self-voice (sidetone)
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
Case weight
0.104 lb (about 47 g) on Bose UK's spec table
Water resistance detail
IPX4 for the earbuds; Bose says resistance might decrease with normal wear
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
Colours
Black, White Smoke and Chilled Lilac at launch; Bose UK now also sells Dewdrop Mint
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

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Up to 8.5 hours per charge with noise cancelling on, and the case holds 2.5 further charges
  • Qi wireless charging case, plus multipoint
  • IPX4 water and sweat resistance, with stability bands in three sizes

Cons

  • SBC and AAC only, with no aptX or Snapdragon Sound
  • Uses the separate Bose QCE app rather than the main Bose app

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
GooglePixel Buds Pro 2
In-earYes8 h30 hAAC4.7 gSept 2024
JBLTour Pro 3
In-earYes8 h32 hLC35.6 gSept 2024
Anker soundcoreLiberty 4 Pro
In-earYes7.5 h30 hLDAC5.5 gOct 2024

Sources

  1. bose.co.uk/p/earbuds/bose-quietcomfort-headphones/QCEARB24-HEADPHONEIN.html
  2. assets.bosecreative.com/m/52889a0b3798f19/original/891405_OG_QCEARB24-HEADPHONE…
  3. bose.com/pressroom/bose-quietcomfort-earbuds-second-gen
  4. bose.com.au/p/earbuds/bose-quietcomfort-headphones/QCEARB24-HEADPHONEIN.html
  5. whathifi.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-earbuds-2024

Photo: Bose official press archive, exact member Images/Bose QuietComfort Earbuds_01.JPG

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