Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Evaluate: The Finest Noise Cancellation within the Enterprise

We decide all headphones on a scale of 10, analyzing the classes we expect are most necessary: sound, consolation, design, battery efficiency, and, if relevant, particular options. Here is how the Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds stack up.

Two years after releasing their first pair of true wi-fi noise-canceling earbuds, Bose launched their extremely anticipated QuietComfort Earbuds II. The brand new buds carry refined design, ergonomic enhancements, and upgraded {hardware} for next-level sound and noise cancellation. With all of those upgrades, its $299 price ticket is simply $20 greater than the earlier iteration’s launch sticker — a worth distinction that is properly price the additional money.

Bose set the product class’s gold commonplace for noise cancellation with the QuietComfort earbuds in 2020. I started testing the QuietComfort II with weighty expectations, and it lived as much as virtually all of them. Right here’s why Bose’s newest true wi-fi providing is a worthy follow-up to a wonderful product.

SCORES

• Sound: 9/10
• Consolation: 9/10
• Design: 8/10
• Battery Efficiency: 7/10
• General Rating: 8/10

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II at a Look

• Finest-in-class noise cancellation and conscious mode
• Balanced sound with fundamental customization instruments
• As much as 6 hours of battery life
• IPX4 waterproof

SOUND: 9/10

The QuietComfort Earbuds II’s noise cancellation is the very best I’ve skilled but and the business’s new gold commonplace. Remarkably, so is their “conscious” mode, which helps you stay related to your environment (e.g., throughout outside walks, whereas commuting, and many others.). Bose upgraded the earbuds’ conscious mode with a brand new function referred to as ActiveSense, which brings superior audio transparency by subtly participating noise cancellation upon detecting louder noises, thus enhancing the listening expertise with out blocking out all noises. For comparability, the notice mode of the product’s rivals usually channels in ambient noises extra aggressively.

The buds additionally effectively tune out ambient sounds, remodeling the visitors under my fourth-floor condo into full silence. Higher but, throughout a rush hour stroll to work by way of midtown Manhattan, activating the function felt like urgent a “mute” button on the world round me.

Unsurprisingly, the most recent QuietComfort earbuds produce a signature Bose sound with barely enhanced bass, detailed mid-range, and crisp treble. I streamed a number of music genres — from downtempo albums to classical concertos — and loved the sonic expertise for all of them. Podcasts sounded nice on the buds, too.

Not like the earlier iteration, the QuietComfort Earbuds II can calibrate the sound to your listening to utilizing a brand new tech, dubbed CustomTune. The earphones will play a tone once you put them on and regulate their efficiency after measuring the distinctive response of your ear canals. CustomTune can be instrumental for the buds’ noise cancellation and conscious modes.

You may simply regulate the bass, the treble, and the mid-range proper from the Bose Music app. Preset buttons for reinforcing or lowering the bass and the treble are additionally accessible. Audio customization instruments have been notably lacking within the first-generation QuietComfort earbuds at launch, however they arrived later through a firmware replace.

The customization course of talked about is prompt. For comparability, some rivals require finishing a listening to take a look at through their companion app to ship customized sound.

Phone, FaceTime, Microsoft Groups, and Zoom calls all sounded exceptionally clear on the QuietComfort II, courtesy of 4 microphones per earbud. Due to Bluetooth 5.3, the earbuds maintained a flawless hyperlink to an iPhone 14 Professional Max whereas I examined them.

COMFORT: 9/10

I tip my hat to Bose for making the QuietComfort Earbuds II smaller and comfier than the unique. At virtually 9 grams per earbud, the primary iteration is considerably bulkier than the 6.2-gram sequel.

The lighter weight of the brand new earbuds leads to smaller stability bands to safe their match. The primary-generation QuietComfort earphones require unwieldier ear wings that, mixed with their bigger housings, usually tend to trigger pesky fatigue. I spent hours with the brand new model with out feeling a touch of the latter.

Bose geared up the QuietComfort Earbuds II with a incredible set of contact controls. You may management the audio playback, toggle between noise cancellation or conscious mode, take calls, and regulate the amount through swiping gestures on every earbud. An choice to arrange shortcuts for accessing your go-to digital assistant by long-pressing the left or proper earphone can be accessible by way of the app.

General, the on a regular basis consolation and the standard of the earbuds’ controls are stellar and on par with the expectations set by their hefty price ticket. The Bose earphones are additionally comfier than the range-topping Sony WF-1000XM4 and second solely to the most recent Apple AirPods Professional when it comes to ergonomics.

DESIGN: 8/10

Bose handled the QuietComfort Earbuds II to a particular design that is someplace between compact and stem-toting earbuds. The characterful setup is an enchancment over the sizable curved housings of the unique. You may order a set in triple black or soapstone with an identical case.

The earbuds’ IPX4 score for water resistance makes them appropriate for exercising, so long as it doesn’t contain actions in pouring rain or tough terrains. We recommend earbuds with a better water and dirt resistance score for these duties.

BATTERY PERFORMANCE: 6/10

The 6-hour most battery lifetime of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is stable, contemplating their compact measurement and excellent noise cancellation. Curiously, there is no such thing as a choice to eke out extra time between prices by disabling noise cancellation and conscious mode. You may solely select one or the opposite in the interim.

Regardless that it is noticeably extra compact than its predecessor, the charging case of the brand new QuietComfort earbuds holds extra full prices (three versus two). Nevertheless, the important accent lacks wi-fi charging assist. Contemplating the product’s hefty price ticket and the wi-fi charging capabilities of the primary technology, this can be a unusual omission.

OVERALL: 8/10

Superior noise cancellation and just-as-stellar conscious mode are the principle causes you need to splurge on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. Their proficiency in eliminating distractions in any situation is second to none. The earbuds’ consolation and design enhancements have additionally taken a large leap ahead in comparison with the unique.

The buds’ sound high quality can be stellar, although the marginally heavier, barely cheaper Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds have an edge on this division. Sony’s range-topping buds can ship higher-fidelity audio with assist for high-resolution content material and extra customization choices. However, the brand new AirPods Professional brings unimaginable integration with Apple {hardware} and extra charging choices for much less.

Think about the previous-generation Bose QuietComfort earbuds when you’re on the lookout for good sound and noise cancellation for much less. Contemporary off a big worth lower, the under-$200 earbuds are nonetheless a stable choice for the cash.

Store Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Senior Know-how Editor

Stefan is the senior know-how editor for , the place he’s been masking the tech business and testing the most recent devices since 2015. He has greater than a decade of expertise masking shopper tech merchandise, particularly smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear. He was beforehand the US editor for ; his work can be discovered on Common Mechanics and different Hearst publications.Within the uncommon moments when he’s not taking part in with a brand new gadget, Stefan likes to look at stay Premier League video games or hang around along with his cat and rabbit. He’s additionally an espresso snob.