The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are here, replacing the highly popular QuietComfort Earbuds. Building upon the success of the QC Earbuds, the QC Earbuds II feature best-in-class active noise cancelling, improved Bluetooth connectivity and more. So how much better are the new QuietComfort Earbuds II over their predecessor? Check out our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II review below.
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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs QuietComfort Earbuds Comparison Chart
Design
The smaller form factor of the QuietComfort Earbuds II allows for better fit and comfort.
Comfort and fit are much improved with the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. Looking at the image above, you’ll notice that the QC Earbuds II are now smaller. Each QuietComfort Earbuds II buds measure 1.2 x 0.68 x 0.88 inches and they also weigh less, at 0.22 ounces each. In comparison, the QC Earbuds measure 1.54 x 1.02 x 1.06 inches and they weigh 0.3 ounces each. The size difference is significant, but it’s still important to note that the new QC Earbuds II will still protrude from your ears.
The QuietComfort Earbuds II’s case is also more compact, lending to better portability. For comparison, the new case measures 2.61 x 2.34 x 1.05 inches while the original QC Earbuds case’ physical dimensions are 1.25 x 3.5 x 2 inches. The QC Earbuds II’s case is less bulky and easily more pocketable.
When it comes to durability, the two are pretty similar. The buds are made of plastic with some gold plating for the connectors, and they are both IPX4 rated for water-resistance. The eartips are made of silicone and the cases are made of hard plastic.
As mentioned earlier, fit and comfort are the biggest improvements that come with the QC Earbuds II. Apart from being smaller, the QC Earbuds II also come with separate stability bands and eartips, unlike the “wing tips” that come with the original. Since the stability bands and tips are separate, you can mix and match different size bands and tips for the best fit.
Features
They have the same feature set, but the ANC on the new QuietComfort Earbuds II is slightly improved.
Bose’s active noise-canceling performance on their over-ear headphones and earbuds are top notch. This is true with the QuietComfort Earbuds and Earbuds II. There are a few small improvements with the QC Earbuds II’s ANC, particularly, in blocking out wind during calls. There are various levels of ANC that you can choose from using the app, and you can save up to three ANC presets on the earbuds themselves.
Speaking of the app, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II also uses the Bose Music app. Inside the app are settings for features such as ANC, Aware Mode, playback control and button remapping. You also get access to EQ presets as well as graphic EQ. The 3-band graphic EQ is not the most customizable, but it still lets you tweak the sound if you don’t like it out-of-the-box, so that’s still a plus in our books.
As for controls, the QuietComfort Earbuds II employ the same control scheme as the original Quietcomfort Earbuds. A single tap on either buds plays or pauses music, two taps skip forward and three taps skip backwards. When a call comes in, a tap answers the call while two taps reject it. Volume is controlled using upward or downward swipes. Long presses trigger shortcuts that you can set inside the app. You can set the shortcuts to activate ANC, Aware Mode or voice assistant.
Sound
The QuietComfort Earbuds and Earbuds II have similar sound profiles that can be considered neutral.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds lineup have a fairly neutral sound signature as opposed to the more popular bass-boosted signature of other popular TWS earbuds. Both the QC Earbuds and Earbuds II have a sound signature that’s just a tad boosted in the bass range, accurate mids and a slightly recessed treble range.
The result is a sound signature that’s pleasant to listen to without the bloat in the bass region and harshness in the highs. Many would even call this sound to be “boring”, but in this case, boring is good as it allows you to listen to your music for extended periods without getting hearing fatigue.
As for call performance, there are four mics in each earbud, with two beamforming mics that pick up your voice. The mics perform excellently as the person on the other end will hear you loud and clear. When ANC is enabled, your surrounding is effectively muted, allowing you to have a clear conversation, save for some extremely loud noise such as passing trucks/buses, construction work, etc.
Check out our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs AirPods Pro comparison
Battery
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have a slightly longer battery life due to their case providing one more extra charge cycle.
The battery life of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is decent, lasting up to six hours, with the case giving you two more charge cycles. The QuietComfort Earbuds II perform similarly here, lasting up to six hours as well. However, their charging case stores one more extra charge cycle, so they are upgraded in this area, albeit a minor one.
When it comes to charging, the QuietComfort Earbuds II take less time to get fully charged when placed inside their case. They only need one hour to get fully charged while the original QC Earbuds need two. Charging both cases requires three hours, so nothing’s changed there even though the case of the QC Earbuds II can store more charges. The quick-charge function is roughly the same on both units, with the QC Earbuds II giving you two hours of playback with a 20-minute quick charge and the QC Earbuds giving you the same two hours of playback with a 15-minute quick charge.
Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are improved in many areas, but they aren’t worth upgrading to if you still have a fully functioning pair of QuietComfort Earbuds and their size does not bother you.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
If you already own the original Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, we don’t really recommend upgrading to the new QuietComfort Earbuds II for the sake of getting an upgrade since they offer the same set of features. That is, unless, the size bothers you. If it does, then the QuietComfort Earbuds II are worth considering.
It’s a different story if you are looking to get a new pair of TWS earbuds. The improved shape and size of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are welcome changes that provide better fit and comfort, allowing you to use them for extended periods. They are also lighter, and the case is more travel-friendly. We highly recommend the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II if you are looking to get a new pair of TWS earbuds with excellent ANC.
FAQs
You can, if you sleep on your back or stomach. These earbuds stick out from your ears, so it’s pretty much impossible to sleep on your side while wearing them.
The QuietComfort Earbuds II have a battery life of up to six hours and the charging case gives you three additional charge cycles.
A single tap on either bud answers incoming calls while double tapping rejects it.
They have an IPX4 rating, so they are resistant to water and sweat. You can use them while working out.