Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs AirPods Pro (2021): Are Bose’s ANC Earbuds Better?

Bose may have been late to the ANC earbuds game, but they didn’t disappoint with the release of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. How do they stack against one of the best-rated and practical ANC earbuds, the AirPods Pro? We take a deep dive into the noise cancellation, audio quality, and features of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and AirPods Pro to find out which pair is better for you.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs AirPods Pro Comparison Chart

Model	Bose QuietComfort Earbuds	AirPods Pro
	Amazon product	Deal Finder Apple AirPods Pro The Apple AirPods Pro boast impressive noise-canceling, seamless connectivity, responsive touch controls, and long-lasting battery life. If you need to hear your surroundings, holding the sensor in the AirPods Pros will activate Transparency Mode. Check Price at Amazon Check Price at Verizon We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission.
Price	Amazon product	Deal Finder Apple AirPods Pro The Apple AirPods Pro boast impressive noise-canceling, seamless connectivity, responsive touch controls, and long-lasting battery life. If you need to hear your surroundings, holding the sensor in the AirPods Pros will activate Transparency Mode. Check Price at Amazon Check Price at Verizon We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission.
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes	Yes
ANC Levels	10	3
Earbud Battery Life	ANC on: Up to 6 hours	ANC on: Up to 4.5 hours
Charging Case	Up to 12 hours	Up to 20 hours
Quick Charging	15 minutes for up to 2 hours	5 minutes for 1 hour of runtime
Bluetooth	5.1	5.0
Multi-Point Connection	No	Yes
Audio Codecs	SBC, AAC	SBC, AAC
Sweat and Water Resistant (IPX4)	Yes	Yes
Touch Controls	Yes	Yes
Companion App	Bose Music	N/A
Earbud Size and Weight	1.5″ x 1″ x 1.1″, 8.5 g	0.94″ x 0.86″ x 1.22″, 5.4 g
Charging Case Dimensions	3.5″ x 2″ x 1.3″	1.78″ x 0.85″ x 2.39″
Color Options	Triple Black, Soapstone	White

Design

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are bulkier than the AirPods Pro

One of the gripes about the Bose SoundSport Free earbuds is their bulk, and Bose tried to address this with the slimmer QuietComfort Earbuds and charging case. Compared to the AirPods Pros, however, they are still bulky. Their charging case is also much bigger and won’t fit inside most pockets, unlike the smaller charging case of the Apple earbuds.

Apart from their noticeably different designs, their ear tips are different, too. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds have cone-like soft ear tips while the AirPods Pros’ are rounder. Bose’s new noise-canceling earbuds are still equipped with the ear tips wings that help keep them secure in your ears, similar to the older wireless earbuds models. In terms of comfort, both are comfortable, but the AirPods Pros are lighter than the Bose.

Noise Cancellation

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds deliver the best noise cancellation

Bose’s line of noise-canceling over-ear headphones are among the best in the industry, and the noise-cancellation of the tinier QuietComfort Earbuds’ is also topnotch. While the Apple AirPods Pro can cancel out most ambient sounds just fine, they struggle with canceling out high-frequency noise. With the Bose, you won’t hear traffic and wind noise if the ANC mode is on.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds also edge out the AirPods Pros when it comes to call quality. You can still hear your voice while talking on the phone so you won’t feel the need to raise your voice when talking. With the Bose, your voice sounds clearer and your background sound cannot be heard by the person on the other line.

Sound Quality

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds sound better than the AirPods Pro

While the Apple AirPods Pro may deliver great audio quality, they simply pale in comparison to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds’. The Bose’s QC earbuds deliver clear and undistorted mid-range and deep bass that won’t cause listening fatigue. In a nutshell, you’ll get a different level of listening experience with the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. If you prefer deeper bass than the Bose’s default setting, you can customize their EQ on the Bose Music App.

Both noise-canceling earbuds have low to no audio latency and support SBC and AAC codecs. There won’t be issues if you like using your earbuds to watch YouTube videos or stream movies online.

Additional Features

Both are IPX4-rated and have long battery life

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and the AirPods Pro have an IPX4 rating, which means they can withstand sweat, splashes, and spills here and there. You can use them when running outdoors or under the rain without issues. However, they are not recommended for swimming, diving, or other aquatic sports.

In terms of overall battery life, the Bose earbuds have longer runtime with ANC on, but the AirPods Pro’s charging case adds longer battery life. On a single charge, the AirPods Pro can deliver up to 4.5 hours of playtime with ANC on. Their wireless charging case can add an additional 20 hours of battery life. Meanwhile, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds have a runtime of up to six hours, while their charging case can add up to 12 hours more.

If you’re in a rush, charging the Bose for 15 minutes will give the earbuds two hours of extra battery life, while the AirPods Pros can give you an hour of extra juice with a quick 5-minute charge.

Verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds blow the AirPods Pro out of the water

Without a doubt, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are superior to the AirPods Pros where it matters: noise cancellation and audio quality. That is not to say that the AirPods Pros are a terrible choice. They remain a great pair of noise-canceling earbuds, and if you want to save a little, the AirPods Pros are actually an excellent choice. However, if you’re after a better listening experience and topnotch audio and call quality, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds suit you better.

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