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Bose Sleepbuds 2 vs QuietOn Sleep (2021): Which Earplugs Should You Get?

If you’re one of the many that easily get distracted by any type of noise while you sleep, then buying a pair of earplugs might just be one of the best investments that you can make. After all, sleeping is a necessity and everyone should be getting enough of it. That said, here are two of the most popular earplugs out right now—the Bose Sleepbuds 2 and the QuietOn Sleep. While they make use of different methods for noise reduction, they essentially offer the same benefit. Which one is better though? To help you decide, here is a comparison between the two.

Bose Sleepbuds 2 vs QuietOn Sleep Comparison Chart

EarplugsBose Sleepbuds 2 QuietOn Sleep
 Amazon productAmazon product
PriceAmazon productAmazon product
Ear TipsProprietary SiliconeMemory Foam
Noise Reduction Noise MaskingActive Noise Cancelling
Companion AppBose SleepNone
AlarmYesNo
TimerYesNo
CaseCharging Case w/ Built-in BatteryCharging Case
Charging Time3 hours1 hour
Battery Life10 hours20 hours
Case Battery LifeUp to 30 hoursN/A
CableUSB-CMicro USB
Money Back90 days14 days
Warranty2 years1 year

Design and Comfort

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 is more compact than the QuietOn Sleep.

A look at the Bose Sleepbuds 2 (left) and the QuietOn Sleep (right).

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 and the QuietOn Sleep earplugs both feature an in-ear form factor that are very similar to your typical wireless earbuds. They have this form factor so that they can fully seal your ear canals while you sleep. This seal helps their effectiveness in reducing noise while you sleep.

Size-wise, the QuietOn Sleep is bulkier than the Bose Sleepbuds 2. Due to its smaller size, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 is more comfortable for most users, especially those that sleep on their sides since the body of the earplugs will not protrude from your ears.

The eartips that come with the Bose Sleepbuds 2 are proprietary silicone tips, while the QuietOn Sleep ships with memory foam tips. Both come with three pairs of tips with different sizes, so there is a pair of tips that will fit you regardless of the size of your ear canals.

The charging cases that come with both earplugs offer very different functions. For the Bose Sleepbuds 2, the case comes with a built-in battery that can hold extra charges. For the QuietOn Sleep, the case is only used for storing and charging the earplugs, it doesn’t come with a built-in battery. The Bose Sleepbuds 2 case is about double the size of the QuietOn Sleep case.

Performance

Both are effective at noise masking and cancellation.

Both earplugs while in use.

When it comes to noise reduction, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 makes use of noise-masking, while the QuietOn Sleep employs active noise cancellation. Both of these earplugs do a very good job of reducing noise when it comes time to sleep. Choosing one will boil down to what your preferred method of noise reduction is.

Bose’s noise masking method lets you listen to different types of sounds to mask outside noise. You can choose the type of sound that you want to hear via their app. The selection includes several white noises and more.

As for the QuietOn Sleep earplug, they function just like most ANC earbuds out there. They will pick up a sound frequency and produce sound that is opposite that frequency to cancel it out. This is an effective way to reduce outside noise, especially low frequency noise.

Comfort-wise, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 is smaller and more compact than the QuietOn Sleep. It won’t protrude from your ears, unlike the QuietOn Sleep, which is bulkier. For side sleepers and people with smaller ear canals, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 is more comfortable to wear while sleeping.

Features

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 comes with additional features such as an alarm function.

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 (left) comes with proprietary silicone tips while the QuietOn Sleep (right) uses memory foam tips.

Features-wise, the Bose Sleepbuds 2 offers more than the QuietOn Sleep. In fact, the QuietOn Sleep is pretty barebones when it comes to features as it only offers active noise cancelling and nothing more. It’s one of the reasons why it is much less expensive than the Bose Sleepbuds 2.

As for the Bose Sleepbuds 2, it comes with a companion app called the Bose Sleep app. Since it is a pair of noise-masking earplugs, it needs sound to mask outside noise. This is where the Bose Sleep app comes in. Within the app is a selection of 40+ sounds that include nature sounds, tranquil sounds, white noises and more. You can download all the sounds that you want onto the app and easily cycle through them before you sleep.

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 also comes with an alarm function that will only be heard on your earbuds. You can set the alarm using the app and when it’s time to get up, only you will be able to hear it. Also, the app also allows you to set a timer for when you want the sound to stop, to conserve battery.

Warranty period for the Bose Sleepbuds 2 is two years, along with a 90 day return window if you’re not satisfied with the product. On the other hand, the QuietOn Sleep has a one year warranty and a 14 day return window.

Battery Life

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 has a 10-hour battery life while the QuietOn Sleep can last up to 20 hours.

The charging case of the Bose Sleepbuds 2 (left) has an LED indicator for how much battery life is left.

To charge both earplugs, you need to place them inside the case. The case of the Bose Sleepbuds 2 comes with a built-in battery that can provide 30 hours of battery life. It also comes with an LED indicator to let you know how much battery life is left and if the earplugs are currently charging. The battery life for the earplugs is 10 hours. To fully charge the case, you’ll need to charge it for 6 hours. It comes with a fairly long USB-C cable.

In contrast, the case of the QuietOn Sleep does not have a built-in battery. Its purpose is only for storing and charging the earplugs themselves. The QuietOn Sleep can last up to 20 hours on a 1 hour charge. It comes with a fairly short and almost useless micro USB cable.

Verdict

The Bose Sleepbuds 2 is more comfortable and offers more features than the QuietOn Sleep.

Amazon product

Both of these earplugs are very effective when it comes to noise reduction. However, we found the Bose Sleepbuds 2 to be the overall better product simply because it is more comfortable and we recommend it over the QuietOn Sleep. Since it is smaller, it won’t protrude from your ears, allowing you to sleep comfortably. In addition, it also has a useful alarm function on the earplugs themselves. Furthermore, the case comes with a built-in battery that can hold up to 30 hours of charge, which is very convenient. The only downside to the Bose Sleepbuds 2 is its steep pricing.

On the other hand, the QuietOn Sleep is a bit bulky, so people that sleep on their sides might experience discomfort or pain. For back and stomach sleepers, this won’t be a problem. The QuietOn Sleep is great for people that want a pair of noise-cancelling earplugs at a reasonable price.

FAQs

๐Ÿ“Œ Are the Bose Sleepbuds 2 worth it?

Yes, if you are sensitive to noise and you want to get quality sleep, then the Bose Sleepbuds 2 is worth. Although it is a bit expensive, it makes up for it by being one of the most comfortable earplugs in the market.

๐Ÿ“Œ Can the Bose Sleepbuds 2 play music?

No, it can only play sounds that are available on the Bose Sleep app.

๐Ÿ“Œ Are the QuietOn Sleep earplugs any good?

Yes, these earplugs will effectively cancel noise with its active noise cancelling feature. However, it is a bit bulky so people with smaller ears might suffer from discomfort for the first few nights.

๐Ÿ“Œ How do you use the QuietOn Sleep?

Once you take them off the case, they automatically turn on. All you have to do is to firmly push both earplugs into your ears and you’re good. Upon waking up, you can place them inside the charger and they will automatically turn off.

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Carlo Salvador

Senior Editor at Compare Before Buying. Writer and researcher passionate about fitness, gaming and music.