The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. You'll want to check these buds out if you value noise isolation. Like their predecessor, Bose outperforms competitors like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless and Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 when it comes to blocking out background noise, thanks to their active noise cancelling (ANC) system. Bose has changed the buds' design, making them less bulky and more customizable, improving their overall comfort and fit. They're also the first to feature Bose's CustomTune technology, which calibrates their sound profile and ANC based on your ear shape.
The Bose QuietComfort 2 are satisfactory for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a more bass-heavy sound than our test rig measures due to the shape of our rig's ear canals. However, the added bass subjectively muddies and clutters vocals and instruments. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust them. They're in-ear headphones, and their passive soundstage isn't very immersive due to their design.
The Bose QuietComfort II are excellent for commute and travel. These well-built buds have a powerful ANC system, which can easily block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines as well as passenger chit-chat. They also have a comfortable fit and are very portable, thanks to their small and lightweight design. They have over six and a half hours of continuous battery life, and their carrying case supplies an additional three charges if you need it.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are great for sports and fitness. These buds have a well-built, comfortable, and stable design that won't fall out of your ear during tough workouts. They're also certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes. Their wireless design also ensures that nothing snags the buds and pulls them out of your ears.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are good for office use. They have a comfortable fit for long days at the office, and their ANC easily tackles office chatter so that you can focus on your work. While their 6.7-hour continuous battery life may not last the whole day, their carrying case supplies an additional three charges, which is handy in a pinch.
The Bose QuietComfort 2 are Bluetooth headphones and aren't designed for wireless gaming. Their latency is also too high for gaming, as your audio and visuals won't be in sync.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are Bluetooth-only headphones; you can't use them wired.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are passable for phone calls. These buds have an integrated mic, and it does an okay job of capturing your voice as speech sounds a bit boxy, like you're talking from farther away than you are. The mic also has difficulty separating speech from ambient noise, and background noise can easily drown out your voice. However, if you want to tune out the outside world, the ANC does a fantastic job of reducing sound around you.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II come in three color variations: 'Triple Black' , 'Eclipse Grey' and 'Soapstone', as well as a 'Midnight Blue' color variation that has since been discontinued. We tested the 'Triple Black' variant; you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. Their ANC blocks out significantly more ambient noise than their competitors like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, which are among the best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested, and it's on par with their successor, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. They're much more comfortable than their predecessor, thanks to the new design, which is less bulky and has ear tips and stability fins as separate attachments, allowing you to customize their fit.
If you're looking for more recommendations, check out our picks for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are both great pairs of in-ears. The Bose are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more background noise in the bass to mid ranges, where you'll find the rumble of bus engines and ambient chatter, respectively. In comparison, the Sony headphones have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have more robust sound customization features. They have longer battery life and support multi-device pairing and LDAC, which is Sony's proprietary codec for hi-res audio streaming via Bluetooth. Their ANC also blocks out significantly more ambient sound in the treble range, where you'll find noise like the hum of an AC unit.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, although it's still bass-heavy, and their ANC blocks out significantly more ambient noise. However, the Sony headphones have better build quality, and their continuous battery life is longer too.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. The Bose are more comfortable, and their ANC system can block out significantly more ambient sound. However, the Sennheiser are better-built and have better overall battery life.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are both great in-ears with different strengths. The Bose are more comfortable in-ears, and their ANC system is significantly better. Their companion app also offers graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound to your liking. However, the Apple headphones are well-designed for Apple users. They have a more premium feel, have an H2 chip for seamless pairing with other iOS devices, and support Spatial Audio. They also have a slightly more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer,
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. The successor's design has changed, and now the buds have separate fins and ear tips to help you get the best fit, making them a lot more comfortable. They also have significantly better ANC, and their carrying case holds an additional charge than their predecessor. However, the original gen have better build quality and feel less plasticky. They also have a more neutral sound, which some users may prefer.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Beats Fit Pro True Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, have a significantly better noise isolation performance, and their continuous battery life is better. They also have sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes. That said, you may still prefer the Beats if you're an iOS user. They have an H1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices and support Apple's Spatial Audio for a more immersive sound.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless. While both in-ears are well-built, the Bose are more comfortable and have a significantly better noise isolation performance, which is great for noisy offices or commutes. However, the Jabra have a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their battery performance is better too. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them with up to two devices simultaneously.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. That said, the differences between them are fairly minimal. Both buds share a similar sound profile that you can further tweak via the Bose Music app, and they're both equipped with Bose's superb ANC technology. The QuietComfort Ultra are equipped with Bose's new Immersive Audio feature, though, which can help offset the poor passive soundstage performance that's commonplace with in-ear designs.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. While both buds are well-built, the Bose are significantly more comfortable, have a better battery performance, and their ANC can block out a superior amount of ambient sound. However, the Google headphones support multi-device pairing with up to two devices at a time.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are slightly better earbuds than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, and are more customizable, thanks to their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They're also able to block out significantly more background noise and their battery performance is significantly better too. However, the Bowers & Wilkins are better-built, support aptX Adaptive codec for streaming high-quality audio and lowering latency, and their carrying case can be used as a wireless transmitter.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and the Denon PerL Pro True Wireless have different strengths. The Bose are much better for commuting, traveling, or if noise isolation is your priority, thanks to their significantly better ANC performance. You can also set their ANC system to different modes to suit the situation. However, the Denon headphones are better if you're looking for the best sound quality from your earbuds. They can stream higher-resolution audio via the aptX Lossless codec and support Spatial Audio, a virtual surround sound feature. You can use their app to create a personalized EQ based on a hearing test.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better earbuds than the Status Between Pro True Wireless. Although more expensive, the Bose have a powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) as well as a companion app with graphic EQ and presets, neither of which are offered with the Status buds. However, the Status have a longer continuous battery life.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have a sleeker and more refined look than their predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. They're a lot smaller and have a stem design. The manufacturer's label is on the outward-facing side. Unlike other Bose earbuds, the stability fins and ear tips are separate pieces instead of one unit, which makes it easy to swap out if you prefer a different fit. They come in three color variants: 'Triple Black', 'Eclipse Grey' and 'Soapstone', as well as the now-discontinued 'Midnight Blue'.
These buds are very comfortable. Compared to their predecessor, they're less bulky and don't go as deeply into your ears. The stability fins also feel softer on the skin, and since they're now independent from the ear tip, it's easier to ensure a comfortable fit. The buds don't put much pressure on the ear and feel lightweight. They don't pop out of your ear over time like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless either.
These headphones have good controls. There's a touch-sensitive surface on each bud, which is easy to use and has good sensitivity. You can use either bud for controls, but there's no audio feedback to let you know when you've registered a command. You can also accidentally switch between ANC modes if you adjust the buds using the stem.
On either bud:
Like most in-ears, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are very portable and can easily fit into most pockets or bags without an issue. However, the case is much bulkier (and heavier) than other truly wireless headphones like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II come with a good carrying case. It's mostly made of plastic, but it feels better quality than the first generation. The lid feels flimsy compared to the rest of the case, and there's no locking mechanism, so it's easy to open the lid by accident. A single LED light indicator lets you know when the buds are charging. The back of the case also has a Bluetooth pairing button that's slightly indented. Unfortunately, the case doesn't support wireless charging, which is a step down from their predecessor.
These buds have a good build quality but don't feel as premium as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. They're mostly made of glossy plastic, except for the touch-sensitive surface on the stems, but it feels cheap. The case is also made of plastic and is a little flimsy. The fins and tips are also thinner and seem prone to tearing due to the thin area where they lock onto your ears. They're certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes, though.
After firmware update 1.3.26+g1226f68, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have a more bass-heavy sound profile than we originally measured. You can see a comparison between the original frequency response and our new pass here. However, even though we tried to achieve the best seal using our testing rig, we still subjectively heard more bass from the buds than our graph indicates. It's due to the shape of our test rig's ear canals, which can't capture what we hear subjectively.
Overall, if you like genres like EDM and hip-hop, you'll like the extra thump, punch, and boom, but they don't sound that neutral. Vocals are particularly muddy and cluttered in mixes. Luckily, if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you further customize their sound. It's also worth noting that these buds use the manufacturer's CustomTune technology to adapt the sound profile over time to the shape of your ear canals.
After firmware update 1.3.26+g1226f68, these buds produce more bass than our graph indicates. It's due to the shape of our test rig's ear canals, and subjectively, you can expect more thump, punch, and boom in mixes. While the extra bass is well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop, it also muddies and clutters vocals and instruments.
The mid response is more uneven after firmware update 1.3.26+g1226f68 than when it was first released. Unfortunately, our test rig can't adequately capture the amount of bass produced by these buds due to the shape of our rig's ear canals. Subjectively, this extra bass extends into the low-mid and muddies vocals and instruments. A dip in the mid to high-mid also nudges these sounds to the back of the mix and weakens them. In songs like I'm Good (Blue) by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, the female vocals and piano are muddied by the bassline and sound distant.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have excellent treble accuracy. The treble response is a little tilted, resulting in detailed vocals and instruments. Sibilants are also present but not overly bright. In songs like Miss You by Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz, the high-pitched vocals in the chorus sound crisp without being piercing.
The peaks and dips performance is decent and they follow their own sound profile for the most part. There's a small peak in the low-bass, which adds extra thump and rumble to your mixes. A dip in the high-mid affects the right driver more prominently, weakening vocals and instruments. A couple of peaks in the low to mid-treble make the upper harmonics of vocals and instruments sound harsh while sibilants like S and T sounds are piercing.
The imaging performance is excellent. Bose has good quality control with their products, and their headphones usually have well-matched drivers. Our unit's L/R drivers are also well-matched in group delay, phase, amplitude, and frequency response. Although there's a bump in our unit's phase response, it's a very small area and can be hard to hear with real-life content. Audio becomes louder in the left driver in the mid-mids and louder in the right driver afterward. However, imaging varies depending on the manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics.
The passive soundstage performance is bad, which is normal for in-ears. To create an immersive soundstage, your outer ear has to be activated by sound. However, in-ears bypass your outer ear. This results in a soundstage that feels small, unnatural, and as if sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you.
These are the settings used to test these headphones; our results are only valid in this configuration.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's noise isolation performance is fantastic. They can block out a significant amount of ambient noise, especially compared to their predecessor or their competitors like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. Subjectively, the ANC performance is on par with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, likely because they both feature CustomTune technology, which adapts the ANC depending on your ear shape and the environment around you. Overall, they're well-suited to reducing a wide variety of external noises, from low engine rumbles to ambient chatter and the high-pitched hum of AC units.
The mic's noise handling performance is poor. The mic sits far away from your mouth, so it has difficulty capturing your voice clearly, especially in noisy environments like a busy office. That said, if you're talking in a quieter environment, like at home, you won't have problems being heard clearly.
The Bose QuietComfort II's battery performance is decent. Like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless, the manufacturer advertises them to last six hours continuously, and we measured over that. However, battery life can vary depending on use. Luckily, the carrying case holds three additional charges, which is handy in a pinch. Firmware update 1.3.26+g1226f68 also added single bud listening, so you can use either bud while the other one charges in the carrying case. If you're looking for in-ears with a longer continuous battery life, check out the Status Between Pro True Wireless or the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless.
The Bose Music app is great. It's pretty simple to use and offers a lot of features. You can see a video of the app in use here. You can check the battery level, adjust volume, and remap controls. You can also select different modes, which you can then set to a custom amount of ANC, which is handy if you prefer more or less noise isolation depending on your activity or location. To ensure you get a good fit, there's an ear tip fit test, and there's a graphic EQ as well as presets to help you adjust their sound.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 offer good Bluetooth connectivity. For high-end buds, they don't support multi-device pairing or have quick pairing features. They also don't currently support any high-resolution audio codecs, like LDAC. They support AAC and SBC codecs, but SBC has high latency, so your audio and visuals won't be in sync if you're streaming video. Latency can vary depending on the app and device you're using, though.
These earbuds can connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full audio and mic compatibility. However, this is the only way to connect these headphones to your PC.
These headphones come with a carrying case with a USB-C port for charging their case. Unlike their predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless, you can't charge the case wirelessly, but it can hold a whole extra charge.