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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Jun 12, 2023 at 11:42 am
Latest change: Writing modified Nov 06, 2023 at 02:15 pm
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless Picture
7.6
Neutral Sound
8.1
Commute/Travel
8.3
Sports/Fitness
7.3
Office
5.8
Wireless Gaming
5.7
Wired Gaming
6.2
Phone Calls
These headphones were replaced by the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are premium earbuds and are the previous generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. Like other products from Bose, they have a high-powered noise cancelling (ANC) system, which is great if you want to block out background noise on the go. This results in a bulkier and less comfortable design than other, more traditionally designed in-ears like the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless.

Our Verdict

7.6 Neutral Sound

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are good for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a neutral yet slightly bright sound profile that's versatile enough for different audio content. You can customize their sound to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. However, their passive soundstage is closed off, and sound seems to be coming from inside your head rather than from speakers around you.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and presets available.
  • Deliver consistent audio delivery.
Cons
  • Closed-off soundstage.
8.1 Commute/Travel

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are great for commuting and travel. These well-built headphones have a great ANC feature that helps to reduce bass-range noise like bus and plane engines. They're also comfortable enough to wear for long commutes to work, but their 7.3-hour battery life may not be sufficient if you're on a long-haul flight. Luckily, their carrying case holds two extra charges if needed. They're also portable and lightweight, making it easy to take them wherever you go.

Pros
  • Great noise isolation performance.
  • Graphic EQ and presets available.
Cons
  • Relatively bulky design for truly wireless earbuds.
8.3 Sports/Fitness

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are great for sports and fitness. Even though they're a bit bulky, they have a breathable and stable fit, thanks to their stability fin design, making them a suitable choice for running or working out. They're also well-built and are rated IPX4 for resistance against water splashes. They're decently comfortable too, but stick out of your ears a bit, which can be annoying if you want to wear a hat or headband.

Pros
  • Stable fit and great build quality.
  • Deliver consistent audio delivery.
Cons
  • Relatively bulky design for truly wireless earbuds.
7.3 Office

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are satisfactory for office use. While they're comfortable enough to wear throughout a workday, their continuous battery life may not be sufficient if you use them all day. That said, they have a great ANC feature that can help cut down ambient chatter around you, and they have a standby mode to help conserve battery life when not in use.

Pros
  • Great noise isolation performance.
  • Graphic EQ and presets available.
Cons
  • Relatively bulky design for truly wireless earbuds.
  • No multi-device pairing.
5.8 Wireless Gaming

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds aren't recommended for wireless gaming. While you can connect them to Bluetooth-enabled PCs, the latency will likely be too high for gaming. They also aren't compatible with Xbox or PlayStation consoles.

5.7 Wired Gaming

The Bose QuietComfort Buds are Bluetooth-only earbuds; you can't use them wired.

6.2 Phone Calls

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are mediocre for phone calls. The integrated mic's recording quality makes your voice sound thin and distorted. It also struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you. Thanks to the ANC system, you can focus on your call rather than the noise around you. The companion app also offers a 'Self Voice' feature to better hear yourself during a call.

Pros
  • Stable fit and great build quality.
Cons
  • Relatively bulky design for truly wireless earbuds.
  • 7.6 Neutral Sound
  • 8.1 Commute/Travel
  • 8.3 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.3 Office
  • 5.8 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.7 Wired Gaming
  • 6.2 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Nov 06, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless in Base/Dock.
  2. Updated Jun 12, 2023: We've updated this review's text to ensure it's still accurate and clear. There have been no changes in scoring.
  3. Updated Nov 23, 2022: We have added a comparion between these headphones and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless in Comparted To Other Headphones.
  4. Updated Jul 07, 2022: We've retested the headphones' noise isolation performance with firmware version 2.0.7-18347+fb87694.
  5. Updated Apr 26, 2022: We've retested these headphones using firmware update 2.0.7-18347+fb87694. This update added new controls such as track skipping that you can remap using the companion app. We've also received user reports that it can be hard to reach a specific volume as the volume level changes in big notches. We have added this information to the text as it can be frustrating to adjust the volume level to your preferences.
  6. Updated Dec 20, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  7. Updated Dec 02, 2021: Firmware update 2.0.7-18347+fb87694 has added a graphic EQ and presets to the companion app. It also replaced the adjustable ANC level with several different preset modes. We have also retested 'Audio While Charging'.
  8. Updated Sep 15, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  9. Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  10. Updated Mar 25, 2021: We've retested Noise Handling due to an issue with the mic's noise gate. We've also tested Breathability.
  11. Updated Jan 21, 2021: We changed the headphone type from 'In-Ear' to 'Earbud' and reran sound tests, which slightly changed the scoring of some of these boxes.
  12. Updated Nov 27, 2020: Review published.
  13. Updated Nov 20, 2020: Early access published.
  14. Updated Nov 13, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  15. Updated Nov 04, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  16. Updated Oct 07, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Bose QuietComfort buds come in two main color variants: 'Triple Black', and 'Soapstone'. There are also two limited edition colors available: 'Stone Blue', and 'Sandstone'. We tested the 'Soapstone' variant, and you can see our model's label here. We expect all color variants to perform similarly to our model.

If you encounter a different variant, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are premium truly wireless headphones with ANC and are the previous generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. While they have a bulky design, their ANC system can block out more mid-range and high-pitched noise than competitors like the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. They also have a fairly neutral sound profile and, like the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking.

Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds and in-ear headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the Bose have a more stable in-ear fit, a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise around you. However, the Sony have a better battery performance.

Beats Fit Pro True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Beats Fit Pro True Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, feel better built, and have a more stable in-ear fit. They can also isolate you from more ambient noise, have a better battery performance, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound to your liking. However, the Beats have an H1 chip for seamless pairing with other devices in your Apple ecosystem, and they support Spatial Audio with iOS devices for a more immersive audio experience.

Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless and the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer one over the other depending on your usage. The Apple headphones are more comfortable and have features like an H1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices and Spatial Audio on supported iOS devices. However, the Bose are slightly better balanced, their ANC blocks out a bit more noise across all frequencies, and their integrated mic has a better recording quality. The Bose also have a better companion app and a lower latency on iOS and Android, although some apps compensate for latency differently.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. While both buds have great noise isolation, 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. Their carrying case also 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.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either. The Bose have a much better noise isolation performance, especially with bass range sounds, making them a better choice for blocking out noise during your commute. They're also better built and have stability fins to help keep them in place. The Jabra have a much better overall mic performance and a more comprehensive, easier-to-use control scheme.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either. The Bose are better built, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out more bass-range noise. They also have a slightly better battery performance. However, the Anker are more comfortable and support multi-device pairing.

Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better headphones for mixed-use than the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless. The QuietComfort Earbuds are closed-back headphones with a more neutral sound profile and a great performing ANC feature. They have longer continuous battery life, and their integrated mic has a better recording quality. However, the SoundSport Free are semi-open headphones, which is nice if you want to stay alert while exercising outside, and they're more comfortable.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better for most purposes than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Bose have much better build quality, a longer continuous battery life, and a significantly better noise isolation performance. They have a more neutral sound profile, which some listeners may prefer, and their touch-sensitive controls are easier to use. However, the Samsung are more comfortable.

Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless and the Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless are similar headphones, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Jabra are more comfortable, and they leak less sound. However, the Bose are more stable, have a better noise isolation performance, and longer continuous battery life.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless have the edge over the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. While both headphones are well-built and decently comfortable, the Bose have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they have a more stable in-ear fit. They also have a better overall noise isolation performance. However, the Sennheiser stick out of your ears less.

Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless. The Bose have a significantly better ANC feature and have a better-balanced sound profile. Their fit is more stable too. However, the Sony have an auto-off timer.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either, depending on your usage. The Sony are over-ears with a much better noise isolation performance and have a longer continuous battery life. They also support multi-device pairing, and you can use them wired with their included audio cable. On the other hand, the Bose are much more portable in-ears with a much more stable fit and an IPX4 rating for water resistance.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless. The Bose are better-built, have more consistent audio reproduction, and their sound profile is better-balanced. They also have a better ANC system, leak less sound, and their integrated mic performs better overall. However, the Samsung have lower latency on iOS and Android devices.

Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless and the Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless have different strengths, and depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. The Bose have a more neutral sound profile, which some may prefer, and their ANC feature isolates you from much more noise. However, the Jabra are better built, support multi-device pairing, and have an IP55 dust and water resistance rating.

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless are better for most purposes than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. The Samsung have a much more comfortable fit, a longer continuous battery life, and a more neutral default sound profile, which some may prefer. Their app offers sound customization features, and they come with a more compact charging case. However, the Bose's ANC feature does a much better job blocking out ambient sound, especially bass-range noise like rumbling bus and plane engines. Their control scheme has more functions as well, including volume control.

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better than the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless for most purposes. The Bose have a longer continuous battery life and much better noise isolation, thanks to their ANC feature. Their mic has a better recording quality, and the headphones also have a more neutral sound profile that some may prefer. However, you may prefer the Apple's open design, which lets you hear your surroundings. Apple users may also prefer them because they have a few iOS-only features, like an Η1 chip for easier pairing.

Bose Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better headphones for most uses than the Bose Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless. The QuietComfort Earbuds have a better-balanced sound profile, a great ANC feature, and a better battery performance. However, the Sport are better for physical exercise as they're more comfortable and stable.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2. The Bose are more comfortable and stable. They have a more neutral sound profile, which some may prefer, and their ANC feature can reduce more noise than the Sennheiser. They also have a longer-lasting continuous battery life. However, the Sennheiser have a better overall mic performance.

Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better for most purposes than the Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless. The Bose headphones have an ANC feature with great performance, a more neutral sound profile, and a longer continuous battery life. They're also much more comfortable and stable. However, the Sony headphones are designed to let you hear your surroundings while you wear them, which some may prefer.

JBL Tour Pro+ TWS True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the JBL Tour Pro+ TWS True Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the Bose's ANC system does a significantly better job blocking out background noise, and they have longer continuous battery life. Some users also may prefer their sound profile's touch of extra bass. However, the JBL are more comfortable.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, stable, and have a better-balanced sound profile. They also have an ANC feature that significantly cuts down more ambient noise, and they have longer continuous battery life.

JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the JBL Live Free NC+ TWS True Wireless. The Bose are better-built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have longer continuous battery life. Their ANC also does a better job of blocking background noise around you. However, the JBL are more comfortable, and their companion app offers a parametric EQ and presets, which some users may prefer compared to the Bose's graphic EQ and presets.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Solo Pro Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, their ANC can block out more background noise, and they have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. However, the Beats have a better battery performance and an H1 chip, so you can seamlessly pair them with your Apple devices.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile that some users may prefer, and have a slightly better noise isolation performance. They also have better battery performance. However, the Bowers & Wilkins have a carrying case you can use as a wireless transmitter.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Earbuds
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are bulky, oval-shaped, truly wireless headphones. They're vertically oriented, which makes their design stand out from other truly wireless headphones. They're also quite large, so they're easily noticeable. They come in two permanent color variants: 'Triple Black' and 'Soapstone'. Two limited edition color variants are available: 'Stone Blue' and 'Sandstone'.

7.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.03 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

These buds are decently comfortable. They're lightweight, and the tips don't go too deep into your ears. The silicone stability fins also feel good and are flexible enough to fit comfortably in your ear. Unfortunately, the buds are a bit bulky and stick out, so they could get in the way if you're wearing a hat. If you want more comfortable headphones, check out the Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless or the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless.

7.2
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Okay
Feedback Okay
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control Presets
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

These buds have decent controls. There are touch-sensitive surfaces on both buds, and they're somewhat easy to use. However, there isn't audible feedback when adjusting the volume or playing and pausing audio. The volume controls also move in big increments, so it can be hard to reach a specific volume, and it can be tricky to register a touch slide to adjust the volume. On the upside, you can remap the following controls by touching and holding the left earbud: 'Hear Battery Life', 'Open Spotify', which opens the Spotify app if installed, 'Skip Forward', and 'Skip Backward'. However, you can't have the 'Skip Forward' and 'Skip Backward' controls active simultaneously.

On the left earbud:

  • Double-tap: Allows you to cycle between up to four ANC preset modes. By default, you have 'Quiet' mode, which is high noise cancelling, and 'Aware' mode, which allows you to hear your environment without pausing your audio. You can also customize this setting with up to four different preset modes in the companion app.

On the right earbud:

  • Double-tap: Plays and pauses audio. Also accepts or ends calls.
  • Swipe up: Raises the volume.
  • Swipe down: Lowers the volume.
  • Touch and hold: Activates voice assistant. Also declines calls. You can remap this control via the companion app to skip a track forward, skip a track backward, open Spotify, or hear how much battery life you have.

9.2
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 0.8 °C

These buds are very breathable. They don't trap much heat, and you won't feel a big difference in temperature or sweat more when wearing them while working out or running.

9.2
Design
Portability
L 2.0" (5.1 cm)
W 1.5" (3.8 cm)
H 1.0" (2.5 cm)
Volume 2.90 in³ (47.52 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

Despite their bulky and larger design than other in-ears like the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless, they're still very portable. They can fit into most pockets without an issue. Their carrying case will also fit into a larger pocket or bag.

7.5
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 3.5" (8.9 cm)
W 2.0" (5.1 cm)
H 1.4" (3.6 cm)
Volume 9.40 in³ (154.04 cm³)

These buds have a good carrying case. Although it's bulky in design, it feels sturdy and durable. It has a lock mechanism to help prevent the headphones from falling out when you're on the go. There are five LED lights to indicate the case's battery life, and there's a dedicated Bluetooth pairing button.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

These headphones have great build quality. They're mostly made of high-grade plastic and have a durable and sturdy design. They're also certified IPX4 for protection against splashes of water. Although their case is a bit bulky, it also feels dense. The headphones and case can survive accidental drops without taking too much damage.

8.0
Design
Stability

These buds have a very stable in-ear fit. Unlike the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless, they have stability wings to help keep them from moving around, making them well-suited for physical activity. However, they slightly stick out of the ear and can get hooked on something like a hat if you're wearing one.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Bose QuietComfort noise cancelling earbuds
  • 3x stability fins/tips
  • USB-A to USB-C charging cable
  • Carrying case
  • Manual

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
0.33 dB
Treble Amount
-1.28 dB

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds have a very neutral sound profile with just a touch of extra bass. However, the touch of extra high-mid and low-treble causes vocals and lead instruments to sound slightly harsh. On the upside, if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a 3-band graphic EQ as well as a few EQ presets to help you tweak their sound to suit your tastes.

9.4
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.13 dB

Like most in-ear headphones, they have fantastic frequency response consistency. Once you achieve a proper fit using the included stability tips, you'll experience consistent bass and treble delivery every time you use them.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
9.1
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.36 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
11.23 Hz
Low-Bass
1.88 dB
Mid-Bass
1.66 dB
High-Bass
0.3 dB

The bass accuracy is superb. The response is a touch overemphasized across the range and adds a bit more thump, punch, and boom to mixes. Still, it's fairly flat, which helps ensure a balanced mix. In songs like Hey Ya! by Outkast, the bubbly bassline in the chorus feels punchy and present but doesn't take over the track.

9.1
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.22 dB
Low-Mid
0.01 dB
Mid-Mid
-0.36 dB
High-Mid
1.49 dB

The mid accuracy is fantastic. The range is fairly flat and even, so vocals and lead instruments sound present and detailed. The high-mid has a small bump, making vocals and lead instruments sound slightly harsh.

8.1
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.91 dB
Low-Treble
1.69 dB
Mid-Treble
-0.87 dB
High-Treble
-6.21 dB

These buds have great treble accuracy. There's some overemphasis in the low-treble range, so vocals and lead instruments can sound slightly harsh. The dip in the mid-treble also slightly dulls sibilants like cymbals.

8.1
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.24 dB
Dips
0.78 dB

These headphones have great peaks and dips performance. A few minor peaks and dips indicate that the headphones control their sound profile well. There are a couple of tall peaks and dips, though. The left driver dips between the low to mid-mid, which thins out vocals and instruments, nudging them to the back of the mix. After this dip, the following peaks and dips affect both drivers similarly. The peak in the high-mid to low-treble harshens vocals and instruments while the dip in the low-treble veils these sounds. The following peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like cymbals piercing.

8.6
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.17
Weighted Phase Mismatch
11.15
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.53
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.2

Bose makes a lot of high-end products and usually ensures good quality control and ergonomics, which impact imaging. While imaging varies across units, our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched regarding group delay, ensuring tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. In addition, the L/R drivers are well-matched in amplitude and frequency response, which helps ensure a balanced and stable stereo image. That said, our unit has a large peak in the high-mid to mid-treble in phase response, which skews audio to the right and is noticeable with real-life content.

0.9
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
1.6
Acoustic Space Excitation
1.8

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds have a bad passive soundstage, but that's to be expected from in-ear headphones. Their design bypasses your outer ear, which needs to be activated by sound resonances to create an out-of-head soundstage. As a result, sound seems like it's coming from inside your head. Since they're also closed-back headphones, their soundstage doesn't sound as open or spacious as open-back headphones like the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No
8.2
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.167
WHD @ 100
0.092

These buds have a great weighted harmonic distortion performance. Although there are a couple of spikes in the treble range, all frequencies fall within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
1.0.7-9846+620b71c
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
High
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test these in-ears. Our results are only valid when using these settings.

Isolation
8.4
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-23.09 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-17.22 dB
Mid
-22.51 dB
Treble
-30.02 dB

These headphones have great noise isolation. Using firmware version 2.0.7-18347+fb87694 and their strongest ANC setting, they do a very good job cutting down bass-range noise like the rumble of bus and plane engines. They can also block out an impressive amount of mid-range sound, like ambient chatter, and high-pitched noise, like the hum of an AC unit. You can see the originally published results using version 1.0.7-9846+620b71c here too. While the score didn't change between firmware updates, the results show that the ANC is slightly less effective at blocking out bass-range noise after the firmware update but more effective at isolating against mid-range noise.

You can adjust the level of ANC by selecting one of the ten different preset modes in the companion app. Two modes, 'Quiet' and 'Aware', are the default settings you can cycle through when double-tapping the left earbud. However, you can add up to four different presets to this command if you prefer other amounts of noise isolation.

8.4
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
30.95 dB

The leakage performance is great. Most of the leakage is concentrated between the mid to treble range, and escaping audio sounds thin. If you're listening to audio at high volumes, you won't bother people around you.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
6.5
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
184.86 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
6.89 dB
HFE
7,782.91 Hz
Weighted THD
1.863
Gain
9.2 dB

The integrated mic's recording quality is just okay. Your voice sounds bright, although a little static-like and unnatural. If you're looking for truly wireless headphones with a better mic recording quality, try the Amazon Echo Buds True Wireless 2021 (2nd generation) or the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless.

4.3
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
12.18 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
4.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
4.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The mic's noise handling performance is poor. Your voice is easily drowned out by moderate ambient noise around you. If you're taking a call from a loud place like a busy street, whoever you're talking to will have issues hearing you clearly.

Active Features
7.1
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
7.3 hrs
Additional Charges
2.0
Total Battery Life
21.9 hrs
Charge Time
1.5 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Standby mode
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port USB-C

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds have a satisfactory battery performance. Although the manufacturer advertises them as having six hours of continuous playtime, we measured over seven hours, which is roughly on par with other truly wireless headphones with an ANC system like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless. Battery life varies depending on use, though. Luckily, the buds go into standby mode when you remove the earbuds from your ears to help conserve battery life. The carrying case also comes with two additional charges, which will help when you're on the go. You can even use one bud while the other charges, but it's a little more complicated: if you want to use the right earbud, the left bud must be in the case while the lid is closed. Conversely, to only use the left earbud, the right earbud needs to be in the charging case with the lid open.

8.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Bose Music
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
ANC Control
Presets
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
Yes
Button Mapping Yes
Surround Support
No

Bose Music is a great companion app. It offers a 3-band graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. You can see the battery and volume level and set particular commands like play and pause to automatically trigger, depending on whether the earbud detects your ear. It offers ANC controls, and you can select up to four preset ANC modes from their ten different options. These modes are designed with varying usages in mind, like 'Relax' or 'Run'. By default, you have 'Quiet' and 'Aware' modes as two of the preset modes. You can also select up to four preset modes to suit your needs better. In addition, a 'self voice' feedback feature allows you to hear your voice during a call.

Connectivity
7.1
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.1
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
219.00 ft (66.75 m)
PC Latency (SBC)
172 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
38 ms
Android Latency
81 ms

These buds have satisfactory Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, they don't support multi-device pairing, so you can't stay connected to your smartphone and laptop simultaneously. Their PC latency is also somewhat high, and you may notice slight syncing issues between your audio and visuals. On the upside, they have low latency on iOS and Android devices, making them suitable for streaming video. That said, some apps and devices compensate for latency.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency
N/A

You can't use the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds wired. They come with a USB-A to USB-C cable to charge their carrying case.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones can wirelessly connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full mic and audio compatibility. However, you can't connect them to PCs in any other way.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
2.2
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Charging Case
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
Yes
Power Supply
USB-C

These buds have a charging case that holds two additional charges. It only has one USB-A to USB-C charging cable input. Still, unlike with the more recent Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless, you can also recharge it wirelessly via Qi-enabled chargers.