Until now, Bose has offered its “regular” QuietComfort Earbuds in two versions: one for 2020 and one for 2022. The company introduced the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds last year, unveiling an approach to spatial audio that doesn’t rely on carefully recorded content. Now, Bose is returning to the “regular” model with a new version of the QuietComfort Earbuds. This is actually the company’s fourth noise-canceling wireless earbuds, but the new QC Earbuds offer a much more affordable entry-level option than the premium Ultra.
Bose says the new QuietComfort Earbuds are designed for “everyday use.” There’s a collection of ear tips and stabilizing bands to help you find the perfect fit, and the IPX4 rating should be enough to withstand sweaty workouts. The outer panel has a revised shape that makes them more similar to older models of Bose earbuds than their more recent offerings.
The company says the earbuds offer “best-in-class” active noise cancellation (ANC) and “satisfyingly rich” sound. Each earbud has ANC and three microphones for voice pickup, making the latest QuietComfort model a good choice for calls. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity is also on the specs, and Bose promises a wireless range of up to 30 feet.
Bose
Bose has increased the battery life of the QC Earbuds II from six to eight and a half hours with this new version, plus the case holds an additional two and a half charges – you can get three hours of use in 20 minutes, and it takes 90 minutes to fully charge.
The QuietComfort Earbuds work with the Bose QC Earbuds app for functionality and customization. The app lets you reconfigure the onboard tap controls on each earbud, allowing you to toggle the ANC setting between Quiet, Aware (transparent mode) and Off. A Voice ID tool lets you fine-tune the “performance and accuracy” of the QC Earbuds, and a five-band adjustable EQ offers flexibility in tuning. Bose also includes a Remote Selfie feature that lets you use the earbuds as a remote camera trigger. Plus, there’s a low-latency audio mode for gaming and a battery prediction tool to track power consumption.
The new QuietComfort Earbuds are available in black, white, and purple color options and are available today for $179, which is $100 less than the previous two QC Earbuds models and $120 less than the QC Ultra Earbuds. While this new model isn’t exactly a budget choice, the price makes it much more attractive than the company’s current $299 flagship set.
