Why you should trust this review
I have been reviewing audio gear for 14 years across Engadget and What Hi-Fi, with a particular focus on noise cancellation since 2018. For this review I purchased the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II at $199 in December 2025 (Bose did not provide a sample). Across 4 months I logged roughly 140 hours of use, including a 12-hour LAX to NRT flight, daily New York City subway commutes, and our acoustic lab.
I tested the QC Earbuds II directly against the AirPods Pro 3 and the Sony WF-1000XM5, all on identical source files (Apple Music Lossless on iPhone 16 Pro, Tidal Master on a 13-inch MacBook Pro). Every measurement was verified on our test bench.
How we tested the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Our in-ear protocol runs a minimum of 30 days. For the QC Earbuds II we extended that to 122 days. Specifically:
- ANC attenuation, calibrated dB meter at six standardized frequencies (50 Hz, 100 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 5 kHz, 10 kHz). Each bud measured against silence and a flat reference plug.
- Battery life, podcast plus music mix at 50 percent volume on AAC, ANC on, until shutdown. Repeated 3 times.
- Fit kit characterization, weighed each tip and stability band, measured insertion depth across 9 ears.
- Call quality, outgoing voice graded across 5 environments against a Shure SM7B control track.
- Sound quality, blind A/B against the AirPods Pro 3 and Sony WF-1000XM5 on 20 reference tracks.
Full protocol on our methodology page.
Who should buy the Bose QC Earbuds II?
Buy these if you:
- Want the absolute strongest ANC in an in-ear and your top use case is flights, trains, or open-plan offices.
- Have struggled with fit on other earbuds. The Fit Kit’s nine combinations have seated every ear we have tested.
- Have a hard $200 ceiling. At the launch $279 these were a tougher value, at $199 the math works.
Skip these if you:
- Need long single-charge battery. The Sony WF-1000XM5 has 90 minutes more in our tests.
- Live on iOS and want seamless device switching. The AirPods Pro 3 handle this far better.
- Want fine-grained EQ. Bose Music gives you a 3-band slider, that is it.
- Want LDAC or aptX Adaptive on Android.
Noise cancellation: the new low-frequency benchmark
In our calibrated lab tests, the QC Earbuds II averaged 34 dB of attenuation across six frequencies. That is the strongest in-ear ANC we have measured in 2026. The advantage is biggest where it matters most for travel: at 100 Hz (cabin drone band) we saw 41 dB of attenuation, against 38 dB for the AirPods Pro 3 and 36 dB for the Sony WF-1000XM5.
Real-world performance tracks the lab. On the LAX to NRT leg, the cabin drone effectively disappears with the QC Earbuds II at 50 percent volume. The Apple Pro 3 felt slightly clearer above 1 kHz, but the Bose felt flatly quieter overall. If your priority is “remove engine noise on a plane”, the QC Earbuds II is the buy.
CustomTune (the brief swept-tone you hear when you put them in) actually does something. We A/B compared a fresh fit calibration against an old one after the same buds had been worn by a different head shape, the recalibration improved low-band attenuation by roughly 2 dB.
Battery life: the weakest spec
Bose rates the buds at 6 hours with ANC on. In our test (50 percent volume, AAC, ANC on) we measured 5 hours and 48 minutes across three runs. That is the shortest single-charge runtime in this group, behind the AirPods Pro 3 (6:18) and well behind the Sony WF-1000XM5 (7:24).
For a daily commute under 90 minutes you will barely notice. For a long flight or back-to-back travel days, you will be docking and recharging during layovers. Quick charge (20 minutes for 2 hours of playback) helps but does not erase the gap.
Comfort and fit: best in class
Bose ships three sizes of silicone tips and three sizes of stability bands. With nine combinations, every one of our 9 fit-test panelists found a seal that held through head-shake and 5-minute treadmill drills. The Sony and Apple kits failed to seat 1 panelist each.
At 6.2 g per bud, the QC Earbuds II are heavier than the AirPods Pro 3 (5.4 g) and the Sony WF-1000XM5 (5.9 g). The weight is forward in the canal rather than dangling, so it never felt loose. Across an 8-hour wear test, the Bose were tied with the Apple for “still comfortable past hour 6”.
Sound quality: pleasant, not class-leading
The QC Earbuds II tune toward a warm, slightly bass-forward signature similar to the Sony WF-1000XM5 but with less treble extension. In blind A/B with the Sony WF-1000XM5, 6 of 10 of our editorial panel preferred the Sony for detail. Against the AirPods Pro 3, 6 of 10 preferred the Apple for clarity on podcasts and acoustic material.
The Bose Music app’s 3-band EQ (bass, mid, treble) is functional but feels generations behind Sony’s parametric. After 4 months, my daily preset is bass minus 1, mid 0, treble plus 1, which gives a flatter response than the default tuning.
Call quality: solid, not exceptional
In our 5-environment call test, the QC Earbuds II placed in the top 3 of every category but did not win any. The Apple Pro 3 won the gym and cafe categories. The Sony WF-1000XM5 won the windy outdoor category. The Bose handled the quiet office and car interior cleanly.
If you take a lot of calls in mixed environments, the Apple is the safer pick. If quiet for music and travel is the priority, the Bose is the right call.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | ANC | Battery | Weight | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | ★★★★★ 4.5 | 34 dB | 5:48 | 6.2g | $199 | Best for ANC |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | ★★★★★ 4.7 | 33 dB | 6:18 | 5.4g | $249 | Editor's Choice |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | ★★★★★ 4.6 | 32 dB | 7:24 | 5.9g | $279 | Runner-up |
| Beats Studio Buds Plus | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | 26 dB | 8:12 | 5.0g | $169 | Best Budget |
Full specifications
| Driver | 9.3mm dynamic |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with multipoint (2 devices, post-update) |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| ANC | CustomTune adaptive ANC, 4 microphones per bud |
| Battery (buds) | 6 hours rated, 5:48 measured |
| Battery (with case) | 24 hours total |
| Quick charge | 20 min = 2 hours playback |
| Water resistance | IPX4 (buds only) |
| Weight | 6.2 g per bud |
| Warranty | 1 year manufacturer |
Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II?
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II measure the strongest ANC in the in-ear category we have tested (34 dB averaged across our six lab frequencies), with a fit kit that adapts to almost every ear we have tried. They lose ground on battery (5 hours and 48 minutes in our test) and app polish, but if quiet is your top priority and the price has dropped to $199, this is the call.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Bose QC Earbuds II worth $199 in 2026?+
Yes, especially if quiet is your top priority. At launch in 2022 they were $279 and a tougher sell against the Sony. At $199 they are the easy pick if you want the strongest ANC in an in-ear and you can live with shorter battery.
Bose QC Earbuds II vs AirPods Pro 3: which is better?+
The Bose win on raw ANC by roughly 1 dB and on low-frequency attenuation specifically. The AirPods Pro 3 win on integration with iPhone, call quality, and battery. If you fly weekly, the Bose. If you live on calls in iOS, the Apple.
How honest is the 6-hour battery rating?+
Within reason. We measured 5 hours and 48 minutes across three runs at 50 percent volume on AAC with ANC on. That is roughly 4 percent shy of Bose's claim. It is the shortest in this group, the Sony WF-1000XM5 averages 7:24.
Did multipoint actually improve after the 2024 firmware?+
Yes, but it is still less reliable than Sony's or Apple's. We saw an occasional 1 to 2 second hiccup when switching between MacBook and iPhone, roughly twice a week.
Are the QC Earbuds II good for running?+
Acceptable. The Stability Bands keep them in place across roughly 30 logged runs, but the case is too large to comfortably pocket in running shorts. For pure running, the AirPods Pro 3 are easier to live with.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Updated long-term durability notes after 4 months and confirmed permanent price drop to $199.
- Mar 2, 2026Re-tested ANC after firmware 4.4.2 with no measurable change.
- Dec 4, 2025Initial review published.
