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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) vs Apple AirPods Pro 2
With the recent release of the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, not to be confused with the 2020 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds II, we’re curious to discover how the latest earbuds compare to tried-and-true products like best sellers the Apple AirPods Pro 2. In this Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) vs. Apple AirPods Pro 2 article, we’ll break down the differences to help you decide which pair of true wireless earbuds is right for you.
Editor’s note: This article was published on Oct 1, 2024, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What’s it like to use the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds compared to the AirPods Pro 2?
The new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds feature a more “bud” shaped design that rests in your ears compared to previous Bose models. They no longer feature a stem like you’ll find on the original QC Earbuds. However, they’re still a little on the large side. If you have small ears, the Bose QC Earbuds might be a bit of a gamble. That said, they do include a good variety of ear tips and fins to assist with a decent fit. A word of caution, though. The material the fins are made out of is almost too flexible. While it helps the earbuds stay in place in your ears, they are prone to moving around. Be careful when taking the earbuds in and out of your ears; you’ll want to ensure the fins haven’t shifted and are covering the charging pins by accident before putting them back into their rather large charging case.
The AirPods Pro 2 relies on the popular lollipop and stem design and includes multiple ear tip options. They don’t provide any sort of fin to assist with fit, but plenty of aftermarket options are available if needed. Unlike the Bose QC Earbuds, you don’t have to second-guess when putting these earbuds back into their pocket-friendly charging case. They go in the same way they sit in your ears, with the ear tips facing each other.
Lastly, while both pairs will make suitable workout companions, the AirPods Pro 2 have a leg up when it comes to the elements. Offering an IP54 protection rating, they are protected from dust, splashes of water and sweat. The new Bose QC Earbuds only feature an IPX7 resistance rating, with no protection against dust. It’s not a huge deal to some, but if you’re a landscaper or a fan of running on the beach, it’s worth knowing.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds operate via touch controls, one on each earbud. Taking a page from the book of AirPods, they also now offer voice control. Simply saying the phrase “Hey, headphones” will activate your voice assistant. While you can customize your controls via the Bose app, below is a breakdown of how they operate in stock form.
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Input Single tap | Left earbud Play/pause, answer call | Right earbud Play/pause, answer call |
| Input Double tap | Left earbud Skip, end call | Right earbud Skip, end call |
| Input Triple tap | Left earbud Previous track | Right earbud Previous track |
| Input Tap and hold | Left earbud Decrease volume | Right earbud Increase volume |
You control the Apple AirPods Pro 2 playback via pinch controls on each earbud stem. Along with your “Hey, Siri” voice assistant, Apple’s recent iOS update brought a few gesture controls to the AirPods Pro 2. For example, when turned on, Siri will announce an incoming phone call. You can now nod your head yes to accept the call or shake your no to decline.
| INPUT (stems) | ACTION |
|---|---|
One press | Play/pause/answer call |
Two presses | Next track |
Three presses | Previous track |
Press and hold | Toggle ANC/Adaptive Transparency modes |
Swipe up/down | Increase/decrease volume |
"Hey Siri" | Change volume, request directions, playback control, receive messages, and more |
Should you use the apps of either Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or AirPods Pro 2?
With the new Bose QC Earbuds comes a brand new app, suitably named the Bose QC Earbuds app. It brings some new features compared to the outgoing app, including an updated five-band equalizer, an improvement from the previous three-band equalizer. However, if you don’t feel like tweaking, they provide you with five EQ presets. Here, you can also customize your touch controls, change listening modes, configure your voice assistant, and modify some of the default settings of the earbuds.
There is no app for the AirPods Pro 2, as they integrate seamlessly with any iOS device. Within your iOS settings, you’ll find your available listening modes, including Spatial Audio and the ability to change your playback controls. If you like to tweak the sound of your earbuds, it’s worth noting that no EQ options are available for the AirPod Pro 2. The Find My app will also help locate your earbuds or charging case if you lose either of them. Lastly, with the recent iOS update, the AirPods Pro 2 can now function as a hearing aid for those with minor hearing loss.
How do the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and AirPods Pro 2 connect?
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth 5.3, offering support for SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs. If you’re big on gaming, they also provide a low-latency mode. There is no Google Fast Pair, but they do provide multipoint connection if you want to connect to multiple devices at the same time. While multipoint can be handy when you want to switch between your phone and computer, unfortunately, we discovered that enabling this feature often results in connection issues, including the occasional stutter and dropout. We also experienced similar connection issues when connecting new devices and switching EQ presets. To give these new earbuds a fair chance, we returned them and purchased a second unit to test, only to find out they had the same issues.
As mentioned, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 seamlessly integrate into your iOS device, and use Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC and AAC codecs. While there aren’t any higher bit rate listening options like LDAC or aptX, the 2023 AirPods Pro 2 refresh introduced the H2 chip to these earbuds, which Apple states “supports high bandwidth connectivity.” This is the same H2 chip now found in the new AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation.
Is battery life better on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or AirPods Pro 2?
In our standardized battery tests, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 provided 5 hours and 43 minutes of playback, which is on average for the category. Plenty of life for a week’s commute, with charging case top-ups, of course.
Bose states that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) can provide 8.5 hours of playback on a single charge, and the charging case holds 2.5 additional charges for up to 31.5 hours of total playback time. Our battery tests for this unit are currently ongoing. Check back soon for official results!
The charging case of either device can be topped up via USB-C or any Qi-compatible wireless charging pad. You can also power up the AirPods Pro 2 case with a MagSafe or Apple Watch charger.
Do the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or AirPods Pro 2 block noise better?
The chart below shows that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds’ active noise canceling performance can reduce the loudness of most everyday noises by over 80%, which is quite impressive. With a decent fit, these earbuds will easily handle the rumble of an airplane or help block out most of the sounds of city life.
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Similarly, our testing shows that the AirPods Pro 2 block out noise across the entire audible range. Whether you need to drown out the sounds of the bus to work or spend the afternoon in a chatty coffee shop, you’ll notice how effective the AirPods Pro ANC is. Our testing shows they reduce the loudness of noise by an average of 83%, slightly better than the Bose QC Earbuds. Safe to say, the AirPods Pro 2 are still some of the best noise canceling earbuds you can buy.
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Do the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds sound better than the AirPods Pro 2?
With enhanced bass and treble frequencies, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer a more exciting sound out of the box compared to the AirPods Pro 2. Let’s take a closer look and compare the MDAQS results from each unit.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
According to our simulated panel of listeners, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds match the exact sound most people want in a pair of earbuds. With a perfect 5 in Timbre and an almost perfect score of 4.8 in Immersiveness, the Bose QC Earbuds come out on top with an impressive overall score of 4.9. That said, the AirPods Pro 2 are no slouch, either. However, a slightly lower Immersiveness score of 3.7 brings down the AirPods Pro 2’s overall score to 4.8.
Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
See here for an explanation of MDAQS, how it works, and how it was developed.
Objective Measurements
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Comparing the measured frequency response of both units to our house curve, we see a significant boost in the sub-bass and treble frequencies with the Bose QC Earbuds compared to the AirPods Pro 2. This is all part of the “exciting” stock sound of the QC Earbuds, providing listeners with plenty of low-end thump and high-end clarity. The AirPods Pro 2 stick closer to our house curve, but they show an under-emphasis on treble frequencies. While you always have the option of diving into the Bose QC earbuds EQ section, that’s not the case with the AirPods Pro 2. You’ll have to use a third-party EQ if you like a bit more “sparkle” in your sound.
Do the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or AirPods Pro 2 have a better microphone?
The Bose QC Earbuds and the AirPods Pro 2 both have decent microphones and can be used for phone calls, Zoom meetings, or FaceTime sessions with family or friends. While the AirPods Pro 2 provide better clarity overall, the Bose QC Earbuds prove to reject wind noise a little better.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
AirPods Pro 2 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) microphone demo (Windy conditions):
AirPods Pro 2 microphone demo (Windy conditions):
Which microphone sounds better to you?
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds vs AirPods Pro 2: Price and availability
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) are now available for $179.99.
The AirPods Pro 2’s MSRP is $249, but since they are a couple of years old now, you can often find them on sale. At the time of this article, the AirPods Pro 2 can be purchased for $189.99 at Amazon.
Should you get the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) or AirPods Pro 2?
While we can’t deny the quality of sound and ANC performance the new Bose QC Earbuds provide, we also can’t ignore the connection issues we experienced in not one but two different pairs of these new earbuds. If you’re willing to deal with the occasional connection problem, the QC Earbuds are feature-rich and would make a decent daily driver for any casual listener or commuter when working correctly.
That said, if you’re an iPhone user, although it’s the slightly more expensive option, the seamless integration of the AirPods Pro 2 is hard to beat. They essentially become an extension of your phone. Combined with their quality ANC performance, the AirPods Pro 2 are an excellent choice if you’re looking for decent sound while blocking out the sounds of the world around you, on the go, or in the office.
Noise canceling
App with 5-band custom EQ
Comfortable fit
Wireless charging
How do the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds compare to the AirPods Pro 2?
If you’re leaning towards Bose, the more expensive Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds may also be of interest to you. They also provide top ANC performance and offer that same “exciting” sound with plenty of emphasis on Bass and Treble. However, it’s worth noting these frequencies are even more emphasized than what we measured from 2024 QC Earbuds. If you’re a bass-head, they might be right up your alley. You can learn more about how the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds compare to the AirPods 2 in this Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Vs. Apple AirPods Pro 2 article.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds will work with an iPhone, and you can download the new Bose QC Earbuds app via the app store.
The AirPods Pro 2 will connect to an Android device, but you will not be able to access all its features. We recommend you stay within the Apple ecosystem while using AirPods.
Yes, both units offer wireless charging.
Absolutely. Both the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and the Apple AirPods 2 are suitable for working out thanks to their respective IPX4 and IP54 protection ratings.
Yes, you can connect either pair to an Apple Watch.
Yes, both units offer multipoint connection.