Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: an in-ear replace that ship arguably best-in-class worth
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Two-minute evaluation
Bose clearly likes the identify ‘QuietComfort Earbuds’, as a result of that is the third pair of earbuds to which the model assigned the identify – and that is not even counting suffixes! To clear up confusion, we have slapped the ‘2024’ on the tip up within the headline and our part headers. Received it? Good.
Following on from 2020’s Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, 2022’s Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and 2023’s Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds, these might be referred to as ‘Gen 3’ or just ‘3’, however Bose has determined to simplify issues however dropping the descriptor fully. For all intents and functions, then, these are the new QCE (till newer ones come out).
It is no marvel that audio powerhouse Bose loves this identify, although, as a result of it is a very literal description of the 2 principal promoting factors of its earbuds. If you put on them, issues are quiet (due to the Lively Noise Cancellation) and comfy (due to the design).
First up, the ANC: Bose’s earbuds have noise cancellation that beats out the rest I’ve tried at this worth – and plenty of earbuds that price way more. It fully eradicates all however probably the most incessant and loud background noises, and its Conscious mode is fantastically good in isolating and amplifying voices whereas hiding different sounds.
I used to be stunned by simply how dramatic the 2 modes had been. On a stormy day, on Conscious mode, I may hear somebody speaking to me completely however did not hear a peep from the bushes which had been virtually blown at a 90-degree angle. Activate full Quiet mode and I could not even inform if somebody was speaking to me.
Onto ‘consolation’, then. Once more the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds knock it out of the park, with a cosy and durable match. Bose has introduced again its stability bands from earlier fashions, however has redesigned them to look barely much less like velociraptor talons – these ridges make sure the buds stick firmly in your ear. Throughout testing, I used to be continually stunned by simply how safe the earbuds felt; in actual fact close to the tip I did an 8km run and by no means did the earbuds come near falling out.
However the identify is not all, and the Bose have a couple of different methods up their sleeve: they sound nice, the battery life is surprisingly good, the app has loads of options and the worth is fairly low all issues thought of.
A number of minor annoyances detract from the expertise of utilizing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, however not by a lot. I discovered the case slightly too huge, and it actually bulged out of my pocket. Plus, the buds help the SBC and AAC codecs for music streaming, however audiophiles will miss the likes of aptX, FLAC and WMA.
My private greatest gripe, although, was that the earbuds’ voice controls had been far too delicate, to the purpose that different folks close by me would by accident management my earbuds when saying phrases much like the voice instructions. This was simply remedied by me turning the function off, but it surely’s a disgrace for there to be a function that I can not use.
These points apart, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are a few of the greatest mid-range buds you should purchase for the worth, and may even sway you into spending your hard-earned money right here, as a substitute of on one thing a lot costlier however not that significantly better.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: Value and launch date
- Unveiled in October 2024
- Sells for $179 / £179 (roughly AU$270)
Bose introduced the QuietComfort Earbuds in October 2024, following the biannual launch schedule of the opposite two earbuds of the identical identify.
You should purchase the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds for $179 / £179 (roughly AU$270, although I couldn’t discover them on sale in Australia). This worth places them as extra reasonably priced options to the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds, which promote for $299 / £299 / AU$449.
Ignoring the premium options, the ‘customary’ QuietComforts’ worth locations them within the mid-range earbuds sector – you may’t name them ‘low-cost’ however they’re definitely not costly both, bringing some top-end options to a cheaper price level. Importantly, they’re about $/£100 cheaper than their two namesakes.
It’s a surprisingly scarce market phase in contrast with different gadget sorts’ mid-ranges however the JBL Dwell Beam 3, Artistic Aurvana Ace 2 and Sony LinkBuds Match are a few of the few choices at that very same tough worth space.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: Specs
| Drivers | 10mm |
| Lively noise cancellation | Sure |
| Battery life | 8.5h buds, 31.5h case (ANC off) |
| Weight | 69g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Frequency vary | 20Hz – 20GHz |
| Waterproofing | IPX4 |
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: Options
- Unbelievable ANC
- 5-band equalizer with presets
- Overexcitable voice controls
To benefit from the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, you might want to use the bespoke Bose QCE headphones app – not any of the opposite Bose apps in your chosen app repository – and I’d strongly advocate you obtain it as a result of it’s your ticket to a lot of the headphones’ options.
Let’s cope with the primary half of the QuietComfort identify. Bose knocks the ‘quiet’ bit out of the park – it’s virtually like the corporate names its merchandise primarily based on its incredible noise cancellation. The QCE use the same Lively Noise Cancellation tech to Bose’s different merchandise, a lot of which we price as the most effective ANC earbuds. Actually, the corporate’s web site implies, however doesn’t go as far as to explicitly say, that it’s precisely the identical tech.
Both approach the ANC is incredible, drowning out sounds which I assumed can be impervious to the most effective ANC-ing; no extra chatty workplace areas, rattling of prepare carriage or roar of wind in bushes. I additionally discovered the earbuds’ Conscious mode extra correct than many corporations’ equivalents – this cancels most background noises however isolates and amplifies sure noises like oncoming site visitors or folks speaking close by.
The app additionally has an equalizer – it largely affords you presets however there’s a customized mode that permits you to alter low, low-mid, mid, high-mid and excessive sounds to your style. It’s not fairly as in-depth as many earbud EQs however I’d say it’s probably the most complicated you can also make an EQ like this whereas making it usable by non-audiophiles.
Different options enabled by the app embody multi-point pairing, the power to alter the contact management features, a method to arrange the earbuds to be distant digicam triggers in your telephone, a low-latency gaming mode, a battery prediction function – which was actually helpful, a lot so, I want there have been a method to discover it that wasn’t buried in menus! – and voice management.
In case you’ve learn the introduction, you’ll know that I had a difficulty with this latter function. It’s supposed to allow you to use voice instructions to regulate the buds hands-free (rejecting or accepting calls, taking part in or pausing music, skipping tracks, altering the amount, adjusting the ANC and so forth) but it surely was far, far too delicate. Once I examined the buds in my workplace or in public, folks round me would (by accident, I presume) set off these voice features, and I stored discovering my music stopping, or getting louder. It is actually annoying. The one method to cease this taking place, I discovered, was to show off voice instructions.
Sooner or later, the QCE are getting a function from their Extremely sibling: Bose Immersive Audio is on its approach, although it wasn’t on the buds as of this evaluation. This function is principally Bose’s personal model of Spatial Audio, so films, video games and generally music sound like they’re coming from throughout you. Nevertheless the buds miss one other function of the Extremely, CustomTune know-how which scans your ears to ship sound combined for you, an indication of the cheaper price.
Bose predicts the battery lifetime of the buds to be 8.5 hours with the case getting you an additional 31.5 hours (or 2.5 expenses). In my testing, the buds really hit 9 hours with ANC on, so presumably they’d final even longer with it turned off. I thought 8.5 hours can be ANC off, with an ANC on determine of round six hours, and was very pleasantly stunned.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: Design
- Comfy and safe match in-ear
- IPX4 rated towards sweat and showers
- Chunky case
Given this part is about design, it is time to deal withe the second half of the QuietComfort identify.
Every bud weighs 8.5g, and so they’re larger than another earbuds I’ve used however the heart of mass is in the direction of the ears in order that they don’t wobble once you’re strolling. They felt safe and comfy to put on, even for lengthy time frame, and I by no means felt any fear about them falling out.
Serving to the safety of match is the truth that every earbud has a ‘stability band’, a protruding rubber ridge which helps be certain that the bud is wedged into your ear. There are a number of sizes of this within the case, in addition to completely different ear tip choices, and I think about most individuals would be capable to use these to discover a match as secure as mine.
Additional serving to the ‘consolation’ descriptor are the buds’ extremely easy-to-use buttons, which you’ll be able to activate with only a faucet of the flat a part of the physique.
In contrast to many different earbuds, you don’t must push the buds to date into your ear that they hit cranium, nor do they require a finger manoeuvre so complicated that you might want to be double jointed. Nevertheless, the delicate button did decide up unintentional touches fairly a bit, particularly after I was was placing the buds in my ear.
The buds are IPX4 resistant, which Bose says they repel sweat and ‘water’, albeit the latter is extra more likely to be splashes as a substitute of immersion.
A small gripe I’ve with the brand new QuietComfort Earbuds is that the case is a good bit larger than most different true wi-fi circumstances I’ve examined. It’s not precisely football-sized however its 3.2 x 8.9 cm x 5.1 cm physique made it really feel like a rock in my pocket.
The case additionally seems like a questionable factor because the buds audibly rattle round in it. I don’t suppose they might ever maintain harm from this wiggle room but it surely makes you query whether or not or not there’s loads of empty area there…
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: Sound high quality
- Heat and energetic audio
- Extensive sound stage
- Not all codecs supported
Although Bose hasn’t added a phrase into its earbuds’ identify for sound high quality, potential consumers will probably be comfortable to know the QuietComfort Earbuds don’t price you a premium worth.
The QCE have a crackling heat tone, with wealthy and meaty bass, although to not the extent that these will solely cater to bass-heads. I’ve used earbuds that flip the bass as much as 11 to the detriment of every thing else, however these buds are extra nuanced. Mid tones stay energetic and excitable and for probably the most half, treble did too, though in sure songs I did discover the vocals missed some sparkle that different earbuds may present.
The QuietComforts go good and loud too – not ear-blisteringly loud once you crank it to the max, however I by no means discovered myself going close to to the max quantity in on a regular basis use.
My favourite side of the buds’ audio, although, was a way more dramatic sound stage than many different buds I’ve examined. You’ll be able to hear the completely different devices unfold round you want dishes at a tapas restaurant, and if you happen to shut your eyes you are feeling like you can level to the place each is. Actually, I’d say these Bose present maybe the most effective sound stage of any earbuds that don’t help top-end audio codecs.
Oh yeah, about that – help for some fancier codecs and options are lacking, which ensures the Bose Earbuds Extremely nonetheless preserve some relevance, however if you happen to take heed to your music on Spotify you won’t even thoughts.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: Worth
- Uncommon earbuds that justify the worth
- Bose’s greatest value-for-money proposition
I beforehand referred to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds as a few of the greatest non-premium in-ears. Although that is true, in that they’re undoubtedly cheaper than the top-end buds you’ll find available on the market, they’re nonetheless pricier than a great deal of different choices on the market.
If you wish to lower your expenses, you’ll find earbuds with fairly good match or ANC or sound high quality for about half the worth of the QCE. They received’t do the job fairly in addition to these buds, however they’ll prevent cash.
However if you would like options as superior because the QuietComfort provide, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a rival as succesful on all fronts and prices any much less.
I might add that, being cheaper than earlier QCEs and the Ultras, these are arguably the best-value earbuds Bose has put out just lately.
Ought to I purchase the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024?
| Attributes | Notes | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Options | Stellar ANC and a variety of options seals the deal. | 4.5/5 |
| Design | They’re comfy to put on, if not put in your pocket. | 3.5/5 |
| Sound high quality | An ideal sound for the worth. | 4/5 |
| Worth | The uncommon earbuds that justify a three-figure worth. | 4/5 |
Purchase them if…
Don’t purchase them if…
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 evaluation: Additionally think about
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 | Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds | JBL Dwell Beam 3 | Artistic Aurvana Ace 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $179 / £179 / Approx. AU$270 | $299 / £299 / AU$449 | $199.95 / £179.99 / AU$249 | $149.99 / £164.99 / AU$229.95 |
| Drivers | 10mm | 10mm | 10mm dynamic | xMEMS strong state driver + 10mm dynamic driver |
| Lively noise cancellation | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Battery life | Buds: 8.5 hours. Case: 31.5 hours. (Each with ANC). | Buds: 6 hours. Case: 24 hours. (Each with ANC). | Buds: 12 hours. Case: 48 hours. (Each with ANC). | Buds: 4 hours. Case: 16 hours. (Each with ANC). |
| Weight | 8.4g | 6.2g | 5g | 4.7g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Frequency vary | 20Hz – 20GHz | Not acknowledged | 20 Hz – 40 kHz | 5 – 40,000Hz |
| Waterproofing | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP55 | IPX5 |
How I examined the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024
- Examined for 2 weeks
- Examined at dwelling, within the workplace and on journeys
The testing interval for this Bose QuietComfort Earbuds evaluation lasted two weeks, not counting time spent reviewing. I used them alongside my Android smartphone with many various music and video streaming apps, and in addition video games.
The Bose acquired to get pleasure from a couple of completely different environments over these two weeks together with my dwelling, my workplace, numerous journeys to the native neighborhood and gymnasium, bus and prepare journeys and even a run at one level.
I have been testing devices for TechRadar for practically six years now, together with audio merchandise for a lot of that point, and that features a few of the earbuds I in contrast the Bose to earlier.
- First reviewed in November 2024
