Bose has announced a new addition to its wireless ANC earbud lineup for 2024 simply called the QuietComfort Earbuds. At only $179, these Bluetooth earbuds offer noise cancellation and come with a wireless charging case just like AirPods 4 with ANC which are priced the same. However, the QuietComfort Earbuds also include customizable tap controls, voice commands to take a call or selfie at any moment, and double the battery life (8.5 hours vs. 4 hours) over AirPods 4.
Made for active, everyday lifestyle needs, these new buds are water and sweat-resistant with an IPX4 rating. Three ear tips and stability band sizes allow anyone to customize the buds to the shape of their ears, which should feel comfortable and provide a secure fit.
The QC Earbuds provide up to 8.5 hours of playtime on a single charge. For more time, the provided wireless charging case holds up to 2.5 charges. A 1.5-hour charge enables the case to reach full strength, and a 20-minute quick charge provides up to three hours of additional battery life. The charging case provides both wired and wireless charging options.
Bluetooth 5.3 provides seamless, uninterrupted listening when switching between devices with multipoint connections.
To provide optimal noise reduction and voice pick-up during calls, there are three microphones in each earbud.
Convenient touch controls allow listeners to decide what and how to hear – by tapping the earbud to skip songs, up the volume, pause and play adjust noise cancellation settings, and more.
Bose QC Earbuds App
QuietComfort Earbuds can be controlled using the Bose QC Earbuds App (to be available at QC Earbuds product launch). This app enables the best listening experience possible while offering functionality and personalization. With the app you can customize touch control on either the right or left earbud, configuring a single, double, or triple tap. You can also press and hold them for access to additional features.
Users can switch between two ANC modes — either Quiet or Aware, or disabled completely for a passive listening experience. A 5-band adjustable EQ setting lets you dial in the sound and control bass, mid-range, and treble levels.
Voice ID is also provided to calibrate your buds for performance and accuracy. Answer calls, play media, control volume, tap into your favorite voice assistant, and more by saying “Hey Headphones”. The Remote Selfie feature turns the earbuds into a remote camera trigger. Low Latency Audio Mode optimizes the earbuds for gaming and movie moving with synchronized audio. Users can also track how much charge the buds have left with Battery Prediction.
QuietComfort vs QuietComfort Ultra
In the 2024 Bose line-up, the new QuietComfort Earbuds are the step-down model from the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2023 model), which feature a more premium design and integrate additional Bose features such as CustomTune, ActiveSense, customizable listening modes, Spotify Tap, SimpleSync (for use with compatible Bose soundbars/speakers), Snapdragon Sound, and Google Fast Pair (for compatible Android devices).
On the other hand, the new QuietComfort Earbuds have some features you won’t find in the QC Ultra earbuds such as the ability to turn ANC off completely and an included charging case that is wireless.
Initial Impression
It seems Bose and Apple have settled on a $179 price point for their entry-level noise cancelling wireless earbuds. However, the Bose buds use silicon tips to create a tighter fit which could provide better noise cancellation. Ultimately it may come down to personal taste and fit, but the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds make a strong case by offering more colors and double the battery life.
Pricing & Availability
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are available for $179 at Bose in three color options: Black, White Smoke, or Chilled Lilac.
The Bose Ultra QuietComfort earbuds are available now for $299 at Amazon.
Related Reading
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Earbuds: Review (2023 model)
