Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Review

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) landed on the scene with a familiar name but a new twist, aiming to bring solid sound and noise-blocking chops to folks who don’t want to splurge. Priced at $179, they sit in that sweet spot where you expect decent performance without emptying your wallet. After digging into how they hold up in daily life, think commutes, workouts, or just zoning out at home, this review lays out what works, what doesn’t, and how they stack up. No fancy promises here, just a rundown of what they’re like to use.

What You Get with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

When someone pops open the box for these earbuds, they’re greeted with a straightforward setup. Bose kept it simple, focusing on the basics rather than overloading with accessories. Here’s the scoop on what they’re working with:

Design and Build

So, what’s in the package? Here’s a quick rundown of what comes with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds:

• Two earbuds, each a featherweight 6 grams (29 x 25 x 21mm).

• A charging case tipping the scales at 45 grams (35 x 70 x 48mm).

• Three sizes of oval ear tips - small, medium, and large.

• Three sizes of fins to keep them locked in place.

• A USB-C cable for charging up.

These earbuds ditch the stem look, like what you’d see on AirPods, and go for a rounded, in-ear style. They come in three colors: Black, Chilled Lilac, and White Smoke, giving a bit of personality to the no-frills design. The buds are light enough to forget they’re there, at least for a while. The case, though, feels like a bit of a brick compared to slimmer options out there.

They’re on the larger side, which works fine for people with bigger ears but can feel bulky or tricky for smaller ones. Those three sizes of ear tips and fins help tweak the fit, though the fins can twist around sometimes, especially when slipping the buds in or out. That might throw off how they sit or even stop them from charging right in the case.

The case itself feels like basic plastic, not exactly built to impress. It’s got a little LED on the front to show charging status, and it can juice up via USB-C or a wireless charging pad. That wireless option’s a nice perk, especially since some pricier Bose models skip it. Still, its size means it’s not slipping into tight pockets easily, more of a bag or desk companion.

How They Connect

These earbuds run on Bluetooth 5.3, which keeps things pretty stable, and they support multipoint pairing, meaning they can hook up to two devices at once, like a phone and a laptop. In practice, though, that feature can get glitchy. Some users notice stutters or dropouts when juggling multiple connections, especially in busy spots like downtown streets. Switching to single-device mode often smooths things out, and there’s a low-latency mode in the app for gaming or videos, which helps sync things up.

Pairing’s a breeze: pop the buds in, tap and hold both for a few seconds until a voice says “pairing mode,” then pick them from your device’s Bluetooth list. That said, testers ran into random disconnects, like one bud (usually the right) cutting out during EQ tweaks or volume changes. It’s not a constant headache, but it pops up enough to notice, especially when moving around.

Day-to-Day Life with the Earbuds

So, what’s it like actually using these things? They’re built for people who want to tune out the world or enjoy their tunes without fuss. Here’s how they handle the everyday grind:

Comfort and Fit

Fit depends a lot on ear size. For folks with roomier ears, the QuietComfort Earbuds feel secure and comfy, thanks to the soft silicone tips and fins. They’re stable enough for a jog or workout, with an IPX4 rating that shrugs off sweat or a light drizzle (though the case isn’t water-resistant). But for smaller ears, it’s a different story, they can feel heavy, stick out too far, or even create a weird pressure sensation after a while.

Getting them in takes a bit of finesse: slide them in vertically, then twist them horizontal. If the fins slip, the seal might break, which can mess with sound or noise-blocking. Most people adapt after some trial and error with the tip and fin sizes, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal.

Controls and App Experience

Controlling the earbuds is pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it. Here’s how the taps work out of the box:

• Single tap (either bud): Play or pause music, answer a call.

• Double tap: Skip to the next track, end a call.

• Triple tap: Jump back to the previous track.

• Tap and hold (left): Lower the volume.

• Tap and hold (right): Crank the volume up.

There’s also a “Hey headphones” voice command that works best in quiet spots, shouting it on a bus might earn some stares. It’s handy for stuff like snapping a phone pic solo. The app lets you tweak these controls if the defaults don’t vibe with you.

Speaking of the app, Bose rolled out a new one just for these earbuds, separate from their other models. It’s got a clean layout with quick access to noise modes, EQ settings, and a battery predictor that guesses how much juice is left based on usage. The EQ offers five presets or a custom five-band slider, labeled Low, Low Mid, Mid, High Mid, and High, but it doesn’t get into exact frequencies, so it’s more of a rough tweak than a precision tool. There’s also a Voice ID feature to train the buds to recognize your voice, which helps with voice commands.

The app’s responsive, popping up fast when the buds are out of the case, but it’s missing extras like a “find my earbuds” option. It’s functional, not overly complicated, just enough to get the job done.

Battery Life

Bose says the earbuds last 8.5 hours on a single charge with noise cancellation on, and the case adds another 2.5 charges for a total of about 31.5 hours. Real-world tests clocked them closer to 9 hours without noise cancellation at 75% volume, which is solid for a workday or long flight. Turn on noise-blocking, and that drops a bit, how much depends on volume and usage.

Charging takes about 1.5 hours for a full top-up, and there’s no official fast-charge spec, though 20 minutes in the case can give a few hours of playtime. The case’s battery predictor isn’t always spot-on, especially if you’re switching between calls and music, but it’s a helpful ballpark. One hiccup: if the fins twist, the buds might not connect to the charging pins, leaving them dead when you think they’re good to go.

How They Perform

Performance is where these earbuds shine, or stumble, depending on what matters most to the user. Here’s a breakdown of the key stuff: sound, noise cancellation, and calls.

Sound Quality

The QuietComfort Earbuds deliver a sound that’s warm and full, with a U-shaped curve, boosted bass and treble, slightly softer mids. Out of the box, they lean into thumping lows and crisp highs, which works great for bass-heavy tracks like Tiesto’s “The Business.” The kick at 0:39 hits hard without drowning out the melody. Same goes for hip-hop like Geto Boys’ “F-*k a War”, the bassline grabs you, while vocals and percussion stay clear.

For something acoustic, like Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season,” the guitars spread wide, and the vocals have good detail, though the mids can feel a touch recessed. Orchestral stuff, like John Adams’ “The Gospel According to the Other Mary,” shows off decent instrument separation, brass cuts through, cellos resonate, but it’s not as sharp or expansive as higher-end models. The five-band EQ lets you nudge things around, though it’s not super precise.

Tests with fancy gear, like the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores, gave them high marks: 5 for timbre, 4.8 for immersiveness, 4.9 overall. That means they’re close to what most people like, even if they don’t hit the pinpoint clarity of pricier Bose options. The soundstage feels broad enough to pick out instruments, but some find it a bit compressed compared to top-tier buds.

Does Noise Cancellation Change the Sound?

Switching off noise cancellation dials back the bass a bit. If you’re tweaking the EQ, it’s worth doing it in the mode you use most, ANC on or off, to get the sound right for you.

Noise Cancellation

Bose has a knack for quieting the world, and these earbuds don’t disappoint in that department. Tests showed they cut most noises by over 80%, especially low rumbles like traffic or a plane’s hum. Walking through a city, the roar of buses and chatter fades to a murmur, not gone, but way less intrusive. High-pitched sounds get muffled too, thanks to the snug fit and passive isolation from the tips.

The “Quiet” mode (ANC on) tackles low frequencies best, while the “Aware” mode lets outside sounds in for quick chats or staying alert. Aware works fine, amplifying voices naturally, but it adds a slight hiss and clips some higher notes, not a dealbreaker, just noticeable if you use it a lot. Compared to the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, these don’t block as much low-end noise, but they hold their own for the price.

Call Quality

The mics on these earbuds do a decent job for calls. In a quiet room, voices come through clear, though they might sound a tad distant. Add some office buzz, and the background fades nicely, keeping the conversation audible. On a noisy street or subway, though, things get trickier, subway rumbles can muddy lower tones, and volume might dip in and out. Windy days? Expect some interference, but it’s not unusable. Overall, they’re solid for casual calls, just not crystal-clear in chaos.

The Good and the Not-So-Good

No earbuds are perfect, and these have their quirks. Here’s a quick list of what stands out:

What Works Well:

1. Sound That Packs a Punch: Warm bass, bright highs, and enough clarity for most genres.

2. Noise-Blocking Power: Cuts out a lot of racket, great for busy spots.

3. Battery Stamina: 8.5-9 hours per charge, plus a case that keeps them going.

4. App Basics: Simple controls and EQ tweaks, with a fun voice command twist.

What Could Be Better:

1. Connectivity Hiccups: Dropouts and stutters, especially with multipoint on.

2. Fit Fuss: Too big for small ears, and fins can slip.

3. Chunky Case: Bulky and plasticky, not pocket-friendly.

4. App Limits: No “find my” feature, and customization’s a bit basic.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) bring a lot to the table for $179.They’re great at blocking out background noise and delivering solid sound, whether you’re in a busy city or chilling with your tunes. The fit’s a bit of a gamble, great for some, tricky for others, and the occasional connection hiccups might bug you if you’re always on the move. Still, they hold their own against pricier options, delivering a practical mix of features for everyday life without breaking the bank.

For anyone eyeing a pair, it comes down to what matters most: if noise-blocking and good tunes outweigh a chunky case or fin fiddling, these could be a solid pick. They’re not flawless, but they get the job done where it counts, making them a contender worth checking out for commutes, workouts, or just chilling at home.

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