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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.8
Review updated Nov 23, 2023 at 11:20 am
Latest change: Writing modified Jan 21, 2025 at 03:52 pm
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless Picture
7.4
Neutral Sound
8.1
Commute/Travel
8.4
Sports/Fitness
7.3
Office
5.7
Wireless Gaming
5.6
Wired Gaming
6.2
Phone Calls
These headphones were replaced by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. You'll want to check these buds out if you value noise isolation. Like their predecessor, they have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system that's worthy of their premium price. Bose has changed the buds' design, making them less bulky and more customizable, improving their overall comfort and fit. They're also the first to feature Bose's CustomTune technology, which calibrates their sound profile and ANC based on your ear shape.

Our Verdict

7.4 Neutral Sound

The Bose QuietComfort 2 are satisfactory for neutral sound. They have a bass-heavy sound out of the box with a little extra brightness thrown in. Their sound is a good choice for fans of bass-heavy genres like techno or anyone who likes vocals to sound bright and crisp. But if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust them. They're in-ear headphones, and their passive soundstage isn't very immersive due to their design.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and presets available in companion app.
Cons
  • Bad passive soundstage.
8.1 Commute/Travel

The Bose QuietComfort II are great for commute and travel. These well-built buds have a powerful ANC system, which can block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines as well as passenger chit-chat. They also have a comfortable fit and are very portable, thanks to their small and lightweight design. They have over six and a half hours of continuous battery life, and their carrying case supplies an additional three charges if you need it.

Pros
  • Great noise isolation performance.
  • Very comfortable and stable fit.
Cons
  • Bad passive soundstage.
8.4 Sports/Fitness

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are great for sports and fitness. These buds have a well-built, comfortable, and stable design that won't fall out of your ear during tough workouts. They're also certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes. Their wireless design also ensures that nothing snags the buds and pulls them out of your ears.

Pros
  • Very comfortable and stable fit.
  • Certified IPX4 for water resistance.
Cons
  • Bad passive soundstage.
7.3 Office

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are decent for office use. They have a comfortable fit for long days at the office, and their ANC tackles office chatter so that you can focus on your work. While their 6.7-hour continuous battery life may not last the whole day, their carrying case supplies an additional three charges, which is handy in a pinch.

Pros
  • Great noise isolation performance.
  • Very comfortable and stable fit.
  • Low leakage at high volumes.
Cons
  • No multi-device pairing.
5.7 Wireless Gaming

The Bose QuietComfort 2 are Bluetooth headphones and aren't designed for wireless gaming. Their latency is also too high for gaming, as your audio and visuals won't be in sync.

5.6 Wired Gaming

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are Bluetooth-only headphones; you can't use them wired.

6.2 Phone Calls

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are passable for phone calls. These buds have an integrated mic, and it does an okay job of capturing your voice as speech sounds a bit boxy, like you're talking from farther away than you are. The mic also has difficulty separating speech from ambient noise, and background noise can easily drown out your voice. However, if you want to tune out the outside world, the ANC does a great job of reducing sound around you.

Pros
  • Great noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Mic has poor noise handling performance.
  • 7.4 Neutral Sound
  • 8.1 Commute/Travel
  • 8.4 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.3 Office
  • 5.7 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.6 Wired Gaming
  • 6.2 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jan 21, 2025:

    Several Sound tests have been updated following Test Bench 1.8. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.

  2. Updated Jan 15, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.8, which updates our target curve and Sound tests. You can read more about this in our changelog.
  3. Updated Apr 04, 2024: We've retested ANC Wind Handling with updated methodology.
  4. Updated Apr 04, 2024: The following test groups have been updated following Test Bench 1.7: Noise Isolation - Full Range, Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios, and ANC Wind Handling. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
  5. Updated Apr 04, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
  6. Updated Nov 23, 2023: We've updated this review to mention Bose's CustomTune technology and ensure the text and comparisons are still accurate.
  7. Updated Nov 16, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony WF-1000XM5 in Battery.
  8. Updated Nov 02, 2023: The following test group has been updated following TB 1.6: Bluetooth Connection. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
  9. Updated Nov 02, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
  10. Updated Mar 30, 2023: We've added a comparison to the Status Between Pro True Wireless in the Battery box.
  11. Updated Mar 13, 2023: Bose has released firmware update 1.3.26+g1226f68, which added single-bud listening. This firmware update has also changed their sound. As a result, we have updated the following tests, and the scores have changed: all of Sound and Bluetooth. There have been no changes to Noise Isolation.
  12. Updated Dec 09, 2022: Updated the text in the Bluetooth box for accuracy.
  13. Updated Nov 23, 2022: Review published.
  14. Updated Nov 15, 2022: Early access published.
  15. Updated Nov 08, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  16. Updated Sep 30, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  17. Updated Sep 27, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

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Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II come in three color variations: 'Triple Black' , 'Eclipse Grey' and 'Soapstone', as well as a 'Midnight Blue' color variation that has since been discontinued. We tested the 'Triple Black' variant; you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. Their ANC blocks just as much ambient noise as their competitors, like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, which are among the best noise cancelling earbuds we've tested, and it's on par with their successor, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. They're much more comfortable than their predecessor, thanks to the new design, which is less bulky and has ear tips and stability fins as separate attachments, allowing you to customize their fit.

If you're looking for more recommendations, check out our picks for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. That said, the differences between them are fairly minimal. Both buds share a similar sound profile that you can further tweak via the Bose Music app, and they're both equipped with Bose's excellent ANC technology. The QuietComfort Ultra are equipped with Bose's new Immersive Audio feature, though, which can help offset the poor passive soundstage performance that's commonplace with in-ear designs.

Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are both great pairs of in-ear headphones. The Bose are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more background noise in the bass range, where you'll find the rumble of bus engines. In comparison, the Sony headphones have more robust sound customization features. They have longer battery life and support multi-device pairing and LDAC, which is Sony's proprietary codec for hi-res audio streaming via Bluetooth. They can also block out significantly more ambient sound in the mid to treble ranges, where you'll find noise like ambient chatter and the hum of an AC unit, respectively.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are both great in-ears with different strengths. Both earbuds have similarly great levels of noise isolation thanks to their ANC systems, but the Bose are more comfortable in-ears. Their companion app also offers graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound. However, the Apple headphones are well-designed for Apple users. They have a more premium feel, have an H2 chip for seamless pairing with other iOS devices, and support Spatial Audio.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. While both buds have great noise isolation, the successor's design has changed, and now the buds have separate fins and ear tips to help you get the best fit, making them a lot more comfortable. Their carrying case also holds an additional charge than their predecessor. However, the original gen have better build quality and feel less plasticky.

Beats Fit Pro True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Beats Fit Pro True Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, have a slightly better noise isolation performance, and their continuous battery life is better. They also have sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes. That said, you may still prefer the Beats if you're an iOS user. They have an H1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices and support Apple's Spatial Audio for a more immersive sound.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, and their ANC blocks significantly more ambient noise. However, the Sony headphones have better build quality and a longer continuous battery life.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Google Pixel Buds Pro. While both buds are well-built with similarly competitive ANC, the Bose feel significantly more comfortable and have a better battery performance. The Bose also work with iOS/Android devices with the same app support. However, the Google buds support multi-device pairing with up to two devices at a time.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. The Bose are more comfortable, and their ANC system can block out significantly more ambient sound. The Bose also have a brighter sound profile. However, the Sennheiser are better-built and have better overall battery life.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless. While both in-ears are well-built, the Bose are more comfortable and have a significantly better noise isolation performance, which is great for noisy offices or commutes. However, the Jabra have a flatter overall sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their battery performance is better, too. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them with up to two devices simultaneously.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are  slightly better earbuds than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, and are more customizable, thanks to their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They're also able to block out a bit more background noise and their battery performance is significantly better too. However, the Bowers & Wilkins are better-built, support aptX Adaptive codec for streaming high-quality audio and lowering latency, and their carrying case can be used as a wireless transmitter.

Denon PerL Pro True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and the Denon PerL Pro True Wireless have different strengths. The Bose are much better for commuting, traveling, or if noise isolation is your priority, thanks to their significantly better ANC performance. You can also set their ANC system to different modes to suit the situation. However, the Denon headphones are better if you're looking for the best sound quality from your earbuds. They can stream higher-resolution audio via the aptX Lossless codec and support Spatial Audio, a virtual surround sound feature. You can also use their app to create a personalized EQ based on a hearing test.

Status Between Pro True Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless are better earbuds than the Status Between Pro True Wireless. Although more expensive, the Bose have a powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) as well as a companion app with graphic EQ and presets, neither of which are offered with the Status buds. However, the Status have a longer continuous battery life.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Earbuds
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have a sleeker and more refined look than their predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. They're a lot smaller and have a stem design. The manufacturer's label is on the outward-facing side. Unlike other Bose earbuds, the stability fins and ear tips are separate pieces instead of one unit, which makes it easy to swap out if you prefer a different fit. They come in three color variants: 'Triple Black', 'Eclipse Grey' and 'Soapstone', as well as the now-discontinued 'Midnight Blue'.

8.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.03 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

These buds are very comfortable. Compared to their predecessor, they're less bulky and don't go as deeply into your ears. The stability fins also feel softer on the skin, and since they're now independent from the ear tip, it's easier to ensure a comfortable fit. The buds don't put much pressure on the ear and feel lightweight. They don't pop out of your ear over time like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless either.

7.7
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control Presets
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

These headphones have good controls. There's a touch-sensitive surface on each bud, which is easy to use and has good sensitivity. You can use either bud for controls, but there's no audio feedback to let you know when you've registered a command. You can also accidentally switch between ANC modes if you adjust the buds using the stem.

On either bud:

  • Single tap: Plays and pauses audio. Also accepts calls.
  • Double tap: Skips to the next track. Also ends calls.
  • Triple tap: Skips to the previous track.
  • Touch and hold: Cycles between ANC modes: 'Quiet', which is ANC on, and 'Aware', which is a talk-through mode, so that you can hear your environment without taking your earbuds out. You can also remap these controls to add voice assistant control.
  • Swipe up: Raises the volume.
  • Swipe down: Lowers the volume.

9.4
Design
Portability
L 1.0" (2.6 cm)
W 1.3" (3.4 cm)
H 1.1" (2.8 cm)
Volume 1.45 in³ (23.70 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

Like most in-ears, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are very portable and can easily fit into most pockets or bags without an issue. However, the case is much bulkier (and heavier) than other truly wireless headphones like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless.

7.5
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 2.6" (6.6 cm)
W 2.3" (5.9 cm)
H 1.1" (2.7 cm)
Volume 6.36 in³ (104.20 cm³)

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II come with a good carrying case. It's mostly made of plastic, but it feels better quality than the first generation. The lid feels flimsy compared to the rest of the case, and there's no locking mechanism, so it's easy to open the lid by accident. A single LED light indicator lets you know when the buds are charging. The back of the case also has a Bluetooth pairing button that's slightly indented. Unfortunately, the case doesn't support wireless charging, which is a step down from their predecessor.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

These buds have a good build quality but don't feel as premium as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. They're mostly made of glossy plastic, except for the touch-sensitive surface on the stems, but it feels cheap. The case is also made of plastic and is a little flimsy. The fins and tips are also thinner and seem prone to tearing due to the thin area where they lock onto your ears. They're certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes, though.

8.0
Design
Stability

Thanks to their stability fin design, these buds have a very stable in-ear fit. You can wear them during a run or workout, and they won't fall out of your ears.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds
  • 3x stability bands
  • 3x ear tips
  • USB-A to USB-C charging cable
  • Carrying case
  • Manual

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
See details on graph tool
Normalization Frequency
450 Hz
Bass Amount
4.0 dB
Treble Amount
1.4 dB

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have a bass-heavy sound profile with a bit of extra treble thrown in for good measure. If you're a fan of EDM or hip-hop, you'll appreciate the extra low-end thump and rumble, while pop music fans might enjoy the clarity the boosted low-treble range provides. Regardless of your genre preferences, the well-balanced mid-range suits everything from delicate whispered vocals to distorted guitars. That said, a dip in the mid-treble can make cymbals sound a bit dull. 

If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you further customize their sound. Here is a graph showing the effect of some presets on their sound. It's also worth noting that these buds use the manufacturer's CustomTune technology to adapt the sound profile over time to the shape of your ear canals.

9.4
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.12 dB

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have outstanding frequency response consistency. Assuming you get the best fit using the included stability fins and ear tips, you'll experience consistent bass and treble delivery.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool
8.0
Sound
Bass Profile: Target Compliance
See details on graph tool
RMS Deviation From Target
4.3 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
20 Hz
Low Bass
5.58 dB
Mid Bass
3.21 dB
High Bass
2.18 dB

These buds have great compliance with our target curve in the bass range. The whole region is a little boosted compared to our target, with plenty of extra low-bass thump in particular. But the mid- and high-bass regions are more controlled, so all this extra bass doesn't muddy up mid-range sounds like vocals too much. Regardless, if you're a fan of bass-heavy genres like EDM, these buds are a solid pick.

9.4
Sound
Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
See details on graph tool
RMS Deviation From Target
0.79 dB
Low Mid
0.79 dB
Mid-Mid
0.2 dB
High Mid
0.22 dB

The mid-range target compliance is remarkable. The whole range is virtually razer flat. The slight boost in the low-mids adds body to voices without making them sound muddy, and the rest of the range is superbly balanced, so instruments are rendered accurately and with plenty of detail. In songs like I'm Good (Blue) by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, the female vocals and piano sound well-balanced, without any unnatural honk or boom.

7.5
Sound
Treble Profile: Target Compliance
See details on graph tool
RMS Deviation From Target
2.89 dB
Low Treble
3.12 dB
Mid Treble
-0.87 dB
High Treble
-6.58 dB

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have very good treble compliance. The treble response is more uneven than the bass and mid-range, but it's not uncontrolled. The low treble is boosted relative to our target, so vocals have extra presence, which can help them cut through dense mixes. However, a dip in the mid-treble can dull cymbals and sibilants. In songs like Miss You by Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz, the chorus's high-pitched vocals sound crisp without piercing.

7.4
Sound
Peaks/Dips
See details on graph tool
Peaks
1.24 dB
Dips
2.55 dB

The peaks and dips performance is decent. They follow their own sound profile well through the bass and mid-range, but the treble is slightly uncontrolled. A couple of peaks in the low and mid-treble make the upper harmonics of vocals and instruments sound a touch too present, while a dip in the mid-treble means certain sibilants like S and T sounds can feel a bit dull.

8.7
Sound
Imaging
See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool
Weighted Group Delay
0.23
Weighted Phase Mismatch
4.91
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.98
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
0.92

The imaging performance is excellent. Bose has good quality control with their products, and their headphones usually have well-matched drivers. Our unit's L/R drivers are also well-matched in group delay, phase, amplitude, and frequency response. Although there's a bump in our unit's phase response, it's a very small area and can be hard to hear with real-life content. Audio becomes louder in the left driver in the mid-mids and louder in the right driver afterward. However, imaging varies depending on the manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics.

0.8
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
0.5
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.2

The passive soundstage performance is bad, which is normal for in-ears. To create an immersive soundstage, your outer ear has to be activated by sound. However, in-ears bypass your outer ear. This results in a soundstage that feels small, unnatural, and as if sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No
7.9
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
See details on graph tool
WHD @ 90
0.268
WHD @ 100
0.099

The weighted harmonic distortion performance is very good. There's a spike in the mid-treble, but it's hard to hear with real-life content. The rest of the frequencies fall within good levels, resulting in mostly clean and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
1.3.26
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
Test Instrument Audio Precision APx517B
EQ
No EQ
ANC
Maximum
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test these headphones; our results are only valid in this configuration.

Isolation
8.4
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Full Range
See details on graph tool
Noise Cancelling Yes
Overall Attenuation
-21.99 dB
Bass
-19.38 dB
Mid
-20.79 dB
Treble
-26.49 dB

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's noise isolation performance is great. They can block out a significant amount of ambient noise for earbuds. Subjectively, the ANC performance is close to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless, likely because they both feature CustomTune technology, which adapts the ANC depending on your ear shape and the environment around you. Overall, they're well-suited to reducing a wide variety of external noises, from low engine rumbles to ambient chatter and the high-pitched hum of AC units.

8.5
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
See details on graph tool
Airplane Noise Attenuation
-19.91 dB
Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
Office Noise Attenuation
-19.03 dB
Office Noise Isolation Audio
Street Noise Attenuation
-21.81 dB
Street Noise Isolation Audio

They do a similarly excellent job when it comes to everyday situations. The ANC system can cut down engine noise while you're on an airplane, as well as sounds from a busy street. Office noise is well-reduced, too, so these buds are a solid choice for work if you're bothered by what's happening around you.

Isolation
Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
Female Voice 1
Male Voice 1
Female Voice 2
Male Voice 2
Isolation
ANC Wind Handling
See details on graph tool
ANC Wind Noise

Wind noise isn't easy for headphones to tackle. The amount of wind noise can also vary depending on the angle because of the buds' small size and shape. When wind directly interacts with the ANC's mics, it causes the ANC system to produce anti-noise to counter it, even though wind sound itself doesn't reach your ears. This results in loud, unwanted noise when the ANC is on. These buds don't have a wind reduction feature to help reduce this sound.

8.1
Isolation
Leakage
See details on graph tool
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
33.04 dB

The leakage performance is great. Most leakage is concentrated in the treble range and sounds fairly thin. If you like to crank up the volume to your favorite tunes, others around you won't hear it.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
6.6
Microphone
Recording Quality
See details on graph tool
Recorded Speech
LFE
369.71 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
3.69 dB
HFE
3,568.48 Hz
Weighted THD
0.437
Gain
18.7 dB

The integrated mic's recording quality is okay. Your voice sounds boxy and as if the mic is a little far from your mouth. That said, your voice is still understandable.

4.3
Microphone
Noise Handling
See details on graph tool
SpNR
40.21 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
4.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
4.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The mic's noise handling performance is poor. The mic sits far away from your mouth, so it has difficulty capturing your voice clearly, especially in noisy environments like a busy office. That said, if you're talking in a quieter environment, like at home, you won't have problems being heard clearly.

Active Features
7.1
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
6.7 hrs
Additional Charges
3.0
Total Battery Life
26.8 hrs
Charge Time
1 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Standby mode
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port USB-C

The Bose QuietComfort II's battery performance is decent. Like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless, the manufacturer advertises them to last six hours continuously, and we measured over that. However, battery life can vary depending on use. Luckily, the carrying case holds three additional charges, which is handy in a pinch. Firmware update 1.3.26+g1226f68 also added single bud listening, so you can use either bud while the other one charges in the carrying case. If you're looking for in-ears with a longer continuous battery life, check out the Status Between Pro True Wireless or the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless.

8.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Bose Music
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
ANC Control
Presets
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
Yes
Button Mapping Yes
Surround Support
No

The Bose Music app is great. It's pretty simple to use and offers a lot of features. You can see a video of the app in use here. You can check the battery level, adjust volume, and remap controls. You can also select different modes, which you can then set to a custom amount of ANC, which is handy if you prefer more or less noise isolation depending on your activity or location. To ensure you get a good fit, there's an ear tip fit test, and there's a graphic EQ as well as presets to help you adjust their sound.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Wired Connection
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable
No
Length
N/A
Connector
No Wired Option
Latency - Analog
N/A
Latency - USB
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Recorded Latency Connection No Wired Audio

These headphones have a USB-C to USB-A cable to recharge their carrying case.

7.5
Connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth Version
5.3
Multi-Device Pairing
No
Quick Pair (Android)
No
Quick Pair (iOS)
No
Line Of Sight Range
316.60 ft (96.50 m)
Latency - SBC
255 ms
Latency - aptX
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
N/A
Latency - LDAC
N/A
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Codec SBC
AAC Support
Yes

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 offer good Bluetooth connectivity. For high-end buds, they don't support multi-device pairing or have quick pairing features. They also don't currently support any high-resolution audio codecs, like LDAC. They support AAC and SBC codecs, but SBC has high latency, so your audio and visuals won't be in sync if you're streaming video. Latency can vary depending on the app and device you're using, though.

0
Connectivity
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Latency - Dongle
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These earbuds can connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full audio and mic compatibility. However, this is the only way to connect these headphones to your PC.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
0.4
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Charging Case
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
USB-C

These headphones come with a carrying case with a USB-C port for charging their case. Unlike their predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless, you can't charge the case wirelessly, but it can hold a whole extra charge.

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Comments

  1. Product

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless: Main Discussion

Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.

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    Don’t know where you get the mostly plastic build on this headphone. The headband is made out of aluminum end to end. The material covering it is all leather on the internal and the external headband. The only thing that is plastic is the dual layered ear cups, which most headphones earcups are made of.

  2. 2
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    Don’t know where you get the mostly plastic build on this headphone. The headband is made out of aluminum end to end. The material covering it is all leather on the internal and the external headband. The only thing that is plastic is the dual layered ear cups, which most headphones earcups are made of.

    Hi Artemis1965,

    Thank you for pointing this out. We will clarify this in our review.

    Cheers, Dagobiet

  3. Update: The Comfort and Build Quality sections have been updated to add more details about the headphones’ materials.