Bose Takes on the Apple AirPods Pro with New Noise Canceling Earbuds

Years ago, Bose had established themselves as the leader in noise canceling headphones. I mean, all you needed to do was take a look at the heads of fellow frequent flyers on an airplane or in an airport and you would likely see Bose QuietComfort headphones.

The New Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Then, Sony got into it more heavily and they have done an awesome job. I am currently reviewing the new Sony WH-1000XM4 and will publish the review after an upcoming trip but – they are awesome!

Apple and Sony both have noise canceling earbuds (and others do now as well) but this was one area that Bose was lagging behind in. They had the awesome Bose QuietComfort 20 earbuds but not wireless. Now, Bose has come into the noise canceling earbud arena – and it looks like they have done a good job.

Bose + Earbuds + Noise Canceling = Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Link: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Here’s the thing with noise canceling earbuds at this point – if you are an Apple user, you are likely already interested in the Apple AirPods Pro or you have them. Why? Because it just works so well with Apple devices and the new firmware updates this fall will make them work even better.

Also, they have nice noise canceling and they can be used for workouts, something the Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds cannot claim.

Details about the New Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Well, here is the checklist from Bose about the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds:

• They are rated IPX4 – which means they are good to go for outdoor conditions and even sweat
• They have up to 6 hours of battery life with an additional 12 hours from charging in the case
• They offer variable noise canceling that can help if you are in environments where you will need to have conversations
• They have touch controls
• They have a great fit system to not fall out

The sweat proof lets them beat out the Sony earbuds and I am looking forward to testing that out. I have used the Bose wireless earbuds for running before and really liked them, albeit they were a bit on the large size.

The Fit

On the fit part, I loved the AirPods Pro but they did not stay in that well (neither did the Sony earbuds). That was due to my ear fit so is very subjective from person to person. But, the way the Bose fits in the ear should make sure they fit many more people.

Plus, that fit helps with passive noise cancellation as well by having that snug fit. Another nice thing going for the Bose is the touch controls. The AirPods Pro do not have these controls, choosing instead to rely on Siri. But, I like to be able to just touch the earbuds to change volume, play/pause, skip songs, etc and have it be more or less intuitive.

The Case

Another plus is the case size. Apple has the edge there with their case over the large Sony one but it looks like the Bose one could be a happy fit in between the two.

Price

Also, price. Bose is so sure that their Bose QuietComfort Earbuds will be better than both Sony or Apple that they took the price even higher – $279. Yes, that is $30 higher than the normal price of the Apple AirPods Pro. But, if they can work for everyday use, workouts, and travel, it could replace a couple of options. These will ship starting September 29.

Battery Life

The battery life on the Bose is better also. While an hour more or less may not seem like a big deal, being able to go longer on these little earbuds will help eliminate the time you need to charge up while in the air. But, if you do need to charge, you can get a quick charge in 15 minutes that will last two hours.

Bottom Line

I love competition in the tech space and I have been waiting for Bose to bring out these earbuds. They appear to have done a great job and I am looking forward to testing them out. While I love the battery life and ear sealing of noise canceling headphones, having noise canceling earbuds really work great as lifestyle earbuds that can go from day-to-day calls, to the gym, and to the plane.