Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Get the plain Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Strong Bose quiet, longer battery, for a lot less. The Ultra 2 are quieter still, richer and much better on calls.
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Which one is for you?
Bose QC Earbuds
Bose quiet for less, longer battery and few calls: that's the QuietComfort Earbuds.
Is the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) worth it?Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2
Lots of flights, calls on the move, the best Bose makes? Then it's the Ultra 2.
Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) worth it?Key differences
Noise cancelling
Sound
Battery (noise cancelling on)
Calls
What owners say
Verified buyers only; every 1–3 star review read by us. How we do this
Bose QC Earbuds
Owners love the noise cancelling and the sound. The main complaint is the connection: one bud drops out or loses Bluetooth for a fair number of buyers.
- Good sound
- Strong noise cancelling
- Comfortable fit
- Bluetooth drops or one bud cuts out
- Fall out or hard to fit
Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2
Owners love the rich sound, the comfortable fit and the strong noise cancelling. The main complaint is a Bluetooth connection that drops out.
- Rich, detailed sound
- Comfortable, secure fit
- Excellent noise cancelling
- Bluetooth drops out or won't connect
- Disappointing sound
Related pages
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the Bose QC Earbuds: 241 verified buyer ratings at Takealot (South Africa), Costco (US) and Costco (Canada), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2: 66 verified buyer ratings at Currys, Target (US), Otto (Germany), Takealot (South Africa) and Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), read November 2026.