Bose continues to dominate the premium earbuds market, and the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) are a testament to their expertise in sound engineering and noise-canceling technology. These earbuds aim to refine what their predecessors did well while introducing new features to elevate the user experience. With updated specs and thoughtful enhancements, Bose seeks to capture the attention of audiophiles and casual listeners alike.
The QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) promise excellent sound quality, class-leading active noise cancellation (ANC), and a more refined fit. Available in three stylish colors—White Smoke, Black, and Chilled Lilac—these earbuds cater to a wide audience. Despite some stiff competition in the market, they stand out for their audio performance and innovative features.
We’re fortunate enough to have our hands on the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) in the Black color variant. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024), covering everything from unboxing to real-world performance. Whether you’re considering upgrading or buying your first pair of premium earbuds, this guide will help you decide if these are the right choice.
Unboxing/Accessories
The packaging of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) is relatively simple, though functional. The box comes with an outer sleeve that showcases an image of the earbuds, the Bose logo, and the model name. On the lower left, the words “Noise canceling” are featured, and on the right side of the sleeve, you’ll find the phrase “Sound is power.”
When you remove the outer sleeve, a simple white box is revealed. On the lower left corner of this box, the phrase “Seize the sound” is written in small text, maintaining the minimalist design.
Upon opening the box, you’ll find the top part containing instructions on how to first pair the earbuds, along with a QR code to download the QCE app. The overall presentation is clean, but the simplicity of the design may not feel as premium as expected.
Straight out of the box, you will find the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) charging case with the earbuds inside. Also included are a USB-A to USB-C cable, two extra pairs of silicone ear cups, two extra silicone stabilizers, and paper documents, including the warranty card. This package ensures you have everything you need to set up and enjoy the earbuds.
Design and Build Quality
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) feature a sleek, rounded design that is reminiscent of Bose’s older Sports Wireless Earbuds, but with the added benefit of active noise canceling (ANC). This design eliminates the stem, opting instead for a compact form with ear tips and stability bands that ensure a secure and comfortable fit. Like the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the ear tips and stability bands play a key role in delivering a customizable fit. Bose’s earbuds are typically larger than many other models on the market, but they are designed to offer a more secure, comfortable fit, making them well-suited for active users.
The earbuds come in three color options: White Smoke, Black, and Chilled Lilac, allowing users to choose the one that best suits their style. To cater to different ear shapes, the QuietComfort Earbuds come with three sizes of ear tips and stability bands. The fit is one of the strongest features of these earbuds—during testing, they stayed firmly in place even while running, with no slippage. The earbuds also come with an IPX4 water-resistance rating, offering protection against sweat and light rain, making them a good choice for workouts and outdoor activities. However, the rating only applies to the earbuds themselves, so the charging case remains vulnerable to water damage.
Although the earbuds are on the bulkier side, their secure fit compensates for this, ensuring they remain comfortable even during extended wear. The larger design allows for a better seal, which can enhance both sound quality and noise cancellation.
The charging case, while functional, feels a bit bulkier than expected and lacks the premium feel of the earbuds. It can be charged via USB-C or wirelessly using a Qi charging pad, and an LED light on the front shows the charging status. While the case might feel somewhat cheap, it works reliably. The earbuds feature intuitive touch controls: a single tap to play or pause audio, a double tap to skip tracks, and a tap-and-hold gesture to toggle between ANC modes. The Bose Music app also allows users to customize these controls, adding further flexibility.
Noise Cancellation
Bose continues to lead the way in noise cancellation, and the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) are no exception. While they may not eliminate as much background noise in the lower and mid frequencies as the QuietComfort Ultra, their active noise cancellation (ANC) technology is still among the best on the market. Using built-in microphones, the earbuds detect surrounding noise and generate counter-noise to cancel it out, ensuring near silence.
In real-world use, the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) excel at blocking unwanted sounds. Dog barking, nearby conversations, and even distant traffic noise are effectively muffled, allowing you to focus on your music or calls. The Aware mode (transparency mode) lets in ambient sound, so you can stay aware of your surroundings. This feature is especially useful when you’re outside or commuting, as it lets you hear important sounds like traffic or announcements without removing the earbuds. This added safety makes the earbuds more versatile for outdoor activities or busy environments.
Bose QCE App Experience
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) require the dedicated Bose QCE app for customization, as they do not integrate with the main Bose app used for other devices. If you own multiple Bose products, this means you’ll need to manage different apps, which can be a bit cumbersome.
The Bose QCE app offers a smooth interface for adjusting audio settings, noise-canceling modes, and customizing touch controls. Users can toggle between different ANC levels—full noise canceling, transparency mode, or adaptive mode, which adjusts automatically based on the environment. You can also personalize gestures to control volume or switch ANC modes with a tap.
While the app works well, it would be more convenient if Bose integrated all their devices into a single app. For users with multiple Bose products, switching between apps can feel a bit tedious, and a unified app would provide a more streamlined experience.
Battery Life
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) deliver reliable battery performance, making them a strong contender among premium earbuds. On a single charge, the earbuds offer up to 8.5 hours of nonstop playback, ensuring your music can fuel you all day long. The wireless charging case provides an additional 2.5 full recharges, extending the total battery life to approximately 31.5 hours. This is a notable improvement over some higher-priced options, such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which have shorter playback times per charge despite offering more case recharges.
The earbuds themselves take about 2 hours to charge fully from 0% to 100% when connected via USB-C. If you prefer wireless charging, the charging case can be used with a Qi wireless charger, but the process will take approximately 3 hours. While these charging times are typical for this category, the lack of fast-charging support may be a downside for users who often need a quick power boost.
Overall, the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) perform admirably in terms of battery life, making them an excellent choice for long commutes, extended travel, or all-day use. With over 30 hours of total battery life, they are a dependable option for those prioritizing longevity, though users seeking fast-charging capabilities may need to look elsewhere.
Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) deliver a powerful performance, blending a secure, comfortable fit with outstanding sound quality and top-tier noise cancellation. For users prioritizing sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC), these earbuds are hard to beat at this price point. While the addition of voice control is a welcome feature, its performance can be inconsistent compared to other premium models. A firmware update may improve this over time, but it’s currently not as reliable.
The earbuds and their charging case are on the bulkier side compared to other options. While the case is functional, it doesn’t have the premium feel you might expect from a high-end product. The voice-calling performance is decent, with good background noise reduction, though some callers noted my voice sounded muffled, especially in noisy environments.
A minor drawback is the need to use a separate app (the Bose QCE app) for the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024), especially since the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II uses a different app. This fragmentation of apps can be inconvenient for users with multiple Bose devices.
Despite these small drawbacks, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) excel in sound quality and ANC performance, making them a strong choice for those seeking premium earbuds. Though there are a few areas for improvement, these earbuds remain highly recommended for anyone looking for excellent audio performance and effective noise cancellation.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) Specifications
Water resistance: IPX4 rating, meaning the earbuds are resistant to sweat and water splashes but are not waterproof
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, supporting SBC and AAC codecs, with a range of up to 9 meters (30 feet)
Battery life: Up to 6 hours of playtime per earbud. The charging case provides an additional 18 hours of playtime, with a quick charge offering 2 hours of use after 20 minutes
Earbud dimensions: 1.72 cm H x 3.05 cm W x 2.24 cm D
Earbud weight: 6.24 g per earbud
Charging case dimensions: 5.94 cm H x 6.63 cm W x 2.67 cm D
Charging case weight: 59.8 g
Case charging: The case supports both USB-C and wireless (Qi-certified) charging
Price and Availability
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) is now available in the Philippines for only PHP 10,990 in all Bose stores and eleksis website with free nationwide shipping.
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