Home Wireless Earbuds Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Bose Quietcomfort 2

Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Bose Quietcomfort 2 Review

Last updated on Jan 15, 2025   14 minute read
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Bose QuietComfort 2

Bose QuietComfort 2

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Reasons why you might like the Bose QuietComfort 2

Overall Score 7.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 6 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 8 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

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Reasons why you might like the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)

Overall Score 7.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 6 hours
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only

Apple Airpods (3Rd Gen) Vs. Bose Quietcomfort 2 Review In Summary

Category Features Bose QuietComfort 2 Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IPX4 IPX4
weight 12.5g 8.56g
has no wires or cables
wingtips included
sweat resistance
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 9.3mm 11mm
lowest frequency 20Hz 10Hz
highest frequency 20,000Hz 20,000Hz
POWER battery life 6hours 6hours
battery life of charging case 18hours 30hours
charge time 2hours 0.3hours
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5.3 v5
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac
has aptx adaptive
MICROPHONE number of microphones 8only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has find earbuds feature
supports fast charging
multipoint count 2only 2only
has a mute function
control panel placed on a device
warranty period 1Years
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
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IP ratings is the level of protection offered by a casing, against solids and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating represents protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to resistance against liquids (water).

Having a value of IPX4, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s rating for solids indicates that no data available to specify a protection rating, and of liquids that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes. In comparison to the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), Bose QuietComfort 2 have a rating of IPX4 meaning that we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust) and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a weight of 8.56g . We prefer a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to move with.

The Bose QuietComfort 2, at 12.5g weigh more than the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by of 3.94g For a device to be true wireless it must have no wires linking any part of the device together, Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are true wireless for this case since they have no wires. This is a major difference since wireless earbuds have wires linking the two earbuds . Bose QuietComfort 2 also is true wireless since it has no wires linking the 2 earbuds together. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) are resistant to sweat Bose QuietComfort 2's resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers, what this means is that Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both Bose QuietComfort 2 and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have stereo speakers ANC utilises more advanced kind of tech to actively cancel noise. ANC works when, it listens to the sound pattern of incoming noise and inverts the soundwaves to counter it. In simple terms, it's like having +1 (sound from your surrounding) then producing -1 (counter sound by the device) to make 0 hence "diluting" the noise.



The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, good for your ears as you don't need to crank up the earbuds volume to overcome background noise. Bose QuietComfort 2 too have ANC making either of the devices ideal for plane rides and morning travels. Each work with different noise cancellation settings, pick the noise cancellation type that you prefer for commute or that suites your relaxation time.

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) sit well in place, this creates a sound seal that reduces background sounds while preventing the earbuds sound from leaking out . Both Bose QuietComfort 2, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have passive noise reduction which implies that both tone down ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a unit size of 11mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, the unit size dictates the sound produced by the earbuds.

Bose QuietComfort 2 driver unit is 9.3mm in diameter, which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1.7mm , as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not indicate that they produce better quality sound. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio component produces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through.

Bose QuietComfort 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) can produce a juicier bass than the Bose QuietComfort 2 Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component makes high audible frequencies and if it adjustments to the signal while at it. Bose QuietComfort 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices generate equal treble Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

Bose QuietComfort 2's battery life is equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time. The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s case is said to have a charge of 30 hours.

A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before recharging the case itself. Bose QuietComfort 2's charging case has a battery life of 18 hours, less than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 12 hours It requires 0.3 hours to fully charge the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)'s battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been unused for extended periods.

Bose QuietComfort 2 takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 1.7 hours The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you just place down on a compatible charging pad. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a battery level indicator, an indicator alerts you when the device has a low battery.

Its lights display the charging state of your earbuds and case. Bose QuietComfort 2 too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you tell the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or the battery is running low. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Bose QuietComfort 2 has a Bluetooth version of 5.3, newer than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Newer versions provide faster data transfers. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth. Bose QuietComfort 2 have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio.

It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.

Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) will work fine with your iPad.

If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well. The Bose QuietComfort 2 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have 6 microphones. Bose QuietComfort 2 microphones are 8, more than that of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) by 2 . More microphones result in better sound quality and help the device to filter out noise. The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) use a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are designed to reduce noise from the earbuds' sound.

The Bose QuietComfort 2 too use a noise-canceling microphone. Especially useful in noisy environments. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when removed from your ears so that the music is paused.

Bose QuietComfort 2 support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience. When misplaced in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support the find earbuds feature. Bose QuietComfort 2 too have the find earbuds feature.

You can use the earbuds app on your smartphone to play a sound from your device to find them. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support fast charging. Usually, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device.

Bose QuietComfort 2 support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery is filling up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in 30 minutes.

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect. The Bose QuietComfort 2 support multipoint count of 2, equal to that of the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) . Bluetooth multipoint comes in handy when you can be on one call and not miss notifications from another device.

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a mute function, they have the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds. The Bose QuietComfort 2 also have this function. It means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party talk.

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen), so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the earbuds. The Bose QuietComfort 2 also have a control panel on them. Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a warranty period of 1 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.

The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) support voice prompts. Automatically receive information via audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection. The Bose QuietComfort 2 too support voice prompts meaning the device will notify you when the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge them.

Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) come with their own special case. Carrying earphones openly, or putting them in your pockets without a casing may easily put them at risk of getting damaged. Bose QuietComfort 2 too have a case included, which offers safe transportation.

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