Bose’s ageing noise-cancelling headphones are on offer once again in time for Black Friday

Two years have passed since Bose introduced the QuietComfort Earbuds, its first pair of noise-cancelling true wireless earphones. Since then, Bose has sat near the top of the class when it comes to in-ear active noise cancellation (ANC), though Sony has given it a run for its money with the $279.99 WF-1000XM4, and many more affordable competitors from brands like Anker, Jabra, JBL, and Sennheiser aren't nearly as far behind as they once were. The new QuietComfort Earbuds II ($299.99), however, set a brand new standard. Simply put, they deliver astoundingly effective noise cancellation against both powerful low-frequency sounds as well as higher-frequency noise. The Bose audio signature remains as sculpted as ever, but it should appeal to anyone who likes rich bass and bright highs. We award products for being the best at what they do, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II easily earn our Editors' Choice award for delivering the best in-ear noise cancellation we've experienced. ...

The true wireless Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II set a new standard for in-ear active noise cancellation while delivering a powerful, bass-forward audio experience.

Engaging audio performance with deep lows and bright highs; Fantastic low- and high-frequency noise cancellation; Useful Active Aware mode; Water-resistant build

No way to turn off noise cancellation altogether; Case doesn't support wireless charging

Exemplary noise-cancellation; Big, detailed and engaging sound; Easier (and less mortifying) to wear than before;

Bog-standard battery life; Short of outright dynamism; Any number of accomplished rivals ;

Deeply impressive noise-cancelling; Hefty, vibrant sound; Much tidier and more compact than before; Quite elegant control app ;

‘Smaller’ and ‘lighter’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘small’ or ‘light’;

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II deliver the best noise cancelling around and great sound too but aren’t without their weaknesses

First-rate noise cancellation; Superb sound quality; Improved design;

No Bluetooth multipoint; Some connectivity issues; No wireless charging;

Top-tier noise cancelling and ambient modes; Improved sound over the original; Slimline design; AptX support on the way; Improved battery capacity;

More expensive than before; Average call quality; Still susceptible to wind noise;

With day-long battery life, compact size and world-beating ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are built for travel

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II deliver the best noise cancelling around and great sound too but aren’t without their weaknesses

First-rate noise cancellation; Superb sound quality; Improved design;

No Bluetooth multipoint; Some connectivity issues; No wireless charging;

Bose QuietComfort II earbuds (QC II) cut the noise and walk the walk

The best earbud ANC so far, Very comfortable, secure fit and does not fit too far inside the ear canal, Neutral sound signature and App EQ are a good start, Responsive touch controls, Bose will add more fesatures via the App

Hands-free could be better, No Qi wireless charge, Right bud is the master in mono use, Can’t save EQ profiles in the App, App can be flakey

Aside from some mild issues blocking out bass, the noise isolation on Bose's latest is top-tier.

A snug fit, decent battery life, ridiculously impressive ANC, well-designed companion app, intuitive controls that are easy to learn, and the kind of bass that you feel in your chest.