Bose makes a statement with its new $299 buds

A new milestone for noise cancellation in earbuds, Dependable performance with great dynamic sound, Superb transparency mode

No wireless charging despite $299 price, Not capable of multipoint, More expensive than original QC Earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort II are excellent for commute and travel. These well-built buds have a powerful ANC system, which can easily block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines as well as passenger chit-chat.

Incredible noise isolation performance., Very comfortable and stable fit.

Bad passive soundstage.

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

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

Though they lack some features found on other earbuds of this price, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 make up for it with astounding noise cancellation and sound quality.

Superb sound quality, Astonishing noise cancellation, Clever ‘Aware’ mode, Secure fit

No Hi-Res audio support, No Bluetooth Multipoint, No wireless charging

With the QuietComfort Earbuds II, Bose makes an impressive comeback and they want to show us what is technically feasible: The active noise cancelling (ANC) cancels out broadband and works extremely effectively, the transparency mode sounds very natural and thanks to clever measurement technology in...

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 ;

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;

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;