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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Get Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II only well under their $299 launch price; the 2022 flagship was replaced by the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in 2023.
Product images
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II only well under their $299 launch price; the 2022 flagship was replaced by the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in 2023. They introduced CustomTune, which tunes noise cancelling to your ear, and Bose rates them for 6 hours plus three case charges. You also get Bluetooth 5.3 and IPX4 buds; wireless charging takes a $49 cover. Skip them for Immersive Audio, which arrived with the Ultra.
Who it is for
- Bargain hunters who find a pair well under the launch price. You still get CustomTune, which debuted here, and the noise cancelling Bose called the world's best when it launched.
- Current owners weighing an upgrade. The Ultra's headline addition is Immersive Audio, and a $49 cover gives your QC II wireless charging without replacing it.
- People who struggle to keep earbuds in. QC II comes with eartips and stability bands in three sizes each.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants Immersive Audio or wireless charging in the box. Look at the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) instead.
- People who switch between two devices at once. Bose didn't list multipoint for QC II at launch.
What sets it apart
- CustomTune, which debuted on this model: a chime plays in your ear and the earbuds tune noise cancelling and sound to your ear canal.
- Qualcomm S5 chip, Bluetooth 5.3 with up to 30 feet of range, and SBC and AAC, according to Bose Ireland.
- Four microphones in each earbud for calls, with an updated noise-removal algorithm.
- About a third smaller than the first QuietComfort Earbuds, at 6 grams per bud.
Caveats
- Only the buds are rated IPX4. Bose gives the case no rating, and its owner's guide says the buds aren't meant to be submerged.
- There's no Find My or Ultra Wideband support listed, so a lost bud or case is harder to track down.
Key specs
In the same order on every earbuds page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Sealed in-ear; about a third smaller than the first QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose says | Bose press release, 7 September 2022 |
| Fit / tips / wings | Fit Kit of interchangeable eartips and stability bands: M tips and size 1 bands fitted; S and L tips and size 2 and 3 bands in the box | Bose press release; Bose Ireland specifications |
| Chip / processor | Qualcomm S5 Audio SoC | Bose Ireland specifications |
| Active noise cancellation | Bose's own active noise cancelling, personalized by CustomTune; Bose claimed “world’s best noise cancellation from any headphone — banded or in-ear” | Bose press release, 7 September 2022 |
| Transparency / ambient | Adjustable noise control with an Aware-style mode in later Bose descriptions; no Transparency mode named at launch | Bose press release; later Bose product copy |
| Spatial / 360 audio | None listed; Bose's Immersive Audio arrived with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in 2023 | Bose press release; Bose Ultra press release, 14 September 2023 |
| Battery — buds | Up to 6 hours; buds charge in 1 hour; 20 minutes ≈ up to 2 hours | Bose press release; Bose Ireland specifications |
| Battery — with case | Three extra charges from the case; up to 24 hours in all (Bose Ireland) | Bose press release; Bose Ireland |
| Charging | USB-C; case charges in 3 hours, buds in 1 hour; 20-minute quick charge ≈ up to 2 hours | Bose press release; Bose Ireland specifications |
| Wireless charging | Not in the box; a $49 wireless charging cover, announced with the Ultra on 14 September 2023, also fits QC Earbuds II | Bose Ultra press release, 14 September 2023 |
| Water / dust — buds | IPX4 sweat and water resistance; Bose's owner's guide says they aren't meant to be submerged | Bose press release; Bose Ireland specifications |
| Water / dust — case | No rating; treat the case as not water resistant | Bose press release |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3; range up to 30 ft | Bose press release; Bose Ireland specifications |
| Codecs | SBC and AAC; no aptX listed | Bose Ireland specifications |
| Microphones / calls | 4 microphones in each earbud; updated noise-removal algorithm for voice pickup | Bose Ireland specifications; Bose press release |
| On-bud controls | Touch controls; shortcuts can be changed in the app | Bose product and app copy |
| Multipoint / device switching | Not listed at launch | Bose press release, 7 September 2022 |
| Sensors | No sensor list; CustomTune uses a chime and the microphones | Bose.com CustomTune explainer |
| Weight — one bud | 6 g | Bose press release, 7 September 2022 |
| Dimensions — one bud | 1.2 × 0.68 × 0.88 in (H × W × D) | Bose Ireland specifications |
| Dimensions — case | 2.61 × 2.34 × 1.05 in (H × W × D) | Bose Ireland specifications |
| Finishes | Triple Black at US launch (15 September 2022); Soapstone later in 2022; Bose Ireland also lists Eclipse Gray and Midnight Blue | Bose press release; Bose Ireland |
| Phone / OS compatibility | Apple and Android devices; works with your phone's built-in voice assistant | Bose press release |
| Find / Fast Pair / UWB | No Find My or Ultra Wideband listed | Bose press release |
| Companion app / firmware | Bose Music app, now the Bose app; firmware updates through the app | Bose support product page |
| US MSRP (launch) | $299 (US launch); Triple Black from 15 September 2022, pre-orders from 7 September 2022 | Bose press release, 7 September 2022 |
| Price band | Flagship at launch ($200–$300) | Based on Bose's $299 launch price |
| Announced | 7 September 2022 | Bose press room |
| Availability | Sold from 2022 to 2025, per Bose support; replaced by the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in 2023 | Bose support; Bose Ultra press release, 14 September 2023 |
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| CustomTune | Debuted on QC Earbuds II: a chime measures your ear canal, and the earbuds tune noise cancelling and sound to it | Bose press release; Bose.com CustomTune explainer |
| Qualcomm S5 | Yes, listed by Bose Ireland | Bose Ireland specifications |
| Model | QuietComfort Earbuds II; not the first QuietComfort Earbuds (2020) or the Ultra | Bose support product family |
| In the box | 2 earbuds (M tips and size 1 bands fitted), charging case, S and L tips, size 2 and 3 bands, 12-inch USB-C to USB-A cable, quick start guide, safety sheet | Bose Ireland specifications |
Where QC II stands now
QuietComfort Earbuds II were Bose’s sealed flagship from September 2022. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds replaced them in 2023, keeping CustomTune and adding Immersive Audio, and Bose support lists QC II as sold from 2022 to 2025. So this is a pair to buy at a discount, or to keep if you already own one.
CustomTune and noise cancelling
CustomTune made its debut here. A chime plays in your ear, the microphones pick up how it sounds, and the earbuds tune noise cancelling and sound to your ear canal. At launch, Bose called the result “the world’s best noise cancellation from any headphone — banded or in-ear,” which is Bose’s own 2022 claim.
Later Bose descriptions mention adjustable noise control with an Aware-style mode, though the 2022 launch materials don’t name a Transparency mode.
Battery and charging
| Mode | QuietComfort Earbuds II |
|---|---|
| Listening per charge | Up to 6 hours |
| With the case | Three more charges, up to 24 hours in all (Bose Ireland) |
| Charging the buds | 1 hour |
| Charging the case | 3 hours |
| Quick charge | 20 minutes for up to 2 hours |
You charge the case through its USB-C port, with the 12-inch cable from the box. Wireless charging wasn’t part of the 2022 package; it takes the $49 cover Bose introduced with the Ultra.
Fit, calls and connections
The fit kit has eartips and stability bands in three sizes each, with medium tips and size 1 bands fitted out of the box. Each bud weighs 6 grams, and Bose says the design is about a third smaller than the first QuietComfort Earbuds.
For calls, there are 4 microphones in each earbud and an updated noise-removal algorithm. Bose Ireland lists a Qualcomm S5 chip, Bluetooth 5.3 with up to 30 feet of range, and SBC and AAC. Touch controls can be remapped in the Bose app, which replaced the Bose Music app and also delivers firmware updates.
Price and colors
QC II launched at $299 in the US. Pre-orders opened 7 September, and Triple Black went on sale on 15 September 2022; Soapstone followed later that year, and Bose Ireland also lists Eclipse Gray and Midnight Blue. If you find one, compare its price with the Ultra’s before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Bose press room — QuietComfort Earbuds II (7 September 2022) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Bose Ireland — QuietComfort Earbuds II specifications (this address now redirects to Bose's international support site) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Bose support — QuietComfort Earbuds II (sold 2022–2025) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Are QuietComfort Earbuds II still worth buying?
Only at a real discount from $299. The Ultra that replaced them added Immersive Audio; what you'd still be paying for here is CustomTune, IPX4 buds and Bluetooth 5.3.
Do QC Earbuds II have Immersive Audio?
No. Bose introduced Immersive Audio with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds on 14 September 2023, and Bose lists no spatial audio for QC II.
Can I add wireless charging to QC Earbuds II?
Yes. Bose's $49 wireless charging case cover, announced alongside the Ultra in September 2023, also fits QC Earbuds II. Without it, the case charges by cable only.
Do QC Earbuds II work with iPhone and Android?
Yes. Bose lists them as compatible with Apple and Android devices, with SBC and AAC, and they work with your phone's built-in voice assistant.
Official product page: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. Tech specs: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II specs.