Why the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the perfect travel companion
With day-long battery life, compact size and world-beating ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are built for travel
The original Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds were a big success when they arrived in the autumn of 2020, wowing us with Bose’s typical dedication to superb sound quality and its use of best-in-class active noise cancellation (ANC).
Now the American brand has returned with the Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds II, earphones that do the seemingly impossible – that is, improve on everything that the originals did so well in the first place.
These brilliant earbuds are a commuting essential and, for the audiophile looking to pack light, are simply the best travel companions around. Here are the eight ways that Bose’s latest speeds ahead of the competition.
Audio that’s tailored to your ears
Plenty of true wireless earbuds offer finely tuned audio, but these headphones go one step further by building a profile specifically for the unique shape of your ears.
That sounds like a lot of work, but Bose does it all for you, self-calibrating in seconds using the company’s unique CustomTune technology. The process is simple. First, the QuietComfort® Earbuds II play a chime sound; then the built-in microphones on the earbuds pick up the reflected sound waves, and optimise the frequency response and noise cancellation to match.
Most other earphones simply can’t match that personalised, tailor-made touch – and it’s obvious from the very first bar of your favourite song.
Phenomenal sound
Bose wouldn’t settle for anything less than phenomenal audio, and the QuietComfort® Earbuds II manage this despite their compact size. 
The original QuietComfort® Earbuds already sounded excellent and, with the addition of CustomTune technology, tracks sound better than ever, whether it’s the resounding bass of hip-hop or the delicate strings of an orchestral piece. Bose gives all tracks the same respect you do, leading to a first-class listening experience, wherever you are.
Block out the outside world with best-in-class ANC…
Along with phenomenal sound quality, there’s another thing that Bose is synonymous with: active noise cancellation (ANC). There’s a reason Bose products are so popular in airport departure lounges: the ANC is the best possible antidote to the rumblings of busy environments, leaving you to enjoy your music in serene quiet, no matter how chaotic your surroundings.
The ANC here is better than ever. Because these are in-ear buds, the QuietComfort® Earbuds II can create a seal within your ear canals (with three sizes of ear tips and stability bands included to help you find the ideal fit). With the outside world physically blocked out as much as possible, the four microphones get to work, identifying noise around you and generating an opposing signal to cancel it out, making the world seem quiet wherever you are.
Once again, CustomTune technology helps here: with the unique shape of your ear canal identified, Bose can personalise the noise cancellation to suit you. The results are phenomenal, whether you’re trying to silence the office or the Tube during rush hour.
… but let important noises through
The trouble with ANC is that it can be a bit overzealous, blocking out the stuff that you want or need to hear.
That’s why Bose has created a host of different settings. Quiet Mode blocks out everything, while Aware Mode uses ActiveSense™ technology to soften loud noises (such as a bus passing), meaning you can hear both your music and the world around you. 
In all, there are 11 noise cancellation increments, meaning you can find the perfect setting for every circumstance.
Perfectly pocketable
The original QC Earbuds weren’t exactly bulky, proving easy to pocket and carry wherever. But the newly designed versions are lighter and more compact than ever, despite the enhancements.
The earbuds themselves are now a mere 6.24g each – a reduction of 26.5% on their predecessors’ 8.5g. The case is a more compact square shape, too, coming in at just 59.8g instead of the original’s 76g. All this means you can put them in your pocket and forget they’re there… until you need them.
All-day comfort with a battery to match
When not in use, the earbuds tuck neatly into said charging case, ensuring they always have enough juice to go the distance. But despite its lighter weight, the case delivers more power than ever, allowing the Bose QC Earbuds II to go a full day without the case needing a top-up. 
The buds themselves last six hours at a time and the case holds enough capacity for three additional charge cycles. That’s a total of up to 24 hours in total, up from the 18-hour lifespan of the previous generation.
Built for the gym – and unpredictable weather
If you need to be in the zone at the gym with your favourite workout tracks, sound quality and noise cancellation are all important. But plenty of people avoid in-ear wireless buds, fearing what a little sweat might do to the delicate circuitry.
No need to worry with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: they’re built to IPX4 standards, making them officially sweat-resistant. The acoustic mesh will keep out moisture and debris from the sensitive innards, meaning they will keep working, even if you’re caught in a downpour.
The Bose difference
It’s always impressive when a company takes a five-star product and somehow makes it better. That’s what Bose has done here, boosting battery, sound quality and ANC while making the earbuds even more pocketable.
If you’re serious about sound, you owe it to yourselves to try out the Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds II today.