Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Cream

These earphones are very comfortable and the noise cancelling works fantastically well. One downside I find is that there is no real indication of the battery life, only in the app you can see how many hours you can still listen or call but not the life of the battery.

I have been using AirPods for years. And every so often, I have to replace them. They’ve dropped again, gotten too wet, etc. I have also been using a Bose QC45 headphone for years. So I thought, let me try the Bose earbuds for a change. But they are a huge disappointment. The sound is okay and they fit comfortably. That is where the positives end.

To start with, I had to install a different app than the one I already have on my phone. Why Bose? Why can't I control my headphones and earbuds in the same app?

Pairing isn't great either. You take AirPods out of the case, put them in your ear, and they work. On both my iPhone and Macbook. The experience with these earbuds is the complete opposite. Every single time, it was a struggle to get them working.

The case feels cheap and flimsy. And very annoying: as soon as you put the earbuds in, you hear a high-pitched whistling sound for minutes. According to Reddit, this is caused by feedback from the mic and speakers. What does it mean that the earbuds don't turn themselves off immediately as soon as you put them back in the case?

Conclusion: I returned them and ordered AirPods again after all. What a relief when you're in the Apple ecosystem. Unpack, put them in your ears, and they work. And in hindsight, the AirPods (the 4 with ANC) actually sound just as good, if not better. I gave the little detour a try, but I'm back with Apple after all.

I bought them mainly because I am sensitive to noise and headphones aren't suitable everywhere. Never thought such small things would work so well. Very happy with them.