When it comes to great Earbuds, Bose is always at the top of any list. Bose offers some of the best ANC earbuds and amazing over-ear headphones, along with fantastic software features and great build quality.
While all Bose products sound great, most people will know them primarily for their excellent active noise cancellation.
There’s a reason for that. Bose was one of the first companies to introduce this technology to the commercial market, and they’ve been developing it ever since.
Here are the Best Bose Earbuds to buy in 2025
1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Bose’s existing wireless earbud model is called the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Like their over-ear siblings, they offer excellent noise-cancelling and sound quality in a premium package.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer the best noise cancellation we’ve ever had, and they also have spatial audio built in.
So if you want immersive audio that silences the outside world, these are the ones for you.
When they first came out, they felt limited. However, a software upgrade in July 2024 introduced multipoint pairing, and by then the price had dropped, making them even more valuable.
We used to recommend the previously released QE Earbuds II because they were similar and cheaper, but they’ve now been discontinued, making the Ultra buds our top pick.
The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds look similar at first glance to their predecessors, but there are some notable upgrades.
First off, they’re now Snapdragon Sound certified, offering high-quality audio streaming and aptX Adaptive support for impressive device-independent spatial audio.
Sadly, there’s no wireless charging here. You can buy a case cover that adds that, but these are already expensive buds to begin with.
In terms of sound, Bose’s Immersive Audio is the star of the show, and expect a realistic listening experience that surrounds you with music.
It’s so effective that we called it “scary” in our review. Most of the time, the music feels vibrant and alive. As far as ANC goes, the Ultras prove that Bose is still the best.
We’ve tested hundreds of earbuds, and no other product silences the world around you as effectively as these.
They may look very similar to the previous Bose QCE II buds, but there are a few subtle improvements, like the shiny finish on the stem and the updated stability band that holds the buds in place.
The band is generally secure, but those with smaller ears may find it a bit bulky.
Like most Bose devices, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are expensive.
Plus, they face strong competition these days from the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Technics EAH-AZ80, which offer similar premium features.
But Bose’s unrivaled ANC and immersive audio give them a unique advantage.
2. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the polar opposite of the audio manufacturer’s QuietComfort offerings.
Instead of isolating users from the outside world with silicone ear tips and noise-cancelling, these earbuds are designed to do the exact opposite.
The unique design and fit allow you to communicate with the recipient and the surroundings.
This is a huge plus for runners, outdoor walkers, and those who enjoy exercising, as it allows them to stay safe and aware of their surroundings while enjoying their music.
In terms of sound, the Ultra Open earbuds exceeded expectations with powerful bass and a rich sound experience.
This is traditionally a weakness of open-ear headsets, so it was a pleasant surprise to experience the authoritative bass range.
The clip-on fit gives the Ultra Open an edge over the competition in this category, as the sound output of the earbuds reaches your ears more reliably, resulting in a stronger bass.
The sound of the earbuds is customizable, and I enjoyed adjusting the bass, treble, and midrange depending on the style of music you’re listening to.
Best of all, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds didn’t leak audio to the point of distracting family or colleagues, thanks to the clip-on fit.
Compared to their noise-cancelling siblings, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds have more clicky button controls and a slightly longer battery life. Given their hefty price tag,
I just wish the case supported wireless charging right out of the box.
3. Bose Sport Open
The Bose Sport Open Earbuds look exactly like your typical open-ear earbuds, with an ear hook that keeps them securely in place even during the most intense workouts.
There are a few caveats to keep in mind with the more traditional open-ear design. The carrying case is quite large, making it difficult to keep in your pocket.
They also offer a slightly quieter sound than the Open Ultra, which was the first to try this technology.
However, there are some significant advantages. Without a doubt, these are the best-fitting earbuds of all Bose earbuds.
Even during the most intense workouts, the ear hooks keep the earbuds stable and secure, so you won’t have to worry about losing them in any situation.
Plus, with an 8-hour battery life, your music will always be with you, no matter how hard you run.
4. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024
Bose is very good at noise-cancelling, sound, and design, but they often come at a high price.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 offers the best of Bose at a mid-priced price that could have a much wider appeal, not to mention a lower price. You’ll find everything you need in a pair of buds here.
All the essentials are here, including multi-point pairing, touch control customization, low-latency game mode, battery estimation, and voice control.
During our testing, the voice control was so sensitive that we had to simply turn it off.
The buds also support the SBC and AAC codecs for music streaming, but unfortunately, audiophiles will be disappointed by the lack of aptX, FLAC, and WMA.
Battery life isn’t the best on the market, but it did manage to outperform Bose’s estimates, with a claimed nine hours of listening with ANC turned on.
As with many Bose buds, the ANC is the star of the show when it comes to sound.
The ANC is truly top-notch for this mid-range price range, rivaling even some of the higher-end buds. In our review, we wrote that it “completely cancels out all but the loudest background noise.
They fit snugly, are sturdy, and are very comfortable for long listening sessions. I never worried about them falling out during my testing, and that was the case when I joined my 8km run.
This is largely due to the improved stability band and the design that fits snugly in your ear.
They’re IPX4 waterproof, so they’re great for exercise. The only design flaw I didn’t like here was the charging case.
They’re not bad, but they’re a bit large, especially if you want to keep them in your pocket.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 are still more expensive than many options, but all things considered, I think they’re pretty affordable.
If you want great ANC and have trouble finding a pair of buds that fit well, they’re a good choice.
5. Bose Quiet Comfort II
The Bose QuietComfort II is a great example of a remarkable generational improvement.
While the first-generation QuietComfort earbuds were amazing on their own, the second generation takes the idea to a whole new level and really shows that these earbuds are worthy of their name.
As the name suggests, the Bose QuietComfort II focuses on two main factors: how comfortable they are and how well they isolate you from the sounds around you.
The first goal is achieved by the incredibly lightweight and ergonomic design of the earbuds.
Plus, the box includes a variety of eartips and earwings, so you can mix and match them to find the perfect fit for your particular ear.
The earbuds are also incredibly easy to wear for long periods of time, and Bose claims they reduce the strain on your ears which unfortunately has become a familiar habit for all in-ear earbud users.
The second part of the Bose QuietComfort II promise, silence, is also expertly addressed.
Not only do the aforementioned eartips help to passively block out ambient sounds, but the buds themselves also offer excellent active noise-cancelling.
It’s incredibly effective, and one of the best implementations of ANC in this price range.
Of course, if you need to hear what’s going on, there’s also a capable transparency mode, which is great for runners or commuters.
The aforementioned eartips not only help block out ambient noise passively, but the buds themselves also offer excellent active noise cancellation.
They work wonders, and are one of the best implementations of ANC in this price range.
Lastly, battery life is a decent part of these earbuds. You can listen to music for 6 hours with ANC on a single charge, and you can get another 24 hours with the charging case. That’s good, but not great.
What’s the difference between open-ear and in-ear earbuds?
You’ll find two distinct types of earbuds in Bose’s earbud catalogue. The QuietComfort series is a traditional in-ear design, while the Open series (the Bose Open Ultra and Bose Sport Open Earbuds) are open-ear designs.
In-ear designs are what you might think of as a typical earbud design.
They typically have silicone tips (some don’t, like the regular AirPods) but they go directly into your ear canal and use small speakers to deliver sound. These headphones have a number of advantages.
For example, by filling your ear canal, they passively block out a lot of outside noise. Since the drivers are close to your ear, you can easily get a balanced and detailed sound.
Open-ear designs, on the other hand, open up your ear canal to ambient sound. These types of headphones try to transmit sound using air conduction, using directional drivers located near your ears.
This results in a sound that is difficult to tune out, but also provides excellent environmental awareness.
That’s why open-ear designs are so important for all types of athletes who exercise outdoors. You can hear your music, but still be aware of your surroundings, such as oncoming cars.
They also reduce the weird pressure buildup that some in-ear headphones can cause when worn for long periods of time.
Also read: Top 8 Best Bose Headphones in 2025