Noise-Canceling Showdown! AirPods Pro 2 vs Bose QC Earbuds II

Two of the best noise-canceling buds go head-to-head in a series of real-world tests to see which is the noise-canceling king.

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00:00 Intro
00:18 Test Controllers
00:45 The point of Noise-Canceling
01:05 Spoken Word Test
02:58 Park Environment Test
03:58 Busy Street Environment Test
05:02 Underground Environment Test
05:50 And The Winner Is...

[PhoggHawk]

I've owned both. They are very similar in performance, and both sound great. I possibly prefer the sound of the Airpods a little bit due to the quicker transient response of the bass. It just sounds a little bit tighter and punchier, but the Bose bass is deep and rich. You can't go wrong with either of them. The transparency mode and ANC are very close, but there's maybe a slight hiss that remains with the Bose when no music is playing, which I find annoying. I often use ANC for total silence for sleep. Airpods are far more comfortable with side sleeping too. Bose sticks out too far from your ears and they hurt a little bit. They also start flexing the driver in your ear if the mics are muffled by a pillow, so it sounds like a rhythmic thumping. However, I am an Android user and Bose is the clear winner if you use that platform. The wings also make it very secure in my ear, while Airpods tend to slip out. If not trying to sleep on your side, and just listening to audio, both products are equally comfortable to me and well designed. Bose will work better for those, including myself, who have larger ear canals. I tend to get a better seal with them. I like the charging case better for Airpods. It's better built and feels more solid. It's also smaller and charges wirelessly. I hate that the Bose for $300 doesn't charge wirelessly! But, if you are iOS, get Airpods Pro 2. If you are Android, get the Bose QC Buds II. But try to find them on sale.

[VarunShukla]

Really fun way to fade out colours to depict noise cancellation. Great work. Wish the video was longer as it was very engaging. But you covered everything, so.. well done

[miikalammela]

How about dealing with strong wind noise? Would be easy to test by riding a bike at around 25 km/h speed. Many earbuds’ ANC-mics are ”disturbed” by wind… often so much that it’s unbearable to listen to the harsh sounds caused by the ANC… and you end up turning off the ANC. I for one would like to have the ”city noise” dampened while cycling, I can still drive safely. So: are these earbuds able to keep the wind noise tolerable while cycling? And thanks to anyone who can share positive experiences of ANC earbuds that can be silent in the wind!

[Nostalgic_Lewis]

As someone with both, for me noise cancellation isn’t even close, where I work has 30 machines all making loud ambient sound and my AirPods barley block out an AC, let alone my Bose blocking out my whole job 😂

[wbev_thai]

I have always been a Bose user with noise cancelling and I have the original Bose qc’s, but a year ago I switched from Samsung and moved over to apple with everything, so I bought the new AirPod pros on release and I love them, even though the Bose are probably better, I just love how easy all my Apple devices connect to each other

[clairereilly]

Jide you're such an awesome editor and loved watching you have fun with this vid!

[siquanwu]

I have the Bose, my wife has the AirPod pro 2, ANC, Bose wins, sound Bose wins, battery life Apple wins, user friendly (pairing) Apple wins, comfort, depends on individual, I feel Bose is better, my boss also likes Bose, but my wife, her sisters and my cousin, all like Apple better.

[OliviaHopeMorgaine-gcpw]

Thanks! After viewing several YouTube videos on this topic, your's was by far the most helpful.

[FloorManiac]

Great vid, but I have a suggestion. I liked the test where the man was speaking and getting closer. For those of us who are surrounded by screaming children, it may be a good to do that same test, but with high pitched voices.

Not that im a neglectful

[teslacybertruck]

I really like that noise cancelling effect you used, it was fire 🔥🔥🔥

[sicebim]

Great approach to testing the earbuds.

Really, really want the Bose but for the lack of multi-point, just can't pull the trigger and spend that much money on them.

Waiting to see what the Sony WF-1000XM5 will do.

[alliehamilton-calhoun]

I love my Bose. I spend hours outside in my garden during the summer. When I'm wearing my QC earbuds, I can't hear the neighbor's air conditioner clanking right next to me or his lawn mower. Best headphones I've ever had & well worth the price.

[matthewlucas]

I own both. Airpod2 and Bose QC2 and 1. The Bose QCII wins in every category. Honestly best purchase all year. If you love full body, rich, bold, detailed sound you will love the QCII. If you are really not into music much Apple is good. So, here ( or hear! ) is a honest review on the QCII Sound 10, build quality 10, Looks 10 ( doesn't look like smurf hairdryers ), battery 10, case 10 ( size is perfect, charges for 24 hours use so no need for wireless IMHO ), Comfort 10, ANC 10 ( they invented ANC!! ), APP and UI 10 ( even switch seamlessly to iMac to iPhone) Bottom line it's like comparing Apples to Bose.. for audio, you just can't.

[cassiecat]

I’m in the Apple ecosystem so tried the airpods pro 2; they hurt my ears and i hated the sound. Noise cancellation was laughable and it’s supposed to be 2x better than the first generation? Sent back and got the Bose. Super impressed with the fit, sound (amazing) and especially that powerful NC. Even though some features aren’t there like multi point pairing, the most important features are excellent, to me.

[manis]

good review, was looking to get some new ear buds and hadn't thought about bose.

[Dan-ojiq]

I'm still wearing the Bose QC original ginormous buds. They are great all around and probably can do everything the QC 2 buds do, except the latest one bud listening feature. But the QC 1 buds do look ridiculous.

[rolandoinzunza]

I’d like to know what NC in ear buds performed best on a plane.

[James-xgrh]

I bought both to test and it’s super hard to tell which is better with the “crying baby test”. If anything I think AirPods are slightly better. And being $100 cheaper now and better apple pairing I think they’re the winner. Plus the AirPods are way louder watching videos on a ipad than the Bose for some reason.

[Scientist_Salarian]

I’m a massive fan of the Airpods Pro. Difference in ANC is barely noticeable, but the adaptive transparency mode of the Airpods is what makes them a clear winner above all others. The loudness filter is truly incredible, as is the weightless feeling in transparency mode.

[thedecmyster]

The Bose QC2's are brilliant I love them, the ANC is brilliant and they fit much better than the AirPods Pro