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When it comes to the best noise-canceling earphones, Bose has been on top for years. Before the third-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra came out in 2023, the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II were considered the best active noise-canceling (ANC) earbuds, and right now they’re on sale for $189 (originally $279). They’re $110 cheaper than the Ultra, but the ANC technology is the same.
It’s been almost two years since the release of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and they’re still some of the best ANC earbuds you can get. Yes, the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra are better overall, but they’re also more expensive. If you mainly care about ANC and want to save some money, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II might be a better choice.
PCMag gave these earbuds an “outstanding” review because of their great dynamic range with deep lows and bright highs, fantastic low- and high-frequency ANC, an Active Aware mode to hear your surroundings, and IPX4 rating for water resistance. Keep in mind there is no way to turn off the ANC with these earbuds, but you can always turn on Aware mode if you want to be able to hear your surroundings.
You’ll get between six to seven hours of juice with these earbuds. The charging case can provide about 18 hours of battery life. The case doesn’t support wireless charging and takes three hours to fully charge from empty, with 20 minutes of charging giving you up to two hours of listening time.