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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer excellent noise isolation, making them ideal for air travel and noisy environments, with sound quality and comfort praised as very good. However, call and meeting quality is rated fair, and they're less suited for gaming or watching TV due to poor scores in these categories. The JBL Live Flex 3 boasts very good sound quality and comfort as well, with additional features like the Smart Charging Case with a touch display for control, the LDAC codec for better sound on compatible devices, and longer battery life. They also offer wireless charging, which Bose lacks. But, they may not be the best for calls and meetings and have open enclosures, which typically provide less noise isolation than closed ones like on the Bose. Consider the JBL for longer battery life and tech-forward features, but choose the Bose for the best noise isolation and comfortable listening, especially while traveling or in noisy places. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the JBL Live Flex 3
- Very good for music
Key differences
Music
7.4
8.0
The JBL Live Flex 3 is very good for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
TV and Video
6.2
5.7
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.3
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is very good.
Battery
7.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Flex 3 has 10 hours of battery life.
Cost
$179
$216
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $179 and the JBL Live Flex 3 costs $216.
Build Quality
9.2
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Flex 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and JBL Live Flex 3 are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.1
5.2
The JBL Live Flex 3 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the JBL Live Flex 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | JBL Live Flex 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$179 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 40 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 8.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the JBL Live Flex 3
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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