Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, Triple Black review

Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds II are a 2022 sealed in-ear model with active noise cancellation, not the later 2024 QuietComfort Earbuds or QuietComfort Ultra generation. The exact appearance assessed here is Bose's Triple Black version. Bose's former U.S. product route now redirects to its general earbud category, and its model-specific support page labels the family “Sold from 2022–2025.” That lifecycle label is not a current-stock statement, and it does not prove the geographic scope of Bose's support date.

This is a source-based review, not a fit or performance test. Bose's manual identifies case model 435911 and left/right earbud identifiers 911L and 911R. Confirm those details and the seller's actual package before considering an older listing; neither an official image nor a historic battery maximum verifies an individual seller's item.

Fit depends on two parts, not just the tip

The fit system uses silicone eartips plus separate stability bands. Bose supplies small, medium and large sizes of each, with medium tips and size 1 bands fitted in the illustrated original package. The manual describes placing the tip at the canal opening, then rotating the bud until the tip makes a gentle seal and the band rests against the ear ridge. A correct seal is part of the intended design, but it cannot establish comfort or secure fit for your ears. Bose explicitly allows different combinations in the left and right ears, so a size mismatch across ears is not inherently a defect.

Bose documents Quiet mode with full noise cancellation and Aware mode for hearing surroundings, with additional noise-cancellation levels adjustable in its app. This is a useful arrangement if you want both a sealed-tip design and active ANC, but do not treat the word “QuietComfort” as a promise that the fit or cancellation result will suit every listener. The different eartip and stability-band sizes are a practical reason to verify that the original pieces are included, especially for an older or incomplete offer.

Six hours is not a documented ANC runtime

Bose's U.S. launch information and model-specific Owner's Guide describe up to six hours of listening from a full earbud charge. The manual says battery life varies with use; it does not tie six hours to ANC-on playback, a specific codec, or a named settings test. The charging case is claimed to recharge the buds up to three times, but those top-ups are separate sessions, not one continuous earbud runtime. A short 20-minute case-closed charge is listed as up to two hours, and Bose gives one hour for the earbuds and up to three hours for the case to charge.

Because the six-hour statement is mode-unspecified, this review does not enter it as ANC-on music time. The model can satisfy an active-ANC preference, but a visitor requiring a numeric minimum of continuous ANC listening cannot count on the published general maximum as proof. No battery test was conducted, and an older used battery may deliver less than its original advertised maximum.

Codec support is clearer than device switching

Bose's model-specific U.S. product FAQ names SBC and AAC over Bluetooth Classic Audio. A phone or computer must also support the chosen codec; the earbuds' codec list alone cannot guarantee that a particular host will use either one. The sources reviewed here do not establish LDAC or LC3 for this model.

The device-switching limit is more restrictive than the stored-device count suggests. Bose says the earbuds can remember up to seven devices, but connect and play from only one at a time. Selecting a second previously paired device disconnects the first. That is not two-device multipoint, so this is a poor match when simultaneous phone-and-computer connections are essential. Bose lists Bluetooth 5.3, but that version number does not override the explicit single-source behavior.

Separate the earbuds' water rating from the case

Bose rates the earbuds IPX4 and says not to swim, shower or submerge them; the manual also warns that resistance can diminish with wear. Bose's FAQ says the case interior can tolerate residual sweat or moisture from the buds but advises against exposing the outside of the case to water. That does not give the charging case an IPX4 rating.

The included cable is USB-C at the case end and USB-A at the power end. USB-C cable charging is established, but the reviewed Bose package list, guide and FAQ do not establish whether this exact case supports wireless charging or explicitly rule it out. I leave that capability unknown rather than treating the absence of a Qi claim as proof that wireless charging is unsupported. If a specific charging method matters, verify the exact case with Bose documentation or the seller before buying.

Check generation, package and seller terms

Ask the seller for the exact product name, Triple Black finish, case model number and identifiers on both earbuds. The official support sold window and current redirect indicate an earlier model, not a current Bose product page or assurance that a used unit is available, authentic, complete, covered or in good condition. Confirm the case charges and pairs, inspect the USB-C port and contacts, and check for the fitted medium eartips, alternate tip sizes, stability bands, charging case, cable and quick-start material. The fit kit for this generation is not interchangeable with other Bose earbuds.

The clearest reasons to consider this generation are its sealed ANC design, supplied two-part fit system, SBC/AAC support and explicit USB-C charging. Its important limits are single-device connection, no verified ANC-on runtime figure, no established wireless-case claim in the reviewed sources, and the uncertainty that comes with an earlier model. Treat the purchase as a check of the exact package and battery condition—not as a way to recover a guaranteed six-hour ANC session.