- Anthony
There are a lot of different earbuds on the market, and it can be hard to decide which ones are best for you. If you decide between Jabra vs Bose earbuds, you should keep a few things in mind.
Both brands offer great sound quality, but Jabra earbuds tend to be more affordable. Bose earbuds are known for their ability to block out noise, so they might be the best choice if you’re looking for. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, so it’s important to try both brands before choosing.
Bose Earbuds vs Jabra: Which Noise-cancelling Earbuds Win?
Price and value
The greatest wireless earphones generally have a $200 or more premium price tag. The QuietComfort Earbuds ($280) and the Jabra Elite 85t ($230) are expensive items that you can spend your Christmas money on.
We feel that the Elite 85t provides greater functionality for your money. As enticing as Bose’s ANC technology and call quality are, some of the QuietComfort Earbuds’ flaws may make you reconsider paying the extra.
Active noise cancellation
No wireless earbuds can compete with the QuietComfort Earbuds’ active noise canceling. It’s amazing how Bose was able to take the same ANC found in the Bose 700 and improve on its capabilities with half the microphones.
Like its over-ear predecessor, the left earbud has ten configurable levels of ANC, three of which may be stored and cycled through. The finished product is nothing short of spectacular. The majority of the background noise will be entirely silenced. I could work quietly on the front porch without being distracted by traffic sounds. High-frequency sounds, like a semi-truck horn, were rarely heard in the environment. For me to hear them, something had to happen in front of the house.
The true wireless Jabra Elite 85t has the third-best ANC performance in its category, just behind the Sony WF-1000xM3 true wireless earbuds, which is a praised. That also means it works better than the Apple AirPods Pro, a device that was recently praised for its good noise cancellation.
The Sound+ app lets you change the five levels of ANC on the Jabra, with each level increasing by three decibels to block out the most noise at higher frequencies.
The method is successful at blocking out every day sounds like timers, doorbells, and cars driving by, and it is also windproof. But we found that Bose’s headphones were better at blocking out louder noises like babies crying and whistling.
The QuietComfort Earbuds and Elite 85t have Transparency settings, but Bose has a more powerful and special version that works with ANC.
This improves ambient awareness and makes sounds more distinct, allowing you to recognize them more easily. The Elite 85t mode is no slouch either, with superb clarity for hearing most of what’s going on around you. It just cannot match with what Bose provides.
Design
Jabra easily wins this round-based just on looks. The company’s aptitude for fine craftsmanship is on full show. The Elite 85t’s smooth matte plastic casing is thicker than its predecessor, yet it’s still strong and attractive.
Unlike their competition, these buds do not stand out like a sore thumb. We also like the color combinations, including Titanium/Black, Gold/Beige, Copper/Black, Black, and Grey.
The Elite 85t’s comfort and fit are equivalent to the Jabra Elite 75t vs Bose despite its heavier (1 gram) and longer (2mm) frame. Jabra developed the sound port with an oval form that enables easy entry into the canal. When correctly set, the company’s gel tips give a strong grip and enough on-ear stability.
The charging case for the Elite 85t is the most portable of the two. It’s lighter than the Apple AirPods Pro case and includes powerful magnets to keep the lid closed and the buds secure. You won’t feel burdened carrying it in your pockets or gym bag, and it won’t add extra weight while commuting.
We understand why Bose needed bigger housing to house its strong internals. We also believe the firm might have come up with a lot more imaginative design than the QuietComfort Earbuds were given. The elongated pill form stands out in an unattractive way. We also believe the color selections are blander compared to Jabra’s offers.
The Elite 85t’s case is IPX4-certified for sweat and water resistance and built of high-quality composite plastic.
The additional real estate and IR sensors embedded into the buds increase weight, impacting comfort. The longer you wear them, the more pressure the sound port exerts on the concha; you’ll sense some pain after an hour. Bose’s StayHear Max silicone ear tips and fins hold the QuietComfort Earbuds in place for the most part. However, slippage may occur during speed-walking or running.
If you think the buds are big, wait till you see the charging case. This piece of plastic is bulky and almost double the size of other cases on the market. If you attempt to stuff it into your tight denim pants pocket, you can tear a hole in them.
Controls
Bose chose touch controls, while Jabra chose conventional buttons. However, only one of them, Jabra, paid attention to the actual control method. The Elite 85t has single-, double-, and triple-tap gestures on both earbuds. This lets you do different things with the buds, like play music, handle calls, and turn on other features.
My only complaint is that each press of the buttons pushes the earbuds further into your ears, which hurts as you do it over and over.
The touch sensors on the QuietComfort Earbuds are incredibly responsive to taps, but they only work with double taps and long presses. Furthermore, you may only alter the left bud. On-ear detection does not perform effectively and has latency concerns; the Elite 85t runs nicely.
The QuietComfort Earbuds outperform the Elite 85t in digital assistant capabilities. The Bose microphone array is great at recognizing speech and picking up voice commands. Siri and Google Assistant record questions just as quickly as they answer them.
The QuietComfort Earbuds also support Bixby and Cortana. You’ll get high-quality voice assistance from Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant on the Elite 85t.
Call quality
Bose’s headphones had the best call quality and active noise cancellation. Phone conversations and video chats will have the same clarity and crispness as the Bose 700.
Bose’s mic array reduces background noise, letting me talk to my wife outside in chilly weather. On Zoom calls, the buds functioned significantly better inside.
The Elite 85t is the best calling headset compared to its predecessors. However, it is not the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Jabra’s ANC microphones effectively reduce external noise. I was able to conduct clear-sounding chats. However, the volume levels were lower than I liked, as I learned multiple times when conversing with the missus. The Elite 85t’s good connection reduces dropouts, making it better for indoor use.
App and special features
The Sound+ app has become the Elite series’ steak and potatoes. Not only is it the hub for all tasks, but the app is also changed often with new features that make the user’s experience better.
MyControls and MySound are the two newest features. They let you change and expand the settings on both earbuds and study your surroundings to adjust the EQ to your hearing.
They function effectively and assist in simplifying use. A Sidetone slider controls your phone call volume, and a Call Equalizer improves call quality by adding treble or bass to the caller.
The sonic characteristics are why you want the Elite 85t. The Elite series’ built-in EQ is a key feature, enabling you to manually adjust the frequency levels to build and preserve your sound profiles. You also receive a few settings that perform well with certain music genres and topics (e.g., podcasts, movies).
I believe the Soundscapes option is one of the app’s most distinctive and unappreciated features. It’s well-designed and may help you relax if you’re anxious; you can choose from 12 settings that emit calming tones to ease tensions. Don’t take anything for granted, particularly in these difficult times.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are compatible with the Bose Connect app and have several nice capabilities, but not as many as Sound+. Like its competitors, it has a slider to manually adjust ANC, toggle options for voice assistance and on-ear detection, and a Self Voice mode to boost phone conversation volume.
The Bose Connect software lacks an adjustable EQ, a Find My Earbuds mode, and an Auto-Off capability to put the buds to sleep while not in use. These are all accessible on Sound+. The Elite 85t’s multipoint technology lets you connect to two devices at once and switch between them, unlike the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.
Bluetooth 5.0 works well on the Elite 85t, but Bose’s answer is Bluetooth 5.1, which is quick and reliable. Since it’s easy to manually connect, we prefer the QuietComfort Earbuds’ charging case’s Bluetooth button.
Audio
Jabra has improved its audio quality with each truly wireless release, and the Elite 85t is the company’s best-sounding model. The 12mm drivers have been tweaked to give a more balanced soundstage between bright and warm.
I listened to M.I.A.’s “Bird Song (Diplo Remix)” for a full dose of bass and was blown away by the deep, rich reverberations of the Elite 85t’s speakers. Diplo’s kick drums were powerful, and the kazoo-like honking fit in well with the boomy sound.
I then played some Busta Rhymes, letting the rapper dominate the rhythmic beat on “Tear Da Roof Off.” The syncopated strings and percussion were more energetic and sounded tighter and sharper than the QuietComfort Earbuds.
If you like how clear the Bose 700 sounds, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds will not disappoint. Listening to symphonic songs like “Walk on By” by Isaac Hayes showed how much the Bose vs. Jabra 75t focused on the high end. The bright violins stood out over the sad electric guitar.
Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” had many recognizable background sounds, but the keyboards and horn part stood out even more. I only wish the bass wasn’t so muffled as it was with Bose’s prior best wireless earbuds, the SoundSport Free.
Enabling ANC mode on either model slightly boosts the low end, but you’ll probably notice it more on the Elite 85t. This is beneficial for music genres such as hip-hop, rock, and EDM.
Battery life and charging case
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds feature a larger battery (6 hours). Even with power drainers like ANC, loud volume, and heavy wifi streaming, they operate for 5.5 hours like the Elite 85t on a full charge. This is disheartening regardless of which side you choose.
One benefit of the Elite 85t is that you can turn off ANC to get two more hours of use. This is useful when your battery is low and you’d rather stream music than cancel noise.
There is no option to disable both listening modes on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds simultaneously, so you must use one or the other. The QuietComfort Earbuds provide 2 hours of usage on a 15-minute charge, while the Elite 85t only provides 1 hour of use on a 15-minute charging.
With such a large charging case, you’d think the QuietComfort Earbuds would have more portable power. Nope. Sorry. It barely lasts 18 hours, but Jabra’s case lasts 24 hours with ANC and 28 hours when switched off.
Both cases allow wireless charging, so you can use any suitable Qi-certified wireless charger to charge them without being attached to any charging wires.
Warranty
Bose’s earbuds come with a one-year limited guarantee that covers defects in materials and workmanship.
If your Bose earbuds break during this time, Bose will fix them or send you a new pair. This guarantee also includes free shipping, so you won’t have to worry about any extra costs.
On the other hand, Jabra offers a more comprehensive warranty for their earbuds. The warranty for Jabra covers defects in materials and workmanship for two years from the date of purchase. This is twice as long as the guarantee for Bose.
For the first year of ownership, Jabra’s warranty covers accidental damage and earbud repairs or replacement.
This means that if you damage your Jabra earbuds by mistake within the first year of owning them, Jabra will fix or replace them for free.
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FAQ
Which earbuds are better than Bose?
Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones outperform Bose headphones. These headphones have great battery life, sound quality, noise cancellation, and multipoint connection. They are also known for their comfort and low weight when worn.
Which brand has better noise cancellation?
Bose has the best noise-canceling technology on the market. Jabra’s finest noise-canceling features may be less effective than Bose’s.
Can I use Jabra or Bose earbuds for workouts?
Yes, both Jabra and Bose offer earbuds specifically designed for workouts. Jabra’s earbuds are known for their fitness features, such as heart rate monitoring and exercise tracking. Bose’s earbuds are known for their secure fit and sweat-resistant design.
Which brand offers better battery life?
Jabra and Bose offer earbuds with similar battery life, ranging from 5 to 8 hours of continuous use. However, Jabra earbuds have better battery life when making phone calls.
Are Jabra earbuds a good brand?
They’re well-made, compatible with the Jabra Sound+ app, and multi-device. Their call-focused headsets have better mics than other Bluetooth headsets, and some are the best we’ve tried.
Is Jabra better than Sony?
The Jabra is more comfortable, has better controls, and has a much smaller casing with the same total battery life. They also perform better in terms of noise isolation. On the other hand, Sony has a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.
Conclusion
In the world of earbuds, there are many brands to choose from. However, two of the most popular are Jabra and Bose. So, which one is better?
Ultimately, it depends on what you are looking for in an earbud. Jabra earbuds are generally cheaper, and they offer a more basic range of features. However, Bose earbuds have been widely praised for their sound quality, and people often prefer them. Hooke Audio hopes that this article is helpful for you.
