Beats vs Bose vs Sony Earbuds: Which Brand Is Best For You?

Key Takeaways

If you want noise-cancellation technology…
- Bose is the ideal choice. However, the price range for their earbuds tends to be on the higher end. You can go with Sony for something cheaper.
If you value strong bass and overall sound quality…
- You should choose Beats as their V-shaped sound signature will give you exactly what you need.
If you’re looking for a balance of sound quality, noise cancellation, and affordability…
- Choosing Sony is your best bet as they have the largest amount of earbuds.

Table of Contents

Beats

Strong bass and a V-shaped sound signature that focuses on the high and low frequencies are two characteristics that are well-known for Beats earbuds.

As I mentioned in the article about the headphones of the brand, many of their products are designed with aesthetics in mind. That’s the case for the earbuds as well.

In my opinion, they are the most stylish compared to Sony and Bose ones which mainly use a minimalistic design for their headphones.

Due to their latency, they might not be the greatest choice for gaming. For instance, the 220ms high latency of the Beats Fit Pro True Wireless earbuds will cause an audio delay while gaming.

This will be problematic in competitive FPS games, like Valorant and CS: GO, where sound latency is crucial. It’s advised to buy gaming earbuds instead.

Depending on the model and features, Beats earbud costs vary widely. However, there is not a cheap option for you to buy for like $20.

For example, the Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds cost $250, while the Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds are the cheapest at around $60.

Beats Earbuds Pros

The sound quality is really good with increased lows and highs.
To prevent loss when moving around, certain Beats earbuds include a tight fit that locks into the ears. If you’re running, these are great. Sony and Bose’s alternatives are less effective in that regard.
In comparison to Bose and Sony, Beats earbuds come in black, white, and red, providing customers with more personalization.

Beats Earbuds Cons

You might prefer an earbud design with a less obvious appearance if the Beats is too fancy for you.
The noise-canceling technology in Beats earbuds is not as advanced as that in Sony or Bose models.
They don’t have earbuds if you are on a budget.
They don’t have any gaming earbuds with low enough latency to make them worth it.

Bose

In general, clarity and detail are highlighted in the sound signature of Bose earbuds. Depending on the particular model, certain Bose earbuds could have more bass and mid-range frequencies than others.

For instance, the deep bass of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds is due to active noise cancellation technology and the EQ settings. Right out of the box, they sound way more neutral.

And by the way, talking about noise cancellation; if you just want the earbuds with the best ANC(Active-Noise-Cancellation), just go for Bose. It’s the same as with their headphones.

As for their design, it seems to me that Bose concentrates on providing an ergonomic fit for their earbuds. They provide some of the most comfortable options, in my opinion, along with Sony.

They are excellent for daily usage as they have better battery life on average, but I wouldn’t really choose them over Beats for exercising. In addition, as I’ve mentioned before, Bose only has water-resistant earbuds.

In terms of cost, Bose earbuds are often on the more expensive end of the scale. Priced at around $299, the QuietComfort earbuds are actually more expensive than the AirPods Pro. The least expensive option costs $149.

Bose Earbuds Pros

Compared to Beats and Sony, Bose earbuds are known for their superior noise cancellation.
The sound is very detailed even without the EQ of the application.
Bose makes the most comfortable earbuds I have ever tried.
The design is very minimalistic.
Most earbuds have about 5-6 hours of battery life on a single charge which is better than the 4-5 hours of Beats.

Bose Earbuds Cons

Just like with Beats, Bose doesn’t produce any earbuds with low latency so they are not really a decent option for gaming.
They are the least affordable option.

Sony

Sony earbuds’ sound quality varies greatly depending on the model. That’s because you have so many options available to you. Like the Sony WI-C100, they offer more affordable models that run about $25.

These versions obviously lack more “sophisticated” features found in higher-end earbuds, such as active noise cancellation or 360 audio capability.

However, they also offer models like the Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds, which have received commendations for their superior sound quality and ANC and cost about $200.

They sound and look very much like Bose both in terms of their sound signature and overall minimal presentation. Without any bass exaggeration, the music you hear is extremely accurate and clean.

Sony also offers somewhat more battery life than Beats when it comes to earbuds.

In comparison to the latter, the former offers an average of extra 1-2 hours of playback for their earbuds on a single charge. The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds really offer one of the longest battery life available.

What I personally like about Sony is the LinkBuds S which has an ultra-low latency mode so you can actually use them for gaming. They definitely get a recommendation from me although I am more of a headset guy.

Sony Earbuds Pros

Sony earbuds will offer you the best value for your bucks. Their models with noise cancelation are almost as good as Bose while they cost less money.
Sony has a decent option for gaming(LinkBuds S) which is something that Bose and Beats lack.
The sound that you get is always high quality(based on the price).
You have the highest variety of wireless earbuds to choose from.
On average most equally priced earbuds will have the same or higher battery life than Beats and Bose.