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AirPods Pro 3 vs QuietComfort 35 II

Reddit's answer is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. The AirPods Pro 3 is a Stay Away — don’t buy it — get the AirPods Pro 2 instead.

Apple AirPods Pro 3
Apple · Audio

AirPods Pro 3

Stay Away$189.99
45% of 1,252 owners recommend
~1 in 10 failure rate — ~1 in 10 long-term reports mention a failure, spread across charging case, battery, and earbuds components, typically within the first 1–8 months of ownership. Of tracked cases, 16 were resolved under warranty and 9 were not — so outcomes lean resolved but a meaningful share lands outside coverage. At ~7% serious failure, this is the lowest failure rate of the 4 wireless earbuds we track.

Don’t buy it — get the AirPods Pro 2 instead

+ A vocal minority call the ANC best-in-class; it's the single most cited strength across threads.

− A vocal minority report fit issues — the most recurring complaint, nearly matching praise on the same topic.

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Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Bose · Audio

QuietComfort 35 II

Buy If$350
57% of 1,256 owners recommend
~1 in 3 failure rate — ~1 in 3 long-term owner reports mention a failure, most commonly the power switch, Bluetooth, or battery, typically surfacing between 10 and 73 months of ownership. Warranty outcomes lean resolved — most who reported back got a replacement or repair covered — but a meaningful share landed outside warranty.

Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk.

+ Repeatedly mentioned as the reason owners stick with them — comfort stands out across hundreds of reports.

− A vocal minority find the sound tuning too bass-heavy or otherwise colored compared to rivals.

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Questions people keep asking

Which is better, the AirPods Pro 3 or the QuietComfort 35 II?

Reddit's answer is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. The AirPods Pro 3 is a Stay Away — don’t buy it — get the AirPods Pro 2 instead.

Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Stay Away. Don’t buy it — get the AirPods Pro 2 instead. Best-in-class ANC and sound, but only 45% would buy again — long-term owners are warmer than new buyers.

Is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Buy If. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. Comfort and durability keep a loyal following, but ~1 in 3 long-term reports mention a power-switch or Bluetooth failure — know that going in.