Welcome to the clash of audio giants: Bose vs. Sony! Today, we’re comparing the Sony LinkBuds Fit with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 Edition. Both launched in fall 2024, and priced similarly, making this showdown even more compelling. Which delivers the best value in mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds?
Be sure to check out the individual review for each product in which I go into deeper detail for each product (links above). This article provides a high-level overview, those reviews dive deep into specifics.
To simplify, I’ll refer to the LinkBuds Fit as “Fit” and the QuietComfort as “QC.”
Price
Let’s start with pricing: the Fit costs $300 CAD ($200 USD), while the QC is more budget-friendly at $250 CAD ($180 USD). Pricing gives QC the edge.
Connectivity
Moving to connectivity, both support Bluetooth 5.3 with 50 feet of range (line of sight). They also share dual-connectivity features, allowing seamless switching between two devices—like pausing music on your PC to answer a phone call. As for Bluetooth memory, the Fit stores up to 8 devices, compared to QC’s 5. I tested three devices and found them more than sufficient for most users. Both five and eight-device memory seem excessive, leaving no clear winner for connectivity—both perform equally well.
Accessories
For accessories, Sony includes four ear fittings for the Fit (one pre-installed), while Bose offers three ear fittings (one pre-installed) and three stability bands, as the earbuds are larger. Sony edges out slightly due to one extra fitting.
Both disappoint with USB-A to USB-C cables; a USB-C-to-USB-C cable would’ve been better. Neither includes a power adapter, assuming you’ll use your computer or phone adapter.
Sony maintains a small advantage here.
Design & Comfort
In terms of looks, it’s subjective. I find Sony Fit’s design more appealing—compact and snug, whereas the QC earbuds are bulkier and stick out slightly. A notable QC drawback is the visible ear band from a head-on view, it’s strange that Bose didn’t place the ear band size label on the back of the ear band to prevent it from being visible.
For colour options, Fit comes in black, green, white, and violet, while QC offers black, pink, and white. Though subjective, Fit’s extra colour (even if polarizing) gives it an edge.
For case design, Sony wins again. The Fit case is compact and pocket-friendly, unlike QC’s larger, less convenient one.
Both earbuds offer impressive comfort, allowing for extended four-hour wear—even with glasses. The Fit stands out as one of the most comfortable earbuds, but there’s a significant issue: I’ve experienced a high-pitched screeching sound from the left earbud, likely due to a firmware glitch. This is a common issue (as I mention in the review) that has affected other users. This problem detracts from its usability, despite its physical comfort.
The QC may not match the Fit’s comfort level but still delivers a reliable, enjoyable wearing experience. Given the Fit’s potential to cause sudden discomfort, QC takes the lead in comfort for its consistent performance.
For workouts, both are solid choices—they stay secure during movement and boast IPX4 ratings for sweat and splash resistance. Keep in mind, though, their cases are not water-resistant.
If you lose ear fittings, Sony Fit users will need to rely on third-party options, as Sony doesn’t sell replacements. Bose, however, provides official replacements for the QC, which is a convenient advantage.
Controls
Both earbuds rely entirely on touch controls with no physical buttons. However, Sony Fit’s controls are overly complex and problematic. Single-tap commands aren’t supported, and double-tap is the default for most functions, such as switching between ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and transparency mode. Triple-tap functionality varies based on app customization, and oddly, quadruple-tap isn’t available. Five-tap commands are intended for volume control but rarely work in practice, rendering the Fit’s controls inconsistent and frustrating. Again, far more details in the Fit review.
On the other hand, the QC earbuds provide straightforward and reliable controls. You have single, double, and triple-tap options, plus a press-and-hold feature to switch modes. They’re intuitive and responsive, with no steep learning curve. Bose has clearly prioritized simplicity, making QC a standout winner in the controls category.
While the QC wins hands-down for controls, the Fit does offer a unique feature: Quick Listen Mode. This function detects your voice and pauses content, switches from ANC to transparency mode for conversation, and resumes content after a user-set duration. It’s well-executed and not available on the QC, which lacks any equivalent feature.
Both earbuds excel equally in passive play/pause functionality, halting content when removed and resuming when worn.
Noise Cancelling
When it comes to noise cancellation, the Fit falters. It struggles with low-pitched noises like a plane engine. Can it be used on a plane ride? Yes, but it would mean increasing the volume to an amount that would cause ear irritation which wouldn’t be practical. It would do okay to block engine noise while on a bus, but anything louder than that wouldn’t perform well. The Fit performs poorly against high-pitched sounds, allowing voices and environmental noises, like snow shovelling and people talking around you, to filter through. Even with music on, external sounds remain intrusive. Blasting volume may help but risks hearing damage, making it unsuitable for planes or noisy environments.
In contrast, the QC doesn’t share the Fit’s struggles with ANC performance, making it the more reliable option for active noise cancellation.
The QC earbuds deliver ANC that’s nearly premium tier, showcasing why Bose is often seen as the king of noise cancellation. They excel at handling low-pitched sounds like airplane engines, making them great for travel. Bus noise or chatter? No problem—the QC cancels vocals and environmental sounds remarkably well. When it comes to ANC, the QC dominates.
For transparency mode, both perform impressively—almost premium-level. While the Fit does well, there’s a slight echo effect in conversations. The QC matches the Fit’s performance but feels more natural without any echo, making it the better choice.
Battery
Battery life is another win for the QC. With ANC, the Fit lasts 8.1 hours, while the QC stretches to 9 hours. In standard mode (no ANC/transparency), the Fit lasts 9.2 hours, but the QC leaps ahead at 12 hours—outstanding for any earbuds. Both fully recharge earbuds in one hour.
For case charging, both use USB-C ports, but the QC adds wireless charging support, which the Fit lacks. Charging times for the cases differ slightly—1.75 hours for the Fit, compared to the QC’s faster 1.5 hours. Once again, QC edges ahead.
When fully charged with the case and earbuds, the Fit lasts up to 37 hours, while the QC reaches 31.5 hours. The Fit’s case provides about four full charges, compared to the QC’s three. This explains the Fit’s total hour advantage, despite QC dominating per-charge battery life. It’s a tradeoff: more total hours with the Fit or better single-charge longevity with the QC.
Personally, I’d side with QC for consistent per-charge reliability—ideal for flights. Of course this is up to personal preference and some folks might prefer the total earbud and case battery time.
Microphone Quality
Microphone tests were conducted in quiet conditions, with noisy and windy environments deliberately excluded to keep the analysis concise. For a deeper dive, readers are encouraged to refer to the individual reviews, which also link to YouTube videos with audio samples.
The Fit microphone delivers a more natural tone to my voice, though it’s still evident I’m using earbuds rather than a headset. It has a slight edge over the QC in this regard. While the QC microphone is clear enough for conversations, the sound has a more digitized quality compared to the Fit.
Audio Quality
On to audio: the Fit supports SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 codecs, offering more options than the QC, which supports only SBC and AAC. However, actual audio quality outweighs codec variety, and both perform well.
Out of the box, the Fit feels a bit flat and lacks the boosted bass Sony is known for. Meanwhile, the QC leans into its bass response, delivering a livelier sound right away. If you’re not a bass fan, both offer equalizers in their apps to adjust the profile to your liking.
The Fit’s bass response improves significantly when using Sony’s “Clear Bass” slider in the app, performing well for its price point. However, it still falls short of the QC, whose standard equalizer produces deeper and more impactful bass—far superior in tests at the same volume and with identical tracks.
When it comes to vocals, the Fit shines. Voices like The Weeknd’s come through sharper and more precise, though occasionally a tad too sharp, which can be adjusted in the equalizer. QC handles vocals well, but the Fit is stronger in this category.
For highs, the QC reigns supreme, adding energy and clarity, especially in electronic or house music. Its precision elevates songs to a new level, making it ideal for crisp, dynamic sounds. The Fit does a decent job but can’t match the QC’s sharpness and detail.
Overall, while the Fit delivers commendable audio quality for its price, the QC’s outstanding performance—particularly in bass and highs—puts it on near-premium levels, making it the clear winner.
Glasses-wearers rejoice—neither the Fit nor the QC compromises sound quality while wearing glasses. Both earbuds are compact enough to avoid interference with frames, so there’s no need to worry about discomfort or audio distortion.
Conclusion
After breaking down their strengths and weaknesses, it’s clear (in my opinion) that the QC outshines the Fit. With superior audio quality, ANC, transparency mode, wireless charging, and longer per-charge battery life, the QC feels like the better overall package. While the Fit does have some strong points, its struggles with ANC and random screeching noises are hard to overlook.
That said, everyone’s preferences differ—what works for one person might not work for another. It’s all about what features matter most to you.
