If you’re still tethered to wired headphones, you truly won’t understand how much they limit your mobility until you make the switch to wireless. And then go back to wired. 

When my AirPods were stolen two years ago, I was hesitant to re-invest in a new pair, so I brushed the dust off my wired Apple earbuds and almost immediately, they were ripped out of my ears. The wire had gotten caught on a door handle as I walked by it and mercilessly yanked them from my ear holes. 

The next day, I bought new AirPods.

After you’ve used wireless headphones for a while, you’re accustomed to a certain range of movement so when you try to leave your technology behind for a glass of what? Cue knocking everything to the ground because you forgot you were (literally and metaphorically) tied to your tech. This is why I say you won’t truly understand how limiting wired headphones are until you try to make a perilous return after living wirelessly.

I couldn’t take it. I had to cut the cord, pun perfectly intended.

If maybe it’s day…oh gosh, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN OF QUARANTINE? You might be looking at wireless headphones to help you stay sane inside: like indoor workouts, remote work, or to simply drown out the sounds of your own internal screaming. 

But quality wireless headphones aren’t cheap, and they typically fall into two categories: earbuds and over-the-ear headphones. I have a pair from both camps (AirPods and Bose QuietComfort 35 II (noise-cancelling) headphones), and I like them both for different reasons.

Below, I break down what I like about each pair, their pros and cons, and leave you with some final internal screaming…I mean thoughts about which pair to go with based on your needs.

AirPods

AirPods are light, and the “Apple”-shaped earbuds are the only ones that fit inside my ears well. 

The major concern with AirPods is whether they’ll stay in your ears or not. When I went to the Apple store to buy AirPods, I shared those concerns with the saleswoman as well. She said, “Oh, you can put them in and jump around with them, if you’d like!” And I did, right there in the goddamn store. 

They didn’t fall out. But, that didn’t stop me from going home after purchase and going for a jog around the block—just to be sure. 

I will say, sometimes they do pop out if my hair gets caught on one or I’m doing like…downward-facing dog. However, I usually don’t have too much of an issue with them falling out while running around.

If you’re concerned about them falling out, Apple does have AirPods Pro. These earbuds are the kind that really stick in your ear, but traditionally, this shape is always too big for my ear holes to be comfortable. 

Pros: 

• Lightweight
• Set up what you want the controls to be on each side
• Recharge quickly
• Charging case charges with lightning cable (Appler-user here) so I don’t have use a different cord

Cons: 

• Can’t turn volume up (unless you have Siri-activated but I do NOT and will never)
• The listening time of one charge is only five hours, so if I’m wearing them all day, I will eventually have to stop and throw them in the charging case for a battery boost. 
• Will fall out once in awhile when doing downward-facing dog

Bose QuietComfort 35 II 

I’ve had my AirPods for a little while and never had a desire for over-the-ear headphones until the pandemic started. All the stress left me with an inability to concentrate, and I became finely attuned to every noise my apartment made. As my ability to focus waned, I felt that over-the-ear, noise-cancelling headphones would help me drown out my own internal screaming and concentrate, so I decided to invest in the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

I was worried about how they would sit over my ears, especially with an industrial piercing. 

Before I purchased them, I tried on a friend’s pair and they were super soft and comfortable (but I wouldn’t recommend using them if you have any fresh piercings).

However, for me, it’s where they sit over my glasses behind the ear that causes the biggest issue. My friend’s were SUPER soft and broken in, but he’s had them awhile. Mine are still a little hard (especially where my glasses sit behind my ear) but it doesn’t bother me unless I’ve been wearing them a few hours.

So, if you wear glasses, you might notice some pressure behind your ear where they meet, but I just move my glasses up to avoid that.

However, each passing day deepens my love of Bose headphones, and they are great for focus. They came just in time for New York to start Phase 1, when construction on the apartment building right next to mine resumed. Once I turn on the noise-cancelling function, it’s like the whole world shuts off. You will still be able to hear some noise, but it is very muted. 

My absolute FAVE feature (that I didn’t even know I needed) is the ability to connect them to two devices at the same time. For me, this makes working so much easier, as I can move directly from listening to music on my phone to a meeting on my laptop without having to connect them manually and it’s AWESOME.

Pros: 

• More button controls to adjust the volume, pause, change songs, activate noise cancelling
• Like AirPods and Siri, you have the option for Alexa on these if that’s of interest to (again, would not/will never)
• Two-device connection
• Long battery life

Cons: 

• You will need to ‘break them in’ and get used to the pressure
• Uses a universal cable (so for Apple-users, another cord)
• “Heavier” because they are over-the-ear

Wireless Headphones: Apple AirPods vs Bose QuietComfort 35 II

So, when it comes down to it: how much are they and which do I recommend?

They’re both expensive, but purchases I’ve NEVER regretted.

• AirPods: $159 (on Apple)
• Bose QuietComfort 35 II: $236 (on Amazon – the Bose site didn’t have the rose gold, and that was the color I wanted; they are $299 on the Bose site)

If I could only recommend one set: AirPods. They’re cheaper if you’re still hesitant about diving into wireless headphones. (Note: Bose does have a cheaper pair of the earbud-style headphones, but I don’t know anything about them.)

Also, maybe it’s just the emotional bond I’ve formed with AirPods because they were the first set of wireless headphones I’ve owned, but they’re much more “day-to-day” wear for me. I never wear my noise-cancelling headphones when I’m going on walks outside, for example. First, because I’m paranoid that the noise-cancelling means I won’t hear a murderer sneaking up on me. Second, because it’s so hot and humid out right now, I think the Bose QuietComfort 35 II would make my ears sweat.

BUT, that being said, if you’re looking for “work” headphones, the Bose headphones are the best for helping me concentrate and get shit done. And I love that I can seamlessly transfer from my phone to my laptop without having to manually connect or switch anything.