Why did Bose design the shoot cases for itsQuietComfort Earbuds II(QCEII ) andQuietComfort Ultra Earbuds(QCUE ) without the power to charge up wirelessly ? And why did it repeat that choice on the newly - releasedUltra Open Earbuds ? It ’s a mystery for the old age because Bose has n’t explain its decision .

It ’s not that you ca n’t wirelessly buck these case . It ’s just that you ’ll need to bribe the optional $ 49Bose Wireless Charging Case Coverto do it .

usually , I would n’t bother reviewing an accessory like this . But given that wireless charging has become almost ubiquitous — even onwireless earbudsthatcost the same terms as Bose ’s cover — and because the accessory is currently the only mode to add wireless charging to Bose ’s earbuds , I made an exclusion .

After spend a calendar week with Bose Wireless Charging Case Cover , I ’ve grown used to it . But I ’m still not thrilled by Bose ’s strategy .

Bose Wireless Charging Case Cover design

The showcase is made from a duncical layer of silicone gumshoe and is uncommitted in either white or black , matching the two colour choices of the earbuds . It comes with a removable carabiner , letting you trot the case to a packsack , key anchor ring , or maybe a belt loop if you find so fain .

There ’s a small circular cutout on the front above the Bose logotype , so you’re able to see the case ’s charging indicator . On the bottom , a USB - vitamin C port maintains the option of pumped up charging . And around the back , Bose has integrate a way to urge on the type ’s Bluetooth pairing button — even though it sits in the middle of the wireless charge receiver coil .

Overall , the top seems well made . As you ’d expect , its dimensions are a thoroughgoing fit for the QCEII and QCUE charging instance . The two silicone polymer shell provide first-class protective covering against any number of possible hazards like simoleons and accidental free fall — it ’s like house of cards wrapper for your earbuds . But I have a serious fear about the length of service of the silicone hinge that connect those shells .

It ’s very lean — presumptively to allow for it to flex sufficiently — and could countenance it bust easily . One week was n’t enough sentence to validate this headache . But move over that some Amazon reviewer of the non - wireless reading of the Bose Charging Case Cover reported on the nose this job , I feel some precaution is warranted .

There are two other caveats you should know about .

First , and I ca n’t emphasize this enough , the cover is a lint , debris , and junk magnet , which is normal for this kind of piano - touch culture . The bit I draw out the Case Cover from its protective plastic wrapper , it get down get detritus at an alarming rate . If you ’re search at the photo in this clause and do n’t think it looks like a big problem , that ’s because I spend an 60 minutes retouch them . I do this with all my review photos because I want products to count their best — just as they would in good order after you unbox them . But in this case , I ’ve also included an unretouched pic so you could see the world .

Our critical review sample ’s grim color probably arrive at the lint problem look worse than the white version . But then again , the livid rendering will likely start to face dingy long before you see similar sign of habiliment on the smuggled one .

secondly , the Case Cover increases the overall dimensions of the charging typeface by a good number . Bose ’s charge case is already relatively large when compare to its nigh challenger ( Apple AirPods Pro , Sony WF-1000XM5 ) , and the addition of the Case Cover for sure does n’t facilitate when it comes to pocketability . Note : you have no hold of how much lint is in your pocket until you insert and remove the Wireless Charging Case Cover . Sorry , it had to be said .

Bose Wireless Charging Case Cover, in use

Ultimately , here ’s what matter : Bose Wireless Charging Case Cover does what you require it to do . Slip your QCEII or QCUE charging casing into the cover , push down until it ’s firmly seated on the internal USB - nose candy charging peak , and then drop it on aQi wireless rouse mat . If all goes well , you ’ll see the vitrine ’s LED turn amber , permit you know charge has started .

The two area of day-by-day use that are less than optimum are charging pep pill , which can take up to four hours to to the full charge the case via wireless charging , and how the blanket strike the case ’s chapeau .

Bose ’s lid innovation works well when the charging case is on its own , with the internal attractive feature doing a comme il faut job of keeping the lid closed . When inside the Case Cover , however , the extra mass and dimensions of the silicone polymer plus the silicone ’s slimly grippy surface can overmaster the magnets ’ attracter , causing some unwilled openings .

This is n’t desperate ; the earbuds ’ magnets are secure enough to prevent them from unintentionally popping out . And yet , when the pillowcase hat is open , it engages the earbuds ’ Bluetooth LE ( low - energy ) connection to your sound , cause a slow but steady drain . Needless to say , it could reveal the earbuds to possible damage — the very matter a case ( and case screen ) is meant to keep .

Should you buy it?

If you desire to bear down your Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or Ultra Earbuds wirelessly , the $ 49 Bose Wireless Charging Case Cover is the only game in Ithiel Town . It does just what it promises .

Still , I ca n’t quite facilitate blame Bose for making this supplement necessary . I ’m baffled by the lack of progress - in radio file on its products . I ’m also surprised that the company did n’t increase the forte of its charging lid magnet to be a better catch for the Case Cover ’s spare mass and sizing .

So , for now , if you require wireless charging , yes , you should buy it . But here ’s hop-skip a third party make an even better wireless charging case book binding for Bose ’s earbuds . And here ’s also hope that Bose gets the message and admit this ready to hand feature in next ware .