Introduction
If you want to block out noise during the day or while you’re trying to sleep, the QuietOn earbuds can be a great choice. They are very light and comfortable to wear, and they work well to reduce the sounds around you without any complicated setup. All you have to do is put them into your ears, and after about 20 seconds, their special noise-cancelling technology turns on by itself. This means the earbuds start to lower the loud sounds around you so you can enjoy a quieter space.
Hi, I’m Ethan Green from NoSleeplessNights.com. I have been using the QuietOn 3.1 earbuds, which are the newest model, for the past four months. I have also tried them alongside some other types of earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones to see how they compare. It’s important to know that these earbuds do not play music or any sounds; their only job is to reduce noise. Because they don’t need to play audio, they are much smaller than most noise-cancelling headphones you might have seen.
Just to be honest, QuietOn gave me these earbuds to try out and review. If you choose to buy them using the link I’ll provide, I might earn a small commission. But don’t worry, I will share both the good and the not-so-good parts about these earbuds to help you decide if they are right for you.
What’s in the Box and First Impressions
When you open the box, you get everything you need to use the QuietOn 3.1 earbuds right away. Inside, you’ll find the earbuds themselves, a charging case, a cable to charge the case, different sizes of tips to fit your ears, a manual, and the box that holds it all.
The charging case looks very nice and feels strong. It has a hard plastic shell on the outside and shiny metal parts inside that connect to the earbuds to charge them. The case is about the same size as other noise-cancelling headphone cases, so it can fit easily in your pocket.
One good thing is that there are four different sizes of foam tips included. This is helpful because everyone’s ears are different, and to block out noise well, you need a tight but comfortable fit. The tips are made from memory foam, which means you can squeeze them before putting them in your ear, and they will expand to fit snugly. You have to be quick when putting them in because the foam expands fast. Once they are in your ears, you hardly feel them at all, which makes wearing them for a long time very comfortable.
You also get two instruction booklets: a quick start guide and a longer manual. But since the earbuds don’t have many buttons or features, having two manuals seems a bit unnecessary. Lastly, there is a USB-C to USB cable for charging, which is the newer and faster type of charging cable.
The overall design is very clean and stylish. These earbuds are designed in Finland and made in Poland, and you can see the simple, Scandinavian style in how they look. When I wear them at home, I find they feel good and comfortable, even if I wear them for many hours during the day.
Small and Comfortable Earbuds
One of the best things about the QuietOn 3.1 earbuds is how tiny they are. They are really small, which makes them great if you sleep on your side or want to wear them all day without feeling anything bulky in your ears.
If you look at a picture where they are next to Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds, you can see that QuietOn earbuds are much smaller. The other earbuds are bigger because they can play music, but QuietOn is only for cancelling noise, so they can be very small.
The only other earbuds I know that are this small are Kokoon Nightbuds, but those have a thin wire that goes behind your head, which some people might find uncomfortable.
The QuietOn earbuds are also shaped with a nice curve, so they fit nicely inside your ear. They don’t stick out too much, and because of their flat shape, they don’t press hard against your ear when you lie on your side. This makes them very comfortable to wear in bed in any sleeping position. In my experience, these are the most comfortable noise-cancelling earbuds I’ve used for sleeping on your side.
If you look at how small they are in the ear, you’ll notice they don’t poke out like many regular earbuds. This means when you lie down, you don’t feel the hard part of the earbuds pressing into your ear, which is a big plus for side sleepers.
Power and Battery Life
Now, let’s talk about how long the QuietOn earbuds can work before needing a charge. This is one of their strongest points. To charge them, you plug the charging cable into the back of the case and the other end into a USB power source like your phone charger, laptop, or wall adapter.
The charging case has little lights that show how much power is left. There are three tiny lights on the back of the case that tell you the battery level of the case itself. On the front, there are two groups of three lights each that show how much battery each earbud has. This way, you always know if the earbuds and case have enough charge. Even if just one light is on, you can still use them for a whole night without worries.
When fully charged, the earbuds last about 28 hours on their own. This is more than four times longer than Apple AirPods Pro 2, which is amazing. The charging case can fully charge the earbuds three more times, giving you up to 84 hours in total before you need to recharge the case itself. Charging the earbuds takes about two hours, and charging the case takes about three hours.
If you often forget to charge your gadgets, these long battery times will be a big help and make life easier.
How Well They Block Out Noise Compared to Some Earplugs and Noise-Cancelling Headphones
I spent a lot of time testing how well the QuietOn earbuds block out different sounds in my home. I compared them to different types of earplugs and some other noise-cancelling headphones to see which worked better.
Right now, there are not many noise-cancelling headphones made especially for sleeping. So, I had to compare QuietOn to headphones that also play music. This isn’t a perfect comparison, but it’s still interesting.
The other headphones I used were the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and the Sony WF-1000XM4. The earplugs I tested were Mack’s UltraSoft foam earplugs, Mack’s Pillow Soft silicone earplugs, and Quies wax earplugs. This gave me six different things to compare.
Test 1: Snoring
I played loud snoring sounds from a speaker near my pillow to see how much the earbuds and earplugs could block it out. I gave QuietOn a 6 out of 10 because they did a good job reducing deep snoring noises. Foam earplugs and AirPods Pro 2 were the best here, scoring 8 out of 10.
Test 2: TV in Another Room
Next, I tested background noise from a TV in another room. QuietOn did well and got 7 out of 10, especially against music. But AirPods and foam earplugs did slightly better at blocking voices.
Test 3: Music in Another Room
For music playing nearby, QuietOn did very well, scoring 8 out of 10. They reduced a lot of bass sounds. Only AirPods blocked out more music noise.
Test 4: Traffic Outside
I live near roads, so I tested how well they block car noise. QuietOn scored 8 out of 10, sharing second place with foam earplugs.
Test 5: Kitchen Fan
With a loud fan running in the kitchen a few meters away, QuietOn came second with 7 out of 10.
Test 6: Washing Machine Spin Cycle
Lastly, I tested the washing machine spin cycle noise. QuietOn scored 6 out of 10. This was a tough sound for all earbuds and earplugs to block.
Keep in mind, this was just my personal test, so results might differ for others. QuietOn works well to lower deep and low noises but is less strong at blocking higher-pitched sounds like talking or sharp noises.
The good thing is that because some high-pitched sounds get through, you can still hear your alarm clock clearly when using them, which is important if you use them to sleep.
How Well They Block City and Train Noise
Besides testing at home, I also tried QuietOn earbuds outside, like when walking around the city or riding trains. They worked well to reduce steady sounds like traffic and city noise but were not as good at blocking sudden loud noises. This is normal because QuietOn uses a microphone inside that listens to sounds and then creates a special sound wave to cancel out the noise. This method works best for constant, ongoing sounds.
On trains, QuietOn helped a lot with the noise of the ride. But I could still hear important sounds like announcements, doors opening, and people talking. Apple AirPods Pro 2 did a better job at cutting out talking noise on the train, while Sony earbuds blocked some noise but not as much as QuietOn or AirPods.
Occlusion Effect
While filming myself using the earbuds, I noticed something funny and a bit strange. When I talk while wearing QuietOn earbuds, my voice sounds different. This is called the “occlusion effect.” It happens because the earbuds block your ears and change how your own voice sounds to you.
I have talked to people while wearing them, but when I talk to a camera, my voice sounds especially weird with the noise cancellation turned on. This is a bit surprising and can take some getting used to.
Fiddly to Activate the Hearing Mode
One problem I found with QuietOn earbuds is turning on the hearing mode. To do this, you have to put the charging case very close to the earbud in a special way. It should switch modes automatically, but it can be hard to line up the case and earbuds properly. Sometimes it works after a few seconds, but other times it takes up to 10 seconds, which can be annoying when you just want to switch quickly.
Price
The QuietOn 3.1 earbuds cost quite a bit. In the UK, they sell for about £249, and in the US, they are around $289. You do get a 30-day trial to try them out and a one-year warranty, which gives you some peace of mind.
If you decide to return them, be aware that you have to pay the shipping cost. For people far away, like in the US, this can be $35 to $50, so it’s important to keep that in mind before buying.
Pros
Before I give my final opinion, let’s think about the good points of the QuietOn earbuds:
They are very small, light, and comfortable to wear.
They reduce deep, low sounds really well.
The battery life is excellent and lasts a long time.
They are very simple to use with no buttons, apps, or Bluetooth needed.
There is no electromagnetic radiation, which might be important if you worry about that.
You can still hear alarms clearly, which is good for sleeping.
Cons
Now, here are some downsides to consider:
You cannot play music or other audio through them.
They are quite expensive compared to regular earplugs.
Switching to hearing mode can be tricky and slow.
They don’t block out all noise, like people talking or sharp sudden sounds.
Final Verdict and Who They May Suit Best
After using the QuietOn 3.1 earbuds for a while, I can say I really like how small and comfortable they are, especially if you like to sleep on your side. If you don’t mind not having music and want something light that won’t bother you in bed, these earbuds could be a great fit.
When I compared them with foam earplugs, the results were pretty close. So why choose QuietOn if foam earplugs work well? It comes down to personal choice. Some people don’t like how earplugs feel or don’t want to wear bulky earbuds outside. If that sounds like you, QuietOn might be worth trying.
It’s also important to know that no product can make everything completely silent. But if you want to reduce background noise without music and want long battery life and comfort, QuietOn is a good option.
Remember, these earbuds are pricey, so they might not work for you if you have a tight budget. Also, if you want noise cancellation plus the ability to listen to music, these are not the right earbuds.
Extra Points Not in the Video: How They Improve on the QuietOn 2.0
I also tried the older QuietOn 2.0 earbuds back in 2020. The new 3.1 model is better in many ways. The earbuds are smaller, making them easier to wear while lying on your side. The battery life has improved from 20 hours to 28 hours. The charging case now uses a modern USB-C cable instead of the older Micro-USB, which is faster and more convenient.
They changed how you switch to hearing mode too. Before, there was a small button on the earbuds. Now, you just hold the case near the earbuds, which is easier even if it can be a bit tricky sometimes.
The noise cancelling feels better too, and I like the new color and design more. Overall, the new 3.1 earbuds have many nice improvements.
Combined Test Score
If you want to know the total scores from my six noise tests, here’s how they rank:
Apple AirPods Pro 2: 43 points (best overall)
Foam Earplugs: 35 points
QuietOn 3.1: 34 points
Sony WF-1000XM4: 31 points
Wax Earplugs: 26 points
Silicone Earplugs: 25 points
But remember, each product works better in different situations, so there is no one “best” for everything.
Occlusion Effect (Additional Info)
One more thing about the occlusion effect: when wearing QuietOn earbuds, you might hear your own internal sounds more, like chewing. For example, I can’t chew gum comfortably with them because the sound is too loud inside my ears. Maybe that’s a good reminder to chew less gum anyway!
Where to Buy Them
You can no longer buy QuietOn earbuds directly from their website like before. Now, they list distributors from different countries on their homepage, so you can check those to find a seller near you. Or you can look for them online from trusted stores. Their website is Quieton.com (just so you know, I’m not paid or sponsored to say this).