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Bose QuietComfort 35 II Review

Top of the line headphones that offer nearly everything you could want
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Bose QuietComfort 35 II Review
Price:  $349 List
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Manufacturer:   Bose
By Max Mutter ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 25, 2023
86
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 8
  • Sound Quality - 30% 9.0
  • Noise Isolation - 25% 8.0
  • Comfort - 25% 9.0
  • User Friendliness - 10% 8.0
  • Portability - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

Offering field-leading sound quality and great noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II were some of the best wireless headphones we tested. They made everything we listened to sound great, from loud, bass-heavy anthems to quiet audiobooks and podcasts. The integrated Google assistant adds a new level of functionality for Android users, and the 20 hours of battery life is more than enough to get you through the day. While newer models from Bose do outstrip these headphones, they hold their place among top-ranked over ear headphones.
REASONS TO BUY
Great sound quality
Good noise cancellation
Comfortable
Built-in Google Assistant
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Bose has released the successor to these headphones, simply called the QuietComfort. Updates include longer battery life and Bluetooth 5.1. We haven't tested the latest version yet, but we are linking to it in our review.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Wireless Headphones
Editors' Choice Award
Most Comfortable Wireless Headphones
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
 
Price $349 List
$229.00 at Amazon
$350 List
$298.00 at Amazon
$379 List$60 List
$54.99 at Amazon
$160 List
$103.27 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line Perfect for audiophiles that want exceptional possible sound and good noise cancellationAn excellent choice for both audiophiles and those looking to enhance their concentration by drowning out distractionsThe clear choice for those that place a premium on comfort without sacrificing sound quality and noise cancellationGood overall sound quality, noise isolation, and comfort at a great priceOnly suitable for those that want powerful bass, don't care about clarity, and don't have large heads
Rating Categories Bose QuietComfort 3... Sony WH-1000XM4 Bose Noise Cancelli... Soundcore Life Q20 Skullcandy Crusher
Sound Quality (30%)
9.0
10.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
Noise Isolation (25%)
8.0
10.0
10.0
6.0
4.0
Comfort (25%)
9.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
User Friendliness (10%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Portability (10%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Bose QuietComfort 3... Sony WH-1000XM4 Bose Noise Cancelli... Soundcore Life Q20 Skullcandy Crusher
Type Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear
Noise cancelling Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Manufacturer reported battery life (hours) 40 wired, 20 BT 30 20 40 40
Measured weight (ounces) 10.9 8.8 9.2 9.3 10.1
Included case Semi-hard case Semi-hard case Semi-hard case Lined drawstring pouch Lined drawstring pouch
App Yes Yes Yes No No
Earcup padding cover material Synthetic protein leather Foamed urethane/leatherette Leather Leatherette Leatherette
Charging cable length (inches) 47.2" 7.9" 42" 40" N/A
Microphone for voice? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth version 4.1 5.0 5.0 5.0 N/A
Onboard buttons Volume, play/pause, forward/back, noise cancelling Volume, change track, take/make calls Volume, play/pause, forward/back, noise cancelling, voice assistant, power/bluetooth, answer/decline/mute calls Volume, multifunction, power, NC Volume, play/pause, forward/back, bass

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is one of the top noise cancelling headphones we tested. Though dethroned from their long reign at the top of the field, we would still recommend these headphones without reservation.

Performance Comparison


bose quietcomfort 35 ii
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Sound Quality


The Bose QuietComfort 35 II sits near the top of our sound quality leaderboard. These headphones exemplified the crystal clear sound that you would expect from high-end audio equipment in our testing. They also produced impressively deep and resonant bass, which gave the sound a well-rounded and full quality. Everything from bass-heavy electronic music too complicated jazz riffs to mellow acoustic numbers sounds great in these headphones.

Yes, there are some newer models on the market that narrowly best these headphones when it comes to sound quality, but we highly doubt anyone will be disappointed by the sound offered by the QuietComfort 35 II

bose quietcomfort 35 ii - the quietcomfort 35 ii's superb clarity is smile inducing.
The QuietComfort 35 II's superb clarity is smile inducing.

Noise Isolation


The QuietComfort 35 II was one of the better models we tested for noise isolation. With the active noise cancellation turned on, the QuietComfort 35 II eliminates almost all ambient noise when you're listening to music. Even when listening to quiet things like podcasts, ambient noise is barely noticeable. If you're not listening to anything, some things may make their way into your ears, like voices and loud footsteps, but they will be very muffled. If you're using the QuietComfort 35 II solely for sound cancellation and not for music listening (e.g., drowning out the crowd noise while you enjoy a museum), we think you'll be satisfied.

Here again, a few newer models on the market from Bose and Sony offer slightly more adept active noise cancellation. Still, the differences are minor and likely not noticeable outside of direct side-by-side comparisons.

bose quietcomfort 35 ii - bose's active noise cancellation can make most noises blend into the...
Bose's active noise cancellation can make most noises blend into the background, kind of like how the QuietComfort 35 blends into the black couch in our break room.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Comfort


Bose doesn't change its physical design between headphones too much, so if you've ever tried on a pair of Bose headphones and found them comfy, we think you'll have similar sentiments about the QuietComfort 35 II. It has widely spaced, fluffy padding that accepts any sized ears and provides a cozy fit. The leather is synthetic.

bose quietcomfort 35 ii - the incredibly comfy earcups of the queitcomfort 35 ii. also, notice...
The incredibly comfy earcups of the QueitComfort 35 II. Also, notice the Google assistant button to the left. You can also summon Siri by holding down the multifunction button on the right. No word on how Alexa feels about being left out.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

User Friendliness


The QuietComfort 35 II was easy to pair with both Android and iOS devices in our testing. In fact, it can pair with multiple devices at one time, allowing you to switch between all the paired devices with a push of a button. So you can be watching a movie on your tablet and then push a button on the headphones to switch over to your phone when you feel it vibrating in your pocket. This added feature was one thing that earned it one of the highest scores in this metric.

The QuietComfort 35 II features simple onboard headphone controls, with multi-function buttons that can play and pause music and adjust the volume. Double and triple tapping the middle button can move tracks forward or back. Holding that same button-down summons Siri for iOS users. There is also a new dedicated Google Assistant button that can summon Google voice commands. These are nice features to have, but their usefulness depends on how much you use Siri or Google Assistant in the first place. There is also an app that lets you fine-tune audio and noise cancellation settings. We found the app quite intuitive to use, but generally, we found the default settings to be better than any tinkering we did.

bose quietcomfort 35 ii - the quietcomfort 35 ii has intuitive controls.
The QuietComfort 35 II has intuitive controls.

Portability


The QuietComfort 35 II has hinged earpieces that allow them to fold up into a slim, included carrying case. The headphones themselves weigh 10.9 ounces.

bose quietcomfort 35 ii - bose provides a very nice carrying case along with the quietcomfort.
Bose provides a very nice carrying case along with the QuietComfort.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Should You Buy the QuietComfort 35 II?


While expensive, the QuietComfort 35 II's price is fairly average for top-tier noise cancelling headphones. If you're willing to pay a premium for top-notch quality, these headphones offer reasonable value but certainly aren't a bargain. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are high-performing, noise-canceling headphones that offer pretty much everything you could want from a personal, wireless music device. If you're willing to sacrifice a bit of sound quality and bells and whistles, there are slightly better values available, but if you want top-notch performance, these headphones are a great choice.

What Other Wireless Headphones Should You Consider?


While these are a nice set of headphones, we are left to wonder if you have the money to spend; why wouldn't you get the absolute best in the bunch with the highest test results in the group? The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the most impressive in the group and sports the same price tag. With impressive sound quality and noise cancellation, as well as comfort and more, it is hard to see why someone would choose the QuietComfort 35 over the Sony unless it is a personal comfort-based decision.

Max Mutter