We have currently tested 21 pairs of Bose headphones. They're a brand well-known known for their industry-leading active noise cancelling (ANC) features and comfortable designs.
Updates
- 02/15/2023 Bose Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless updated
- 11/23/2022 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless reviewed
- 11/15/2022 Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset reviewed
- 12/20/2021 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless updated
- 11/11/2021 Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless reviewed
Best Bose Headphones
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Best Bose Headphones
Neutral Sound7.6Commute/Travel8.1Sports/Fitness7.5Office7.9Wireless Gaming6.2Wired Gaming7.9Phone Calls7.5Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are the best Bose headphones we've tested. These are the next generation of the discontinued Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, and even though they don't offer a ton of improvements over the 35, they're a great pair of over-ear headphones. They're very well-built, lightweight, and amazingly comfortable. While they don't have features like an EQ to customize their sound, they have a very well-balanced sound profile suitable for most genres. There's some overemphasis in the bass range that adds extra thump, punch, and warmth to your audio, and their very accurate mid-range response ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and detailed.
They have an ANC feature that you can set to different levels in the app, depending on how much ambient noise you want to block out. When set to the maximum level, it does an excellent job of isolating you from bass-range noise like rumbling engines. It's not quite as effective as the QC35's ANC with office-type noise, like voices or the hum of an A/C unit, but it still does a very good job. They also support multi-device pairing and have a continuous battery life of more than 20 hours.
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Best Bose Earbuds
Neutral Sound7.3Commute/Travel8.5Sports/Fitness8.4Office7.5Wireless Gaming5.7Wired Gaming5.6Phone Calls6.3Type EarbudsEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe best earbuds from Bose that we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. These earbuds are an updated version of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless and offer an improved ANC performance. They're among the best ANC earbuds we've tested and do a fantastic job blocking out ambient sound, from the low rumble of bus and plane engines to ambient chit-chat at the office. While their design is still somewhat bulky compared to many truly wireless buds on the market, they're comfortable for most people and will stay in place during workouts.
Their default sound profile adds quite a bit of extra thump, punch, and boom to audio, which you might like for genres like EDM and hip-hop. However, the extra bass can muddy instruments and vocals, and if you prefer a different sound, it can be customized with an in-app EQ and presets. The buds last for nearly seven hours of continuous use with ANC on and come with a case that holds a couple of extra charges. They're sturdy, but unfortunately, the previous generation had more premium build quality.
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Best Bose Office Headphones
Neutral Sound7.5Commute/Travel7.9Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.9Wireless Gaming6.0Wired Gaming7.7Phone Calls7.9Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesIf you're specifically looking for headphones to use at the office or while you work from home, look at the Bose 700 Headphones. They offer a much better microphone performance than our top pick, so they're better if you need headphones to make calls during your workday. The integrated mic has a good recording quality and does a great job separating your voice from ambient sound, so it'll be easy to understand you even if you're calling from a busy office. They also have an ANC feature that does a fantastic job of isolating you from ambient noise, meaning you won't have a problem hearing your call. Their comfortable, well-padded design means you can wear them for long hours without much fatigue.
Their sound profile is well-balanced, with a very neutral mid-range response, so voices reproduce clearly and accurately. They also work with an app that has a 3-band graphic EQ that you can use to customize it. They also support multi-device pairing, which is nice if you're always switching between using your phone and computer. However, the touch-sensitive surfaces on the ear cups are tricky to use compared to the physical buttons found on some Βose headphones, including the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless.
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Best Bose Sports Headphones
Neutral Sound7.3Commute/Travel6.7Sports/Fitness8.5Office6.3Wireless Gaming5.6Wired Gaming5.6Phone Calls5.4Type EarbudsEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe Bose Sport Earbuds are the best Bose earbuds for sports and fitness we've tested. These earbuds come with a few differently-sized pairs of stability fins, and once you find a good fit, they have better stability than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. They'll stay in place during intense workouts, even if you move your head around a lot. They have a great build quality to combat accidental drops and bumps and are certified IPX4 for resistance to minor water exposure like splashes or very light rain. Their warm, smooth sound profile lacks a little low-bass, which may be disappointing if you work out to genres like EDM, but it's well-suited for content like podcasts or audiobooks.
Their controls make it easy to change the track or turn up the volume when on the move. While they don't block out much ambient sound, you might not mind this since it allows you to monitor your surroundings if you're exercising outdoors. If you want headphones that block out even less ambient sound, you might prefer the Bose Sport Open Earbuds Truly Wireless, which are designed for that purpose. They're also a great option for workouts and have an ear hook design that sits outside your ear. This design also makes them less stable and comfortable, though.
Compared to other brands
- Comfortable design. Comfort is one of Bose's strong suits. Not only are their over and on-ear models exquisitely well-padded without feeling too tight on the head, but their earbud headphones are also quite comfortable. You can usually wear their headphones for hours without discomfort.
- Well-balanced sound. Bose prides itself on making headphones that don't require an equalizer to sound good, and they've been living up to the expectation. Most of the headphones we've tested have a very well-balanced sound profile that's versatile for a wide range of genres without needing much tweaking.
- Good noise cancelling. Bose has been known as one of the best brands for noise cancelling. Although the QC35 II's ANC performance was affected by a firmware update, the brand still delivers consistently good noise isolation overall.
- Expensive, yet plasticky designs. Bose's headphones are lightweight and comfortable but don't feel as premium as their price would suggest. They're still well-built but feel plasticky compared to similarly-priced models from other brands.
- Lackluster customization options. While most Bose headphones are compatible with a mobile companion app, it doesn't usually offer as many customization options as other brands' apps. Bose's apps often don't provide sound customization options like an EQ, which is disappointing if you like to tweak the sound from time to time.
- Leaky over-ear models. Although Bose in-ears and earbuds don't have this issue (most likely due to their smaller size), many of their over-ear models leak quite a bit of sound at higher volumes, which could bother those around you.
Bose vs Sony
Like Bose, Sony makes many different sorts of headphones, and their noise cancelling over-ears, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, are often compared to similar headphones from Bose. Both brands have options with very strong noise cancelling, but Bose products tend to have a more neutral sound profile, while Sony headphones like the XM5 pack a lot of extra bass. Bose generally makes more comfortable headphones. However, if you're looking for sound customization features like virtual surround sound or high-resolution audio, you might find what you're looking for among the best Sony headphones.
Bose vs Sennheiser
Sennheiser offers a diverse line of headphones, including earbuds and over-ear headphones. Across the board, they tend not to have the same great noise cancelling performance as Bose headphones, meaning casual use options like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless don't offer much over similar Bose headphones like the Bose QC45. However, they offer more budget-friendly options. You may want to check out the best Sennheiser headphones if you're looking for audiophile headphones with an open-back design and a neutral sound profile.
Bose vs Apple
Bose's earbuds and over-ears are competitors to Apple products like the AirPods Max Wireless and Apple AirPods Pro 2 Truly Wireless. Bose has an edge with noise cancellation, making their QuietComfort line a better option if that's a priority. Even though Bose headphones aren't the most customizable in most cases, they're more likely to have an app with features like an EQ and presets. However, they don't have Apple's sleek design and naturally lack iOS-specific features. Apple's best headphones also tend to be better built than Bose's.
Bose vs Anker
Anker's headphones and earbuds are usually cheaper than Bose products, and the brand's best products can compete with Bose's in terms of noise cancelling. Many Anker products come with sound customization features, but if you're looking for neutral sound out-of-the-box, Bose is the better brand. Bose also makes much more comfortable over-ear headphones.
Overall, Bose makes well-rounded headphones that provide an unparalleled level of comfort. Many of their headphones also have very good noise cancelling and sound well-balanced. However, Bose tends to make comparatively expensive headphones that feel a little plasticky compared to other headphones in the same price range. Their over-ear lineup also leaks at higher volumes, which might not be ideal for all environments.
Lineup
QuietComfort: Headphones with active noise cancelling. Includes wireless over-ears (like the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless), earbuds (Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless), and dedicated gaming headsets (like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset).
Sport: Earbuds meant for sports and workouts without active noise cancelling, including open-back models (Bose Sport Open Earbuds Truly Wireless) meant to let you hear your surroundings.
SoundSport: An older line of sports earbuds that have been discontinued (like the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless).
Frames: 'Audio Sunglasses' that work like open-ear headphones so you can listen to audio and hear your surroundings.
Aviation headsets: Specialized noise cancelling headsets meant for pilots. Includes the A20 Aviation Headset and the Pro Flight Series 2 Aviation Headset.
Other: One-off products that aren't part of a larger line-up, including the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless, which are ANC over-ears, and the SleepBuds, which don't work as conventional headphones but play noise from a dedicated app meant to help you sleep.
Recent Updates
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Feb 03, 2023: Added information about Bose's overall product lineup and comparisons with other brands.
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Nov 24, 2022: Replaced the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless with the newly-reviewed Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless.
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Jun 17, 2022: Replaced the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 with the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless because the 35 have been discontinued by the manufacturer.
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Mar 18, 2022: Checked our picks for accuracy and product availability. However, there hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
Conclusion
Bose is a well-known brand, popular for its excellent noise cancelling and incredibly comfortable designs. They produce well-rounded and versatile headphones that also deliver in the sound department. However, their models are comparatively more expensive and not as well-built as headphones in the same price range.