- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Review Updates
- Best Headphones
- Best Office
- Best Earbuds
- Comparison
- Lineup
- Page Updates
- Conclusion
- Comments
We've tested 25 pairs of Bose headphones. This manufacturer is known for its high-end headphones and earbuds, which lead the industry in active noise cancelling (ANC) performance. Most of their models occupy a premium price point and come with good build quality and comfort. They're one of the top headphone brands we've tested.
Updates
- 06/03/2024 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless updated
- 04/19/2024 Bose Sport Open Earbuds Truly Wireless updated
- 03/28/2024 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Truly Wireless reviewed
- 11/23/2023 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless updated
- 11/17/2023 Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II updated
Best Bose Headphones
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Best Bose Headphones
Neutral Sound8.1Commute/Travel8.3Sports/Fitness7.5Office8.2Wireless Gaming6.3Wired Gaming7.3Phone Calls7.7Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are the best Bose headphones we've tested. They're top-of-the-line cans that feature Bose's CustomTune technology, which allows the headphones to automatically adjust their performance to your unique listening traits and environment. As a result, their ANC can block out a significant amount of ambient sound around you, whether that's office chatter or the ambient din of an airplane cabin. With their ANC on, they last 29 hours continuously, too.
These earbuds are a great alternative to Apple's AirPods because they have excellent ANC performance and, unlike the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, also support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously. The Bose also support aptX Adaptive, a Bluetooth codec that dynamically adjusts sound quality or latency, depending on your content, and Immersive Audio, a head-tracking feature to create a more spacious and dimensional sound experience. You can adjust their bassy sound to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
If you're looking for over-ears that are a bit more affordable, try the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless. They're very similar to the Ultra in many ways, including in noise isolation, but they don't support Immersive Audio and don't feel quite as well-built.
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Best Bose Office Headphones
Neutral Sound7.5Commute/Travel7.8Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.8Wireless Gaming6.0Wired Gaming7.2Phone 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 Wireless. Although they've been on the market much longer than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless and are starting to be phased out, they're still worth considering if you can get your hands on them. They're designed with office use in mind, and you can even pick these up in a United Communications (UC) variant, which comes with a dongle to make it even quicker to connect them to your work PC. They also support multi-device pairing, which is nice if you always switch between your phone and computer.
Their mic offers a much better noise-handling performance than our top pick, ensuring your voice is easily understood, even in a busy office. It also has a good recording quality, making your voice clear and intelligible. These over-ears have dedicated controls for pausing and unpausing the mic while you're on calls, and their ANC feature does a great job of isolating you from ambient noise, meaning you won't have a problem hearing your call. Their sound profile is well-balanced, with a very flat mid-range response, so voices reproduce clearly and accurately. The comfortable, well-padded design means you can wear them for long hours without much fatigue.
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Best Bose Earbuds
Neutral Sound7.0Commute/Travel8.1Sports/Fitness8.4Office7.4Wireless Gaming5.5Wired Gaming5.4Phone Calls6.2Type EarbudsEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe best Bose earbuds we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. Earbuds are a great alternative to over-ear headphones if you want something more lightweight and portable. They don't skimp out on extra features, either. Like their over-ear Ultra counterpart, they support CustomTune technology, which adjusts the headphones' sound and noise isolation to your ear shape and environment, and Immersive Audio, allowing sound to follow your head movements. Their ANC also does an outstanding job of blocking background sound so that you can focus on your audio. That said, their battery life is shorter than over-ear models. They last seven hours continuously, but their carrying case holds an extra three charges if you need it.
Out of the box, they have a bass-heavy sound that you can tweak to suit your preferences via their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. Their comfortable fit also has stability fins, so you can wear them while working out or running without the risk of having them fall out of your ear. They're certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes but don't support multi-device pairing.
Prefer to stay aware of the world around you? You'll want to consider the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Truly Wireless instead. They're more like ear cuffs, so they don't enter your ear like earbuds, allowing you to hear your environment without turning down your tunes or removing them. This design isn't ideal for everyone, so if noise cancelling is your preferred feature, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the way to go.
Compared To Other Brands
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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 them for hours without discomfort. -
Well-balanced sound.
Most of the Bose headphones we've tested have a well-balanced sound profile that's versatile for a wide range of genres without much tweaking. If you'd rather have a different sound, their companion app has a basic graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune the mix. -
Good noise cancelling.
Bose is known as one of the best brands for noise cancellation. Although a firmware update affected the QuietComfort 35 II's ANC performance, the brand still delivers consistently good noise isolation.
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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. -
Leaky over-ear models.
Although BoseĀ in-ears and earbuds don't have this issue (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. -
Not the most comprehensive companion apps.
The Bose Music app is, on the whole, very good, but it only offers a 3-band EQ. Some people might find that limiting, especially when other brands offer twice as many bands, and some even provide fully parametric EQs for fine-grained audio tweaking. Similarly, while Bose's Immersive Audio simulates the effect of listening to audio on speakers, the Bose Music app doesn't support virtual surround sound or Dolby Atmos.
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 balanced sound profile, while Sony headphones, like the XM5, pack a lot of extra bass. Bose's headphones are generally more comfortable as well. If you're looking for sound customization features like virtual surround sound or high-resolution audio, you might find what you're looking for in our article on 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 latest Bose QuietComfort line and the Bose 700. However, Sennheiser offers more budget-friendly options, often with more comprehensive sound enhancements like EQ. You may want to check out our article on the best Sennheiser headphones if you're looking for audiophile headphones with an open-back design and a balanced sound profile.
Bose vs Apple
Bose's earbuds and over-ears are competitors to Apple products like the AirPods Max Wireless and the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Truly Wireless. The brands go toe-to-toe with noise cancellation, but Bose tends to offer better battery life, 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 than Apple to have in-app features like an EQ and presets. However, they don't have Apple's sleek design or build quality and naturally lack iOS-specific features. Our article on Apple's best headphones has more info and picks.
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 Bose is the better brand if you're looking for a more balanced sound out of the box. Bose also makes much more comfortable over-ear headphones. Check out our article on the best Anker headphones for more info.
Overall, Bose makes well-rounded headphones that provide an unparalleled level of comfort. Many of their headphones also have excellent noise cancelling and a well-balanced sound. However, Bose tends to make 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
Bose has both casual use and professional headsets. They tend to mix and match line-ups with one-offs, but a pretty consistent throughline is the QuietComfort designation.
- QuietComfort = Headphones with active noise cancelling and an emphasis on comfort. Includes wireless over-ears, earbuds, and even dedicated gaming headsets.
- Sport = Earbuds meant for sports and workouts without active noise cancelling, including open-back models (like the discontinued Bose Sport Open Earbuds Truly Wireless) that 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.
- 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.
- Ultra = A designation used to differentiate flagships from standard models.
- Open = A designation used for products in different lines without noise cancelling for environmental awareness.
Recent Updates
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We have ensured this article is up-to-date with our most recent test bench results, including those for Sound Profile and Noise Isolation, but we haven't changed our picks.
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Aug 26, 2024: This article has been checked for accuracy, with no changes to the picks, minor text edits, and format updates.
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May 28, 2024: We've checked our picks for availability and accuracy, but our recommendations haven't changed.
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Mar 29, 2024: We've added the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Truly Wireless as a comparison with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless.
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Jan 22, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text to keep it up-to-date and accurate, but 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 less well-built than headphones in the same price range.