- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We have currently tested 18 pairs of Bose headphones. They're a brand well-known known for their industry-leading active noise cancelling (ANC) features and comfortable designs.
Updates
- 12/20/2021 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless updated
- 11/11/2021 Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless reviewed
- 10/29/2021 Bose 700 Headphones Wireless updated
- 08/25/2021 Bose Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless updated
- 03/11/2021 Bose Sport Open Earbuds Truly Wireless reviewed
Best Bose Headphones
-
Best Bose Headphones For Casual Use
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are the best Bose headphones for casual use that we've tested. These wireless headphones are well-built and have a very comfortable fit, meaning you can wear them for a long flight or a day at work without fatigue. Their sound profile is well-balanced, with a slightly overemphasized bass response that adds some extra thump, punch, and warmth to mixes. Thanks to their ANC feature, they do a fantastic job of isolating you from a wide range of ambient noise, including the low rumble of bus and plane engines. You can also adjust it in the companion app to customize how much background noise you hear. They support NFC and multi-device pairing and have a continuous battery life of more than 20 hours.
Unfortunately, the app doesn't include features like a graphic EQ or presets that you could use to customize their sound profile. Their mic makes your voice sound thin and muffled, so they may not be ideal if you make a lot of phone calls, and they have high latency with PCs, so you may notice audio lag if you use them to watch movies or game on your computer. That said, their comfortable design, superb ANC, and versatile sound profile make them a great choice for day-to-day casual use.
-
Best Bose Headphones For Business And Travel
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe Bose 700 Headphones are the best Βose headphones for business and travel we've tested. These over-ear headphones are very well-built and have a comfortable, well-padded design, meaning you can wear them for long listening sessions without much fatigue. They have an ANC feature that does a fantastic job of isolating you from ambient noise. Their sound profile is well-balanced, with a touch of extra punch and boom, but if you prefer a different sound, their app has a 3-band graphic EQ that you can use to customize it. These are also among the best Bluetooth headsets for phone calls we've tested, thanks to their integrated mic, which makes your voice sound clear, even when you're speaking from a noisy environment. They also support multi-device pairing, which is nice if you're switching between using your phone and computer.
Unfortunately, the touch-sensitive surfaces on the ear cups are small and can be tricky to use. The controls also don't offer much feedback besides a few audio prompts, making them harder to use. Also, like most over-ear headphones, these have a somewhat bulky design. Since they don't fold into a more compact format, they take up quite a bit of space in a bag or backpack. If you're looking for headphones to use at the office and during your commute, they're a great option.
-
Best Bose Earphones For Office Work
Type EarbudsEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Bose earphones for office work that we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. These Βluetooth earbuds feel very well-built and have a decently comfortable fit for long days at work. They have an ANC feature that does a great job of isolating you from ambient sound, including noises like traffic outside your window and ambient chatter at the office. They don't leak very much sound either, so your music is unlikely to bother nearby co-workers. Their very neutral sound profile is well-suited for content like podcasts and audiobooks, and the slightly overemphasized bass response lends some extra thump and rumble to mixes. You can also customize it with a graphic EQ and presets in the companion app. They have a continuous battery life of about 7.3 hours and come with a case that holds about two additional charges, so you can always top up the battery if you run out of power during your workday.
Unfortunately, the earbuds have a slightly bulky design and stick out from your ears a bit, which can cause them to get snagged on clothing. Their case is also a bit bulky compared to other truly wireless earbuds, but it still easily fit in most purses and bigger pockets. Overall, if you're looking for wireless earbuds that can isolate you from distractions at work, these are a great choice.
-
Best Bose Headphones For Sports
Type EarbudsEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe Bose Sport Earbuds are the best Bose headphones for sports and fitness we've tested. These Bluetooth earbuds feel very sturdy and are rated IPX4 for protection against being splashed with water. They come with a few different sizes of ear tips with stability fins, and once you find a good fit, they're comfortable and amazingly stable. Their onboard controls are easy to use, and they have a well-balanced sound profile suitable for many genres and types of content. These earbuds don't leak too much audio, so your music shouldn't bother other people at the gym. They block out very little ambient sound, which you may prefer if you want to hear your surroundings during your workout, like during a run outdoors.
Unfortunately, their battery only lasts for about four hours of continuous use, which may not be enough for your longest workouts. Also, their control scheme is a bit limited out of the box since it doesn't include volume or track skipping functions by default. Fortunately, you can use the app to remap some of the controls, and overall, if you're looking for stable, sturdy earbuds to keep you motivated during workouts, they're a great choice.
Compared to other brands
- Comfortable design. Comfort is one of Bose's strong suits. Not only are there 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 lately, they've been living up to the expectation. The majority of their headphones we've tested have a very well-balanced sound profile that's versatile for a wide range of genres without the need for much tweaking.
- Good noise cancelling. Bose has been known as one of the best brands when it comes to 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 a bit 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 any sound customization options like an EQ, 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 do leak quite a bit of sound at higher volumes, which could bother those around you.
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 tends to leak at higher volumes, which might not be ideal for all environments.
Recent Updates
-
Dec 16, 2021: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock. There were no changes to picks.
-
Oct 28, 2021: Verified that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
-
Aug 02, 2021: Checked picks to ensure that they represent the best recommendations and that the products are available.
-
May 04, 2021: No changes in product picks after verifying their accuracy and availability.
-
Feb 03, 2021: Minor changes to text; no changes to product picks after verifying their suitability and availability.
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 tend to be comparatively more expensive and not as well-built as other headphones in the same price range.
Check our recommendations for the best travel headphones.