The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are versatile wireless over-ears with a very comfortable fit. They have a long 20-hour battery life, and their outstanding noise isolation performance can easily block out lots of background noises, so they're ideal for long days on-the-go. They don't come with any sound customization features, but their neutral sound profile is suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content.
Our Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are good for neutral sound. They have a very neutral and balanced sound profile, especially in the mid-range. While there's a slight overemphasis across the bass range, it shouldn't be too overwhelming for neutral sound. Unfortunately, there aren't any sound customization features.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- No sound customization options.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are impressive for commute and travel. Their comfortable fit and their 20-hour battery life are ideal for long days on-the-go. They can also block out the sound of bus and plane engines or chatter from other passengers. However, their bulky design isn't very portable.
- Comfortable fit.
- Outstanding noise isolation.
- Bulky design.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are decent for sports and fitness. They're comfortable and well-built, but they aren't stable enough for high-intensity exercises and may fall off your head during your workout. Also, their bulky design isn't very easy to bring on-the-go.
- Comfortable fit.
- Bulky design.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are very good for office use. They're comfortable, and their 20-hour battery life should easily get you through your shift. They can also block out background noises typically found in an office, like chatter from nearby coworkers. However, they leak a bit of noise, which can be annoying for those around you.
- Comfortable fit.
- Outstanding noise isolation.
- Leak some noise.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II aren't wirelessly compatible with the PS4 or the Xbox One, so they aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are good for wired gaming. You can plug them into your Xbox One or PS4 controller, but you can only receive audio. They're comfortable enough for long gaming sessions, and they have negligible latency over a wired connection.
- Comfortable fit.
- Low latency over wired connection.
- Can't use microphone over wired gaming connection.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are fair for phone calls. Their integrated microphone has a mediocre recording quality, so your voice is thin and muffled, especially if you're calling from a noisy setting. Fortunately, their ANC feature can block out background noises that might distract you during a call.
- Outstanding noise isolation.
- Mediocre recording quality.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 11, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless in Compared To Other Headphones.
- Updated Nov 14, 2022: We have changed Mic Mute to 'Yes' in Controls, and changed the wired connection to '1/16" TRRS' in Wired.
- Updated Sep 21, 2022: We've added a note regarding audio while charging while also using the analog cable. However, the Battery score hasn't changed.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
These headphones come in four different color variants: 'Black', 'Silver', 'Rose Gold', and 'Triple Midnight'. We tested the 'Black' variant, but we expect the other models to perform similarly.
If you come across another version of these headphones, let us know in the discussion section below.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are a minor update to the Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 with a better control scheme that gives you a bit more control over the noise cancellation and allows you to easily access Google Assistant/Alexa. They're among the best wireless headphones we've tested thanks to their very comfortable design and well-balanced sound profile. However, their sound can't be customized like some of the competing models, like the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless or Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless.
See also our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones and the best noise cancelling headphones.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are more comfortable headphones than the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. On the other hand, the Sony have a graphic EQ and presets available in their companion app to help you customize the sound to your liking. The Sony are also better built, have longer battery life, have a better noise isolation performance, and leak less noise. Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. The Bose are very comfortable, and their sound profile is well-balanced. Their ANC feature noticeably blocks more background noise than the Beats. On the other hand, the Beats will be slightly better suited for bass-heavy genres, and they leak less than the Bose. They also have an in-line microphone for calls, which the Bose are lacking. The battery life of the Beats is about three hours longer than the Bose, but they don't have a power-saving feature.
The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, although they don't offer much of a significant improvement over their predecessor. Both headphones are similarly well-built and have very comfortable fits. They also have comparable battery performances. However, the QC35 II can block out slightly more background noise in the mid to treble ranges and support NFC pairing. On the other hand, the QC45 have SimpleSync, a feature that allows you to pair the headphones up to other compatible Bose headphones, speakers, and soundbars to share their audio.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are ANC headphones with different strengths. While both over-ears are well-built, the Bose are more comfortable. However, the Sony have more customizable sound, thanks to their graphic EQ and presets. They also have a virtual soundstage to help create a more immersive audio experience, though you need to subscribe to services that support this feature. Both headphones have a fantastic ANC performance, but the Sony have the edge in noise isolation, particularly when attenuating mid- and treble-range noises, like voices or crying.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II look identical to the original Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 but with an additional button on the left ear cup. Our model is all-black, but they're also available in 'Silver', 'Triple Midnight', or 'Rose Gold'. You can also fully customize a pair with your own colors through the Bose website, but it costs a bit more.
These headphones are amazingly comfortable. Unlike the Apple AirPods Max Wireless, they're lightweight, and don't clamp too tightly on your head. Also, they're very well-padded. You should be able to wear them for long listening sessions without a lot of fatigue.
The Bose QC35 II have a slightly improved control scheme over the original Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016. They have an additional button on the left ear cup that activates Google Assistant/Alexa or switches between noise cancelling modes. The rest of the buttons are pretty much the same as the previous model and give you access to most common commands. You can even mute and unmute the mic when you're on a call by holding down both volume buttons simultaneously. Their physical controls deliver great tactile feedback, especially compared to touch-sensitive buttons on headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless. Unfortunately, the buttons feel a little cramped on the bottom of the right ear cup, but they're easy to use, and you get accustomed to them fairly quickly.
The Bose QC35 II are passably breathable. They create a good seal around your ears, which prevents a lot of airflow and makes you sweat a bit more when exercising, so they may not be the best choice for more intense workout routines. On the upside, they should be fine for more casual listening sessions, only making your ears warm after hours of use.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have mediocre portability. Their over-ear design is bulky and takes up some space in your bag. However, they fold into a more compact format, and the ear cups also lay flat to take up less space, which is nice.
The hard case is impressive. It also doesn't add much bulk and easily stores all the provided accessories in a dedicated pocket within the case, unlike the Bose QuietComfort 25/QC25.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have a good build quality. The plastic used for the ear cups is dense and should be able to handle a few drops without sustaining damage. The headband is decently flexible and has a metal frame to reinforce the build, though they still have a lot of plastic in their design, which feels a bit cheap for their price range.
These headphones are decently stable but not tight enough on the head to be suitable for more intense exercise. The ear cups sway a little when exercising, but thanks to the wireless design, you don't have to worry about the audio cable getting caught on something and yanking the headphones off your head.
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones
- 1/8" TRS audio cable
- Airline adapter
- Carrying case
- Micro-USB charging cable
- Manuals
These headphones have a neutral, well-balanced sound profile that's suitable for lots of different types of audio content. The overemphasized bass range adds an extra boom, punch, and thump to the mix, but it shouldn't be too overwhelming.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have good frequency response consistency. Assuming you achieve a proper fit, their audio delivery should be consistent across users, regardless of their seal or positioning on your head.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have great bass accuracy. The entire range is slightly overemphasized, so audio has an extra boom, punch, and thump that can even please fans of bass-heavy music genres like EDM but shouldn't be too overwhelming for other genres.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have remarkable mid accuracy. The entire range is very well-balanced and neutral, ensuring a clear reproduction of vocals and lead instruments that doesn't sound cluttered or muddy.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have great treble accuracy. Most of the low-treble range is quite well-balanced and accurate, resulting in present and detailed instruments and vocals. The mid-treble is somewhat uneven, however, so sibilants may be piercing or dull.
The peaks and dips performance of the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II is great. There aren't any major peaks or dips throughout the entire bass or mid ranges. There's a peak in the high-mid and low-treble that can make vocals and lead instruments honky and harsh. There's also a peak in the mid-treble that follows a slight dip, which may cause some frequencies to be slightly piercing or sharp, though it may not be noticeable to most people.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have exceptional imaging. Their weighted group delay falls mostly below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble. The L/R drivers of our unit are also well-matched in amplitude, phase, and frequency response, so objects like footsteps or voices are accurately placed in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our test unit, so your experience may vary.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have a disappointing soundstage. They have a relatively large and natural sounding soundstage, but it's perceived to be located inside your head, as opposed to in front. Also, because of the closed-back design and ANC, they tend to sound less open than open-back headphones.
These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features.
The weighted harmonic distortion performance of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is good. All frequencies fall within acceptable limits, which should result in a mostly clear and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test the Bose QuietComfort 35 II; therefore, our results are only valid when used at these settings.
Update 08/22/2019: We've re-tested the noise isolation of the Bose QC35 II after noticing a flaw in our testing methodology. While the 4.5.2 firmware update reduced the ANC performance slightly, it's less than we initially reported. This review has been updated to reflect these changes.
While the ANC doesn't work quite as well as it did before the 4.5.2 firmware update, it's still outstanding and is among the best we've ever tested. These headphones can block out the low rumble of bus or plane engines as well as background chatter or the hum of nearby AC units. If you want a pair of over-ear headphones that do an even better job at cancelling out sounds in the bass range, check out the Razer Opus Wireless.
The leakage performance of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is alright. Their leakage sounds fuller and more distracting than that of in-ears and earbuds, so at high volumes, people close to you can hear your music even in moderately noisy environments, like on a bus. If you like to blast your music, check out the less leaky Jabra Elite 85h Wireless.
Update 18/03/2019: Thanks to user feedback, we've noticed that the noise floor is quite a bit higher than other Bluetooth headphones when using call-enabled software like Skype or Slack. This seems most likely due to higher than average mic feedback on the Bose headset. We also noticed a high-pitched tone before the mic feedback/noise kicked in when using newer MacBook Pros, which didn't occur when tested with an iMac, PC, or phone. If you've experienced similar issues with your Bose headset on a MacBook Pro, please let us know in the discussion thread below.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have an integrated microphone.
The microphone has a mediocre recording quality. Speech sounds thin and noticeably muffled, making you slightly difficult to understand. On the bright side, your voice sounds natural and neutral.
The microphone has a passable noise handling performance. Even in only moderately noisy environments, it's difficult for the person on the other end of the line to hear you.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II have great battery performance. They last 20 hours off a single charge, which is slightly longer than the original Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016. They also feature an adjustable auto-off timer to help conserve battery life. Unfortunately, they take a little over two hours to fully charge, which can be inconvenient for some users. You also can't use them wirelessly while charging. If you want to use them while charging, you can connect them to your device via analog, but the ANC will be disabled.
The Bose Connect app is decent but only offers a minimal list of features. It allows you to connect, rename, and update the Bose QuietComfort 35 II but doesn't provide you with any EQ settings, which is a shame. On the upside, the app offers a good auto-off timer that you can set at different intervals. You also get a limited in-app player and the battery level status. Unlike the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, you can also adjust the strength of the headphone's ANC. Overall the app is decent but doesn't offer as many customization options as the Sony| Headphones Connect app.
These headphones have amazing Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair them with up to two devices at the same time, and they also support NFC pairing. Unfortunately, their latency may be too high to be suitable for watching videos or gaming. However, some apps compensate for latency, so your real-world experience may vary.
These headphones are Bluetooth-only.
The Bose QC35 II come with a simple TRS audio cable with no in-line remote or USB adapter. They use a 1/8" TRS to 1/16" TRS connection, which is less common than a standard 1/8" connection, so replacing the cable may be slightly more difficult. Keep in mind that the 1/16" TRS connector is also what connects the cable to the headphones.
You can plug the Bose QuietComfort 35 II into your Xbox One controller, but you can only receive audio.
The Bose QC35 II headphones don't have a base or dock. If you want well-balanced headphones with a base, check out the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019.