Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 vs QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016

Which Headphones Are Better?

Products

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20
Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Apr 21, 2025 02:43 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Jul 29, 2025 06:52 PM

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Our Verdict

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20

Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016

If you prefer a compact design you can easily carry around in your pocket, then go for the Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20. However, if you want a wireless over-ear, the Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 are a great alternative. The QC 20 are wired earbuds that are comfortable enough to wear for long listening sessions. They also block a lot of noise in noisy conditions, thanks to their excellent noise canceling. They're a slightly better travel headphone for some, since they are a bit more compact than the QC 35, and their earbud fit is not as bulky on your head so you can fall asleep on the plane or train with no issues. On the other hand, the wireless QC 35 are a bit more practical for everyday casual use. They also have a much better sound quality, they're easier to use and versatile enough to use wired or wireless with most of your devices.

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Variants

  • QuietComfort 20 (Android, Black)
  • QuietComfort 20 (Android, White)
  • QuietComfort 35 (Black)
  • QuietComfort 35 (White)

Check Price

Android, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
QuietComfort 35
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Android, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
White
QuietComfort 35
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
iOS, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
iOS, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
 
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 
 

N/A
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Design Picture 2 Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Design Picture 2 Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked
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Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Comfort Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Comfort Picture Sample

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Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

Lock lbs
Lock lbs
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Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Controls Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Controls Picture Sample

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OS Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Ease Of Use  

Locked
Locked

Feedback  

Locked
Locked

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked
Locked

Channel Mixing 
 

Locked
N/A

Noise Cancelling Control  

Locked
Locked

Talk-Through 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls  

Locked
Locked
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Breathability 
 

N/A
N/A

Breathability After Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Breathability After Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Breathability After Picture Sample

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Avg.Temp.Difference  

Lock °C
Lock °C
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Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Portability Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Portability Picture Sample

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Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³

Transmitter Required  

Locked
N/A
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Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Case Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Case Picture Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock"

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Build Quality Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Build Quality Picture Sample

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Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Stability Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Stability Picture Sample

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Show Text 

Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Angled Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Angled Picture Sample

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Side Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Side Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Side Picture Sample

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Front Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Front Picture Sample

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Rear Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Rear Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Rear Picture Sample

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Top  

Top Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Top Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Top Picture Sample

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 In The Box Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 In The Box Picture Sample

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Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Frequency Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Frequency Response Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Frequency Response Sample

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Frequency Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Frequency Response Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Frequency Response Sample

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Bass Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Consistency L Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Consistency L Sample

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Consistency R  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Consistency R Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Consistency R Sample

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Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR L Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR L  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR L Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR R  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR R Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Raw FR R Sample

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Raw FR R  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Raw FR R Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Raw FR R Sample

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Bass Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Bass Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Bass Sample

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Bass  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Bass Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Bass Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Mid Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Mid Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Mid Sample

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Mid  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Mid Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Mid Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Treble Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Treble Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Treble Sample

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Treble  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Treble Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Treble Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks/Dips Graph  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Imaging 
 

N/A
N/A

Group Delay  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Group Delay Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Group Delay Sample

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Phase Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Phase Response Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Phase Response Sample

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Phase Response Mismatch  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Weighted Group Delay 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock
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Passive Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 PRTF Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 PRTF Sample

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PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

N/A
Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

N/A
Lock dB

PRTF Distance 
 

N/A
Lock dB

Openness 
 

0.0
0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

0.0
0.0
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Virtual Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Virtual Soundstage  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Head Modeling 
 

Locked

Speaker Modeling 
 

Locked

Room Ambience 
 

Locked

Head Tracking 
 

Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

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WHD @ 90 
 

Lock
Lock

WHD @ 100 
 

Lock
Lock

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked

Power 
 

Locked

Connection 
 

Locked

Codec 
 

Locked

EQ 
 

Locked

ANC 
 

Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Isolation

Noise Isolation 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Noise Isolation Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Noise Isolation Sample

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Isolation Audio 
 

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Leakage Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Leakage Sample

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Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked
Locked

In-Line 
 

Locked
Locked

Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable Boom 
 

Locked
N/A

Mic  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Recorded Speech 
 

LFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

HFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Weighted THD 
 

Lock
Lock

Gain 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 SpNR Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 SpNR Sample

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SpNR 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Gate 
 

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Continuous Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Additional Charges 
 

Lock
Lock

Total Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
Locked

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 App Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 App Picture Sample

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App Name  

Locked
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

macOS  

Locked
N/A

Windows  

Locked
N/A

Equalizer 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic Control  

Locked
N/A

Room Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Playback Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Button Mapping  

Locked
N/A

Surround Sound  

N/A

Surround Support 
 

Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

NFC Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
Lock ft

PC Latency (SBC) 
 

N/A
Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A
N/A

iOS Latency 
 

N/A

Android Latency 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Non-Bluetooth Wireless 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture  

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 Cable Picture Sample

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Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 Cable Picture Sample

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Analog Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable  

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft

Connection 
 

Locked
Locked

Wired Latency 
 

Lock ms

Analog/USB Audio Latency 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Locked

Wired USB 
 

Locked

Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

PC / PS4 Compatibility 
 

PC / PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Analog 
 

Locked

PS5 Wired USB 
 

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Base/Dock 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked
N/A

USB Input 
 

Locked
N/A

Line In 
 

Locked
N/A

Line Out 
 

Locked
N/A

Optical Input 
 

Locked
N/A

RCA Input 
 

Locked
N/A

Dock Charging 
 

Locked
N/A

Power Supply 
 

Locked
N/A
Show Text 

Check Price

Android, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
QuietComfort 35
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Android, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
White
QuietComfort 35
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
iOS, Black
QuietComfort 20
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
iOS, White
QuietComfort 20
Amazon.com
 

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20

Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016

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  1. Comparison

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 vs Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016: Main Discussion

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