Dec 03, 2023
Best Bose Headphones 2023
Picking the best Bose headphones can be tricky when there are so many great
Picking the best Bose headphones can be tricky when there are so many great options, like our number one pick, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Bose has quite a reputation for being one of the best in the game and has been releasing solid audio peripherals for years. Whether you’re on the lookout for the best wireless headphones or the best wireless earbuds, Bose has something for everyone. The audio-peripheral company has also entered the gaming industry and offers some of the best gaming headsets and wireless gaming headsets as well.
After reviewing many Bose headphones, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites. We’ve included some of the best over-ear as well as noise-canceling headphones. We also cater to different budgets so, for folks who aren't looking to spend a lot, it has some suggestions for the best budget wireless earbuds, too. We hope our list can help in finding the perfect Bose headphones for you.
Best noise-canceling Bose headphones
Interface: True Wireless | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Design: In-ear | Battery Life: 6 hours Charging Case: 12 hours | Weight: 9.1g
If you’re looking for stellar active noise canceling, look no further. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are known for how well they cancel the noise around you. Be it your home or an outdoors noisy environment, the QuietComfort buds significantly mute unwanted ambient sound. Their sound is said to be pretty clean and neutral, too. The buds also offer a quite useful companion app with plenty of EQ customization that is both straightforward and helpful.
The only downside of these otherwise great buds is that their charging case is too large. Unfortunately, it's a little too big to fit in your pocket. If you’re big on portability, you might want to pass on these. Otherwise, they’re an excellent option to consider. You get six hours on a single charge and 12 additional hours with the charging case. The controls on the buds are minimal and fairly intuitive.
Best battery life Bose headphones
Interface: True Wireless | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Design: In-ear | Battery Life: 6 hours Charging Case: 24 hours | Weight: 8.9g
Bose has built most of its brand reputation around stellar ANC so you shouldn't be surprised to find out that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have excellent noise canceling. Like their predecessor, the QuietComfort Earbuds II impress too. Not only is the cancellation worth recommending, but the transparency mode is great because of how natural and life-like they are. The sound is dynamic with excellent highs and midrange.
The only area the QuietComfort Earbuds II is lacking is the absence of wireless charging and multipoint connectivity. Not offering either of these features becomes even more concerning when the buds’ $299 price tag is taken into consideration. However, if your regular usage doesn't demand any of these features, you’re good to go. With their six-hour battery life, and a whopping 24 hours with the charging case, you’re not going to be tethered to a socket anyway.
Best Bluetooth connection Bose headphones
Interface: Wireless, wired | Connectivity: Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio cable | Design: Over-ear | Battery Life: 20 hours | Weight: 236g
Bose's QuietComfort 35 II ticks almost every box you can think of. Sporting both a wireless and wired interface, they ensure convenience for the user. They are also praised for its strong Bluetooth connection which delivers without a stutter. Their extremely impressive ANC also contributes to making it one of our top picks. The QuietComfort 35 II features full bass, rich highs, and spacious mids. Their sound is versatile, and can achieve a lot in their admittedly high but worth-it, $345 price tag.
The mic on these headphones tend to pick up some background noise. Hence, we wouldn't recommend these for full-band recording. However, for your everyday calls and virtual meetings, they’re more than sufficient. Their impressive 20-hour battery life makes sure you’re not always connected to a socket. Even when they do run out of battery, you have a 3.5mm audio cable in the package to come to your rescue.
Best comfort Bose headphones
Interface: Wireless, wired | Connectivity: Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio cable | Design: Over-ear | Battery Life: 24 hours | Weight: 238g
If comfort is your top priority in your next pair of headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 45, the QuietComfort 35 II's successor, is your best bet. All thanks to their extremely thick and generously padded plus earcups, your ears are going to be thanking you for this purchase. The headphones also sport a lightweight body which helps them rest comfortably atop your noggin. The comfortable build coupled with a long-lasting 24-hour battery life means you wouldn't have to pause your entertainment. Even when they do run out of juice, you can use the provided 3.5mm audio cable in the package to resume your content.
As expected, the QuietComfort 45 also offers excellent noise-canceling. It also features an Aware Mode which uses mics placed on the exterior of the headphones to listen to outdoor noise and react to it by lowering the volume of your music and turning noise-canceling off. This makes sure you stay cognizant of what's going on around you and doubles as an excellent safety feature, too. The listening experience on the QuietComfort 45 is further enhanced by a range of intuitive controls that allow you to manage playback, volume, and your phone's virtual assistant. The Bose Music app and the EQ settings it offers takes the overall experience up another notch.
Best workout-friendly Bose headphones
Interface: True Wireless | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Design: In-ear | Battery Life: 5 hours Charging Case: 10 hours | Weight: 18.1g
The Bose SoundSport Free earbuds offer a lot for just $155. These in-ear, true wireless earbuds provide a secure fit that doesn't budge even when you’re engaged in intense physical activities. This makes the buds perfect for fitness. The IPX4 water-resistance rating also adds to making these ideal for your workout sessions as you don't have to worry about how sweaty you get. The SoundSport buds sound excellent, too but they’re known for their powerful low-end. The treble and midrange are said to be good too but not as exaggerated as the bass.
The buds feature a five-hour battery life which may seem a little short, especially compared to the other true wireless buds in this article. But with the charging case adding another 10 hours, the battery life isn't too bad. You also get fast charging capability which makes the battery situation even better. The only downside of these buds is their bulky body. They protrude pretty far, unless looks are a complete dealbreaker for you, there's no reason why you shouldn't opt for these.
TL; DR – These are our picks for the best Bose Headphones: 1. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Best noise-canceling Bose headphones Interface: True Wireless | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Design: In-ear | Battery Life: 6 hours Charging Case: 12 hours | Weight: 9.1g 2. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Best battery life Bose headphones Interface: True Wireless | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Design: In-ear | Battery Life: 6 hours Charging Case: 24 hours | Weight: 8.9g 3. Bose QuietComfort 35 II Best Bluetooth connection Bose headphones Interface: Wireless, wired | Connectivity: Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio cable | Design: Over-ear | Battery Life: 20 hours | Weight: 236g 4. Bose QuietComfort 45 Best comfort Bose headphones Interface: Wireless, wired | Connectivity: Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio cable | Design: Over-ear | Battery Life: 24 hours | Weight: 238g 5. Bose SoundSport Free Best workout-friendly Bose headphones Interface: True Wireless | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Design: In-ear | Battery Life: 5 hours Charging Case: 10 hours | Weight: 18.1g