Bose QuietComfort 35 II Review

The 3-Minute Bose QuietComfort 35 II Review

Style and Performance, But at a Price

By Graeme Messina | March 26, 2018

The Specifics:

Features & Design: 4.5/5 ● Performance: 4.5/5 ● Value: 4/5 ● Battery: 4/5 

The Best:

We have a lightweight pair of wireless, active noise cancelling headphones from Bose, called the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, which is the successor to last year’s amazing headset, Bose QuietComfort 35. These are strong, durable, and have excellent sound quality.

The Bugs:

There aren’t too many negatives to consider with this pair of headphones, but perhaps the biggest missed opportunity with this product is the lack of a USB-C charger, with the old standard USB 2.0 styled connector being the choice here instead.

Is it for you?

Because of the light weight design and superior materials that were employed during the construction of this headset, wearing fatigue is a thing of the past. This is a pair of headphones that you will be able to wear all day, every day without any discomfort.

Meet the Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Manufacturers sometimes have problems trying to get their products to match up with the advertising specifications that they release when a product goes to market, not so with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. The product rating for battery life is specified at 20 hours of continuous playback, which is pretty amazing, but real world results can yield as much as 23 hours of playback, at normal volumes of around 50%. 

What we like

We love the attention to detail that went into the design of this pair of headphones, and the strong materials that resist twisting, warping and cracking. The inner ear foam inserts are removable and interchangeable, so if your ears would be better served with a bigger or smaller insert, you can purchase just the right fit for your ears

Battery life exceeds the advertised ratings, which is unusual for advertisers these days, and the sound quality is clear and crisp, while still maintaining solid bass response levels. Connectivity is handled via Wi-Fi, and pairing the headset can be accomplished with NFC.

There is an added button onto the left side ear cup, and this allows users to toggle between Active Noise Cancellation and Google Assistant, which is better than the previous version as ANC could only be cancelled via the app.

What we don’t like

The only real issue with these headphones is the pricing, and while they are certainly worth the money if you are an audiophile, or a professional musician, they are still a little expensive.

The lack of USB C charging could be an issue for users that have already made the transition to the new port type with the latest smart phones, but that should not be a deal breaker for many. 

Should you buy it?

These are excellent headphones for anyone that needs to have isolated audio and Active Noise Cancellation. This type of noise reduction can cut out overly intrusive sounds from commuting, travelling by aeroplane, or any other activity that requires users to have no external interruptions to their listening experience. The product benefits from top notch construction, high quality materials, superb sound quality and exceptional battery life. The only real snag for many consumers will be the price, which will probably be the deciding factor.