The Bose QuietComfort 35 II released in 2017 is one of the best sounding wireless noise-canceling headphones in the market even today. These headphones are part of the legendary Quiet Comfort series of Active noise-canceling headphones by Bose. So, what makes these pair of headphones catch the imagination of a buyer? Let us find out in our review of the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II. We test these headphones to see if they still match up to the competition, so let us jump right in.

In the Box

So, the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II comes with a hard carry case, which is super sturdy and can take some rough handling. The headphones fit snugly into the carry case and show how flexible the headphones are. Besides the headphones and carry case, there is a micro-USB charging cable as well as a 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm audio cable. The audio jack and cable are handy especially if you have a non-wireless device that relies on a 3.5 mm jack. It misses out on a USB Type C charging port common on most devices now.

Design and Build Quality

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is not the best-looking pair of headphones out there. They look almost exactly like the previous iteration of the QC series. The new addition is the Action button on the left earcup that supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. They come in two colors, black, and silver, and can be generic or boring for younger users. The design is rather minimal and simple and is not for people looking to show off the styling or colors of their headphones. The plastic build only adds to this but having said that they are sturdy. The plastic body also helps to kick a few grams off the overall weight of the headphones making them ideal for long use. The body is quite durable and can take some rough handling and some twisting and turning as well.

The headband is quite comfortable and makes use of Alcantara material. The earcups on the Bose QuietComfort 35 II are also quite comfortable and enhances the noise cancellation capabilities. We found that during testing, the headphones are comfortable for extended periods of listening and at 8.3 ounces are quite light. The headphones are quite flexible and can fit into most cramped backpacks, although we recommend using the carry case. Besides the Action button, there is also a multifunction button, volume control buttons. The Power button is on the right earcup. The USB charging port and audio jack are underneath the earcups and are quite well placed and easy to access.

Performance and Sound Quality

The sound quality on the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is impressive and can satisfy most regular users. However, these cannot be used for monitoring or might not be the first choice for Audiophiles. Having said that, they have a near-flat frequency response that gives room to customize EQ levels. The bass and mids are slightly higher up and the highs are clear and transparent. The headphones handle most genre's that we threw at it quite well although the sound staging is nothing you could compare to an open back pair of headphones.

The one department where the Bose QuietComfort 35 II shines is noise cancellation. Bose has been the pioneer in Active Noise-cancelling headphones and the ANC is top-notch in these headphones. While testing the headphones with the ANC turned ON, we were able to enjoy Nightingale by Yanni on a noisy suburban street. The ANC kept all the ambient sounds off and we were super impressed. The Action button can also is programmable and can act as a level control for noise cancellation.

Battery Life and Connectivity

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II claims a battery life of 20 hours with ANC turned ON and on a moderate volume level. The charging is quick, and the headphones can churn out 2.5 hours of playback after a 15-minute charge. While testing this figure was almost spot on and using the 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm Audio jack or turning the ANC feature Off can extend battery life. The headphone offers Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity and is probably a bit dated compared to a lot of the other models in the market today.

That being said, the connection is pretty stable and the Bose Connect+ app helps with an almost seamless connection. The Bose Connect+ app also controls the action button and multifunction buttons. It lets you program the action button for Alexa, Google Assistant the default or ANC level control. For iOS users, the multifunction button can work with Siri by using the Bose Connect+ App to reprogram it.

Verdict

If you are looking for no-frills bang for the buck headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is for you. It has the perfect design that provides great comfort, top-notch noise cancellation, and decent battery life. These pair of headphones are great for travelers, especially on long flights. This is because they offer great comfort and a pretty decent battery backup. Although, it might not be everyone’s first choice as they are a bit dated and lack a few features like automatic play/pause, a USB-C type port, and Bluetooth 5.0 support.

Having said that the price of these has come down significantly and are a great deal. If there is one thing that you should buy these for it is the Active Noise Cancellation feature. Recently Bose has also come up with a customizable variant for a few extra dollars that lets you customize the colors. So, the QuietComfort 35 II is a really good pair of headphones and ticks most of the boxes for us. For more info on other amazing headphones, check out our list of the best noise-canceling headphones for 2021.

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