Which Bose headphones should you buy?

If you are looking for the best noise-cancelling headphones, whether your heart is set on in-ear or over-ear headphones, we are guessing a pair or two from Bose features somewhere on your shortlist. Probably somewhere near the top.

And why wouldn't they? The company's noise-cancelling technology is celebrated worldwide and it has forged a reputation for serious quality built on decades of experience manufacturing consumer electronics. We are now in a position where Bose headphones are some of the most compelling wireless options you'll find – despite the likes of Sony, Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins and Apple knocking at their door.

The current core products in Bose's over-ear headphone lineup are the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, the QuietComfort Headphones and the QuietComfort SE. As far as earbuds are concerned you have the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Ultra Open Earbuds. Legacy headphones still on sale, at the time of writing, include the QuietComfort 45 over-ears and the QuietComfort II Earbuds.

These models are all fine-tuned by Bose engineers, and all but a couple have been reviewed by our test team, with the majority getting five-star ratings. But, there are huge differences across the range and there's far more to it than price differences and whether they go over or into your ears.

Your particular needs and priorities will determine which pair you should buy, so to work out which Bose headphone model is best for you, let us run you through each pair, including features, perks and where possible, all-important sound quality...

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?

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Verdict

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are Bose’s flagship noise-cancelling headphones. And they’re not cheap. We reviewed them at £450 / $429 / AU$649 which means you’ll be paying a decent premium over rival models such as the Sony WH-1000XM5, Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless.

The Ultra replace the old Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and revert back to a more traditional design. They might not feel as premium as their predecessors, but they are more portable with hinges that allow them to fold properly. The same can’t be said for the rivals mentioned above, which only fold flat.

The Bose are comfortable and combine buttons with a touch-sensitive strip for controlling playback, volume and sound modes. Battery life is 24 hours which is good, but you couldn’t call them class-leading. Sony’s XM5 offer 30 hours and Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless go for 60 hours!

Where the Bose excel is noise cancelling and sound quality. During testing, we found the ANC to be superb and having compared them to all the key rivals at the money, including the new Sonos Ace, we think they’re best-in-class. They do a great job of blocking out a wide range of frequencies and you can customise the intensity of the noise cancelling for different environments through the companion app.

They sound like a flagship pair of wireless headphones should, with an excellent sense of musicality and enthusiasm but there’s a real sense of refinement there too.

Bose’s take on spatial audio, Immersive Audio, is quite hit-and-miss and cuts battery life to 18 hours. It’s a feature that we could honestly live without. But, if you’ve got the budget and want arguably the best noise-cancelling currently available, then these Bose have your back.

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM5

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Headphones?

Verdict

We haven’t tested the Bose QuietComfort Headphones before but they sit just below the Ultra model in Bose’s hierarchy of wireless over-ear headphones. They’re a more affordable model and this is reflected in the design, and the features on offer. They still boast noise-cancelling and 24hr battery life, but use an older version of Bluetooth (5.1 versus 5.3 in the Ultras), don’t have Immersive Audio and don’t have the ActiveSense automatic ANC adjustment feature which you do get on their more expensive siblings.

Their position in Bose's range is reflected in the price with the Bose QuietComfort Headphones coming in cheaper at £350 / $349 / AU$550. It’s still a relatively premium price and puts them in the same ballpark as the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4.

Buttons and switches are onboard for controlling playback and noise-cancelling, but their design has no touch-sensitive element. They are available in more colours than the flagship model, including eye-catching Cypress Green and Moonstone Blue.

They’re an interesting pair because Bose also has one other pair of noise-cancelling headphones that sit just below them, the QuietComfort SE. These headphones launched at the end of September 2022 and were seen as an upgrade to the then QuietComfort 45 model.

The SE cost £240 / $330 / AU$450 but this is one pair we haven't tested. We wouldn't be surprised to see the SE the next to be discontinued, leaving the non-SE model as Bose's entry-level noise-cancelling model.

For those interested in a potential bargain, the QuietComfort 45 were officially on sale from 2021 to 2023. You can no longer buy them through Bose but shop around online and there's a chance you might find a pair or two still on sale. Because of their age, they could likely be bought at quite a hefty discount – but at full price, better options now exist at the money from Sennheiser and Sony.

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones vs QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?

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Verdict

Bose has two pairs of Ultra headphones currently on the market. Its traditional wireless earbud model is called the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Like their over-ear siblings, they deliver excellent noise-cancelling and sound quality in a premium package.

We originally tested them at £300 / $299 / AU$450 which makes them a little more expensive than their closest rivals such as the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. The Sonys are a little older so their price regularly comes down, while the Bose should be discounted more regularly the longer they’re on sale.

The design and fit of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 is virtually identical to their predecessors, which also feature on this page, the QuietComfort Earbuds II. During testing we found the soft silicone tips comfy over long periods while the ear fins help keep the buds firmly in place.

Noise-cancelling on this model is excellent but it’s the sound quality where Bose has pushed the envelope compared to its previous models. They produce a refined and mature sound which is familiar, but there’s even more drive and punch on display. The Ultra sound wonderfully dynamic when the music demands.

The features on offer are also very similar with Immersive Audio the main new addition if you want to experience your favourite music in spatial audio. We weren’t huge fans during testing and, like the QC Ultra Headphones, using the mode has a big impact on battery life, slashing it from 6hrs to 4hrs.

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds vs Sony WF-1000XM5
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds vs Apple AirPods Pro 2

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II?

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Verdict

In 2020 the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds took the legendary brand into the relatively new world of true wireless earbuds. They were great and were superseded by the equally impressive QuietComfort Earbuds II which arrived in 2022 and were comfortably a step above in both sound and ANC performance.

However, as discussed above, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are now the top buds in Bose's portfolio. We think the Ultra model sounds better, but the flip side is that the QuietComfort II Earbuds have now dropped in price significantly from their original £280 / $299 / AU$429.

Build quality and comfort levels are still great – nothing has changed here with the introduction of the new model, so you're still getting quality plastics for the earpieces and soft, supple eartips and 'stability bands'.

You'll be pleased to know noise-cancelling is still extremely competitive. You can still experiment with the different levels and if you want more of the outside world to seep in, the headphones will adapt perfectly.

And although the Ultra model does sound punchier and even more enthusiastic in its delivery, the QC Earbuds II still exhibit that same refined, musical character which makes them great all-rounders. They don’t impose their own character on the music.

• Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II vs Apple AirPods Pro 2

Should you buy the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds?

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Verdict

If you want a pair of wireless earbuds that shirk the traditional design that we’ve all come to know and love, then Bose has this smart little number up its sleeve. Part of a new breed of ‘open’ earbuds, the USP of the Ultra Open Earbuds is that they’re designed not to drill into your ear canal. Instead, they clip around the ear with their tip nestling just at the entrance. There’s no need to mess around with silicone tip sizes here.

This will make them an attractive proposition for anyone who finds normal wireless earbuds uncomfortable and anyone who wants a pair of earbuds that do the sonic business but also allow the outside world in; handy if you’re out running, for example.

During testing we were surprised by just how capable the Bose are. They manage to create an impressive amount of bass weight considering there’s no traditional seal as such, but bass notes also come with detail and definition. They’re a balanced and enjoyable listen no matter what your musical taste. You get physical controls, Bluetooth 5.3, aptX Adaptive support and an IPX4 rating. Battery life is a competitive enough 7.5 hours.

They are quite expensive by wireless earbuds standards and at £299 / $299 / AU$449 cost just as much as their siblings, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra II which have built-in noise-cancelling. We would probably take those over the open earbuds, but we think in certain use cases they’ll work a treat.

MORE:

What are open earbuds? How do the headphones work and are they worth it?

The best Bose deals live right now

And our pick of the best wireless headphones and best wireless earbuds

How to choose the right pair of headphones