Bose QuietComfort Review
The Bose QuietComfort headphones carry a famous name but deliver mediocre performance. Our testing reveals disappointing battery life and middle-of-the-pack sound.
The 30-Second Version
Skip these. They're a Bose-branded headphone with mid-tier specs and disappointing battery life. For the same money, you can get genuinely best-in-class performance from Sony or Bose's own newer model.
Overview
The Bose QuietComfort headphones are a classic name with a surprisingly mediocre performance. The one thing you need to know is that these are not the flagship Bose cans you're probably thinking of. They're a mid-tier model with Bose branding, and our data shows they're lagging behind the pack in almost every key category. They're comfortable and have that Bose look, but the actual tech inside feels dated.
Performance
What surprised us was how underwhelming the battery life is. At just 14th percentile, it's one of the worst we've seen for a premium wireless headphone. The claimed 24 hours seems optimistic compared to real-world data from our database. The noise cancellation and sound quality are also mediocre, sitting in the 36th percentile. You're paying for the Bose name, but you're not getting Bose's best tech.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Classic, comfortable design that's instantly recognizable. 86th
- SimpleSync feature is neat for pairing with Bose soundbars. 69th
- Spotify Tap playback is a handy shortcut for Spotify users.
Cons
- Battery life is a real letdown for a premium headphone. 3th
- Noise cancellation and sound quality are middle of the pack, not leading. 10th
- They're heavy at 435g, which contributes to the poor comfort score.
- Build quality percentile is low, which is odd for a Bose product.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 1.0 lbs |
Noise Control
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 24 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Value & Pricing
Not worth it at $299-$359. You're paying a premium price for average performance. There are better values at this price point that actually deliver top-tier features.
Price History
vs Competition
Look at the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless instead. The Sony's are consistently top of the charts for ANC and sound, and they're in the same price bracket. The Bose Ultra is Bose's actual current flagship and outperforms these in every metric. Even the Technics EAH-AZ80 offers better sound and build quality. These QC headphones feel like a legacy product.
| Spec | Bose QuietComfort | Technics EAH-AZ80 Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Sony WF-1000XM6 Sony WF-1000XM6 True Wireless Noise-Canceling | Jabra Evolve2 Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-C MS Earbuds with USB-C | Apple AirPods Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - | Soundcore Liberty Soundcore by Anker Liberty 5 True Wireless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | - | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | in-ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Battery Life Hours | 24 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 16 | 12 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
| Water Resistance | - | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | Water-Resistant | IP55 |
| Multipoint | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort | 69.4 | 64 | 36.8 | 42.8 | 48.4 | 2.6 | 85.7 | 10.2 |
| Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Compare | 82.6 | 99.9 | 91.2 | 98.4 | 69.2 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Compare | 82.6 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.1 | 91.6 | 69.2 | 98.5 | 97.1 |
| Jabra Evolve2 Evolve2 Buds Compare | 82.6 | 98.9 | 99.3 | 88 | 94.2 | 93.2 | 97.2 | 98.1 |
| Apple AirPods Noise-Canceling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 91.9 | 91 | 93.2 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
| Soundcore Liberty by Anker 5 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Compare | 98.7 | 98.9 | 95.9 | 95.3 | 93.3 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 99.6 |
Common Questions
Q: Are these the same as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones?
No, they're not. These are a different, older model. The Ultra is Bose's current top-of-the-line headphone and performs significantly better in our tests.
Q: Is the 24-hour battery life real?
Our data suggests it's not. The battery life score is in the bottom 15% of all headphones we track, so real-world use seems shorter than the claim.
Q: How's the noise cancellation compared to Sony?
It's not as good. These rank in the 36th percentile for ANC, while the Sony WF-1000XM5s are consistently in the top 5%. The Sony's simply block more noise.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for best-in-class noise cancellation or marathon battery life, this isn't it. Go get the Sony WF-1000XM5s instead. Also, if you're a Bose loyalist, skip this and get the actual flagship QuietComfort Ultra.
Verdict
We can't recommend these. They're a step behind the competition in critical areas like battery, ANC, and sound. If you want the Bose experience, get the QuietComfort Ultra. If you want the best performance for your money, get the Sony XM5s. These sit in an awkward middle ground where the name doesn't match the specs.