Bose QuietComfort Headphones Review: Excellent ANC and All-Day Comfort

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are premium wireless over-ear headphones designed around excellent Active Noise Cancellation, comfort, deep bass, and long battery life.

They offer up to 24 hours of listening time, Quiet and Aware modes, adjustable EQ, Bluetooth multipoint, USB-C charging, and an included wired audio cable.

Bose QuietComfort Specs

Bose includes a carrying case, USB-C charging cable, and 3.5mm-to-2.5mm audio cable in the box.

Sound Quality

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones deliver a rich, energetic sound with strong bass.

They work particularly well for:

• Pop
• Hip-hop
• Electronic music
• Movies
• Podcasts
• Everyday listening

The Bose app also provides an adjustable EQ, allowing you to change bass, mids, and treble to match your preference.

Users who enjoy a warmer sound with plenty of bass should feel at home with the QuietComfort.

Active Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation is the biggest reason to buy these headphones.

Bose offers two main listening modes:

Quiet Mode maximizes noise cancellation.

Aware Mode lets outside sound through when you need to hear your surroundings.

You can also create custom modes through the Bose app.

Independent RTINGS testing found the QuietComfort particularly effective at reducing aircraft noise, transportation rumble, and voices around you.

That makes them especially useful for:

• Air travel
• Public transportation
• Offices
• Studying
• Working from home

Comfort

Comfort is another major strength.

The QuietComfort weighs only around 0.52 lb / 236g and uses soft over-ear cushions with a padded headband.

The lightweight design makes them comfortable for long listening sessions and gives them an advantage over many heavier premium headphones.

Battery Life

Bose rates battery life at up to 24 hours with noise cancellation enabled.

Quick charging is also useful:

15 minutes of charging = up to 2.5 hours of playback.

That is plenty for daily commuting, work, and most long flights.

However, competitors such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 offer longer maximum battery life.

Bluetooth Multipoint

The QuietComfort Headphones support Bluetooth multipoint.

This allows you to stay connected to two devices and switch between them more easily.

For example, you can connect to:

• Your laptop
• Your smartphone

and move between music and calls without constantly pairing again.

Call Quality

The headphones include a built-in microphone for calls.

Voice quality is adequate in quiet environments, but this is not one of the strongest features of the QuietComfort.

RTINGS found microphone performance relatively average and noted that background noise can interfere with voice clarity in louder environments.

For Zoom meetings and normal phone calls they work fine, but users who make calls frequently in noisy locations may want something stronger.

Wired Listening

Bose includes an audio cable, so you can continue listening even when the battery runs out.

When used without battery power, the headphones work passively, but ANC and Active EQ are disabled.

This is particularly useful for airplanes and devices with headphone jacks.

USB-C Charging

The headphones charge through USB-C.

However, an important distinction is that this original QuietComfort model uses USB-C primarily for charging rather than digital USB-C audio. Bose added wired USB-C audio to the newer QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen).

QuietComfort vs New 2nd Gen

Bose released the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) in August 2026.

The newer version adds features including:

• Bose Immersive Audio
• USB-C lossless audio up to 24-bit/48kHz
• Updated ANC
• Updated design

Battery life remains rated at up to 24 hours.

That means the original QuietComfort is most attractive when available at a substantial discount.

Pros

✓ Excellent Active Noise Cancellation
✓ Very comfortable lightweight design
✓ Strong bass and enjoyable sound
✓ Adjustable EQ
✓ Up to 24-hour battery life
✓ Bluetooth multipoint
✓ Aware transparency mode
✓ Fast charging
✓ Wired listening included
✓ Excellent for travel

Cons

✗ Call microphone is only average
✗ 24-hour battery trails some competitors
✗ No USB-C audio on this generation
✗ No official water-resistance rating
✗ Newer QuietComfort 2nd Gen is now available

Bose QuietComfort Rating

Sound Quality: 9.1/10
Noise Cancellation: 9.6/10
Comfort: 9.7/10
Battery: 8.7/10
Call Quality: 8.0/10
Features: 9.0/10
Value: 8.9/10

Overall: 9.1/10

Verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones remain excellent wireless ANC headphones, particularly for travelers and users who prioritize comfort.

Their strongest features are excellent noise cancellation, lightweight construction, strong bass, adjustable EQ, and easy multipoint connectivity.

Their biggest weakness in 2026 is that Bose now sells the newer QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen).

If the original QuietComfort is available at a good discount, however, it remains a strong choice for travel, work, music, and everyday listening.