Details
Brand
Bose
Model
QuietComfort 35
Battery Life
20 hrs
Latest Version
No
Key Features
• Bose’s first wireless noise• canceling headphones• NFC technology for flawless and simple pairing with compatible devices• Rechargeable lithium• ion battery• Up to 20 hours of wireless use• Noise• rejecting microphone
Comfort
The QuietComfort 35 headphones are made from premium materials to provide a comfortable experience for all of your listening needs. They don’t fit too tightly on most heads and the materials that Bose utilized for the padding around the ear cup is supple and soft, making it mold comfortably around your ears. Weighing in at 0.52 pounds, these weigh a bit more than their predecessor. This extra weight is due to the wireless tech and the rechargeable battery featured in the QuietComfort 35. This extra weight doesn’t seem to affect comfort level much, however, and should be barely even noticeable once you’re wearing the headphones.
Style
The design here isn’t anything ground-breaking or extremely exciting, but the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones aren’t the worst looking option on the market either. They come available in either a black or silver color. Each earcup features a slightly raised Bose logo. The headband is adequately padded and it sits on the head comfortably. The cushioning on the cups is soft and they shouldn’t ever feel too tight on the ears.;The left earcup features a 2.5mm jack which you would use if you choose to use the wired configuration of the QC35’s. The right earcup is where the magic is, however. Users will find the power slider, a micro USB port as well as all the audio playback buttons you’ll find yourself needing (pause, skip, volume control).
Activities
Other than the obvious playback of music and audio, the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones also include a microphone. This addition allows them to be used as a headset when making calls. As you will find out later in our review, these headphones are considered to be noise-canceling. The same technology that is used to make this a possibility also lends itself well to the microphone capabilities, helping to eliminate background noises and ensuring that your voice comes through with pristine clarity on all your phone calls. That said, there were a few reviewers who commented that they felt the microphone left something to be desired. Some felt that the microphone would only pick up their voice if they were in a soundproof room. Others said the sensitivity was too high and that typing on their keyboard sounded deafening to the people they were speaking to. This may be something to take into consideration if you plan to be taking a lot of calls using the QuietComfort 35.
Basic Features
Other than the obvious playback of music and audio, the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones also include a microphone. This addition allows them to be used as a headset when making calls. As you will find out later in our review, these headphones are considered to be noise-canceling. The same technology that is used to make this a possibility also lends itself well to the microphone capabilities, helping to eliminate background noises and ensuring that your voice comes through with pristine clarity on all your phone calls. That said, there were a few reviewers who commented that they felt the microphone left something to be desired. Some felt that the microphone would only pick up their voice if they were in a soundproof room. Others said the sensitivity was too high and that typing on their keyboard sounded deafening to the people they were speaking to. This may be something to take into consideration if you plan to be taking a lot of calls using the QuietComfort 35.
Advanced Features
The Bose QuietComfort35 headphones feature wireless convenience through Bluetooth and NFC pairing. We will dive a little more in-depth into this feature in the ‘Connectivity’ section of our review. These headphones also have a volume-optimized EQ that provides users with a balanced audio performance no matter what volume your audio is being played back at.
Connectivity
The QuietComfort 35 headphones utilize technology like Bluetooth and NFC to make the process of pairing your devices easier than ever. You are able to pair two devices at the same time, perfect for moments where you need to swap between your tablet and smartphone. Reviewers mentioned that switching between multiple connections was a relatively quick and painless process.;Pairing your devices to the headphones seems to be an easy process which can be made even easier if you own an Android phone that supports NFC pairing. In this situation, all you’ll need to do is tap the back of your phone against the headphones and you’ll be connected. Some reviewers mentioned that the Bluetooth was glitchy at the best of times.
Ease of Use
The Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones are very intuitive to use. Downloading the accompanying app helps to simplify the process even further as it allows users to control which device they’re receiving audio from as well as makes the process of switching between devices easier. Pairing them is a breeze and controls are easy to understand and operate.
Power Source
Lovers of the QuietComfort25 will find that this newer model’s battery doesn’t last quite as long. As previously mentioned, this is likely due in part to the new Bluetooth technology that was introduced in the QC35 model. Some users will find that this sacrifice in battery life is worth it, however, when you consider the new features that the QC35 offers.;Bose claims that the QC35 will last about twenty hours when operating wirelessly which is a reasonable amount of time considering the noise cancellation. Many reviewers mentioned that their headphones lasted longer than the expected time frame on one charge, however. If you choose to use them wired, one can expect the battery life to rise to about 40 hours. Of course, when you choose to use the wired configuration, you’re sacrificing the noise-canceling and Active EQ technology but for some users, they prefer the “old school” connection anyway. One can expect the battery to take about 2.25 hours to charge.;To utilize the noise-canceling feature on these headphones, it should be noted that one will need to recharge their lithium-ion battery. That said, however, you can use the headphones in their wired configuration without having to activate the noise canceling switch. This can be adjusted in the accompanying Bose app as well as choose which level you prefer – high, low or off.;It should be noted here that the battery for these headphones is not replaceable. If it dies, users will need to send their product away to a third party company for replacement. This seems like a bit of an oversight on Bose’s part, as this entire process would be very inconvenient for users.
Sound Quality
The Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones are a great-sounding over-the-ear headphone. They are equipped with Bose’s typical Active EQ adjustment which changes the sound of your music based on the volume level you’re listening at. The sound quality is superb, crisp and vibrant. Unlike other wireless headphone options out there, you shouldn’t find there to be any flatness in the sound quality. There doesn’t seem to be any highs or lows and they provide a nice clean sound. You can play any kind of music from EDM to classical without a hitch. Reviewers felt that it was easy to feel immersed in the audio with these headphones.;The bass capabilities are great, but not overpowering like with other options. Users mentioned that the bass extends deep, to below 15hz without distorting, which is perfect for music that produces low thumping sounds.;Some reviewers felt that the QuietComfort 35 in wireless mode did not reach an adequate volume level. In wired mode, the volume didn’t seem to be a problem.
Durability
The QuietComfort 35 is a fairly well-built product. Reviewers commented that this version of the QC is built better than its predecessor. The headband is a bit wider than the previous version and features a more premium feeling material which helps to make them more durable. The plastic used on the ear cups is relatively thick and is built to withstand a few drops without long-lasting damage. It should be noted that the QC35 is comprised of a lot of plastic, making it decently durable but not as much as higher-end headphones on the market.
Price
The MSRP for the Bose QuietComfort 35 is $349. Consumers will find, however, that they are able to secure a cheaper price point by researching third-party markets. For example, there are several sellers on Amazon selling this product for well below the market price. It should be noted here that the QC35 is not actually the most recent model available on the market. Bose released the QC35 II in the fall of 2017 with a few new features that the original model is missing such as access to Google Assistant. This newer version is actually priced nearly exactly the same but provides users with even more features – something to take into account if you’re someone who likes to have the next big thing!
Bottom Line
Overall, we recommend the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones for folks who are on the hunt for a pair of easy-to-use wireless headphones with fantastic noise-cancellation that are above average quality. You’re going to be paying a little bit (okay, maybe a lot) more for these than your average wireless headphones but we have to let the reviews for the product speak for themselves. There are over 4,000 reviews on Amazon for these headphones and their 4.4-star average rating speaks volumes about the quality of the QC35. It must be considered, however, that the microphone quality of these headphones doesn’t seem to be the most well-received by many users. If you plan to use the mic a lot to answer and take phone calls, you may want to search elsewhere for another product that provides a better-quality microphone. It should be noted here as well that if you’re looking for the ‘next big thing’, you may want to check out the Quiet Comfort 35 II. The 35 II is the successor to this product and offers new technology like built-in access to Alexa for a little more of a futuristic touch. If talking to your headphones seems a little excessive and space age-y for you, then we think the Quiet Comfort 35’s would probably be perfect if you can get past the poor-quality microphone.
