Best Bose headphones and earbuds 2025: We tested every pair

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen).

You won't find better all-day wear than on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) headphones. Like their predecessor (and our former pick for the best Bose headphones), the Ultras feature a circumaural design that fully covers ears without adding too much pressure. They're incredibly comfortable, and if you can afford them, then we think you'll love them as much as we did.

So, whether you commute, work from home, or simply prefer to wear headphones more often than not, we think you'll be very happy with these flagship headphones. Their comfort, along with their 30-hour battery life and well-rounded sound profile, make the second-generation QC Ultra headphones the best option for anyone looking for an all-in-one package.

The QuietComfort Ultras are Bose's flagship headphones, and their first generation was our former top pick for the best Bose headphones (and the best noise-cancelling headphones overall). In other words, our expectations were set high.

According to Mashable's Bethany Allard, who tested out the headphones over a period of two weeks, the second iteration of these headphones meets the high standard set by the first. In terms of the comfort level, Allard wrote, "Between the first gen and these headphones, I don't notice a massive difference in fit, but the ear cushion feels slightly firmer, while still remaining plush. I don't know how Bose managed that contradiction, but it offered the same amount of comfort while feeling more future-proof, but of course, only time will tell."

The noise cancellation remains a top-of-the-line option from Bose, with the addition of 10 levels of adjustment via the companion app. The sound profile also shines, coming across as both detail-oriented and balanced, though the spatial audio option didn't always wow Allard (for anyone prioritizing the best possible sound quality, we recommend checking out Sony's flagship headphones). The wear detection and lay flat mode, which automatically disconnects the headphones from Bluetooth when they're laid with the ear cups face down, both worked flawlessly, lending these headphones an extra premium feel.

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If you're not down to pay $400+ for a pair of headphones, then don't. Instead, look to the affordable Bose QuietComfort headphones. As the step down from the Ultras, the QuietComfort headphones provide an affordable entry point that doesn't sacrifice quality.

For the person looking for great sound, these fit the bill. While the audiophile might miss not having spatial audio, the average person will be more than satisfied with the headphone's full, rounded sound. Plus, they're great for the student who needs noise cancellation to block out the noise and a long battery life to survive endless study sessions.

Knowing that the Bose QuietComfort are the affordable option in Bose's lineup, I was pleasantly surprised at just how incredible they are. I wore them for nearly six hours on my first go, as they accompanied me on a trip into New York City from Boston. Throughout my travels, the headphones were totally comfortable with soft ear cups that still provided a tight seal for passive noise cancellation.

The active noise cancellation was phenomenal. On the train ride into the city, I felt like I was in my own world without the chaos of my fellow travelers interrupting my peaceful ride. The only weakness it showed was around significantly loud noises (like a train arriving on the tracks), which temporarily blew out the sound.

Sound-wise, they deliver essentially the same audio quality as the Ultras. The QuietComfort brought out the buzzing funk of "Brick House" so I could enjoy every second without the outside world interrupting my listening. While they don't have spatial audio, I didn't miss it at all as the sound feels like it surrounds you without the feature. Plus, the battery on these headphones is phenomenal. It was only on the second day of my New York trip, after a full day's worth of non-stop listening while commuting, that I realized I needed a charge.

At $349 (and often on sale for $249), these are a great value, aligning Bose's superior sound with a more affordable price tag.

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Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen).

As much as we like over-the-ear headphones, earbuds are often more practical. They're compact and ready to be thrown in a bag, plus they stay out of the way during workouts. The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the brand's best earbuds.

They're comfortable for hours of wear and sound just as good as over-ear headphones, but where they really stand out is in their excellent ANC, which is class-leading among premium earbuds and headphones. They're an investment at $299, but in our mind, they're worth it for the person who wants the best of the best.

Several staffers at Mashable were big fans of the first-generation Bose QC Ultra earbuds, so it's no surprise that the second earbuds also knock it out of the park.

While we wouldn't necessarily recommend these to any first-gen owners (due to the similarities between the two models), for first-time buyers of premium earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras are easily one of the best options on the market.

When it comes to noise-cancelling earbuds, they can't be topped. Mashable's Bethany Allard wrote in her review that "the eight microphones packed into the buds make putting these earbuds on feel like turning down the volume knob on the world. I'm not going to claim pure silence, because I've yet to encounter that with any noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds, but the QC Ultra buds get you as close you can get to that standard."

The combination of the three sizes of ear tips and stability bands also helped us find the perfect fit, making these earbuds not only comfortable but even better at blocking out sound. As far as the sound they produce, out of the box they make pop tracks like Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" feel lively and full, while also giving a Rachmaninoff piano concerto a rich and detailed quality.

Wireless charging is a welcome addition to this generation, though a six-hour battery life is a little less desirable. Still, the overall package of these earbuds is hard to beat — especially if great ANC is a top priority.

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Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

If you want good-quality sound but don’t want to spend over $200, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are an affordable answer in the brand’s lineup. They’re focused on a great fit, as they come with multiple ear tips and multiple bands you can change out on the earbuds for a better fit on the crest of your ear. 

The accompanying app lets you adjust audio levels, but you won’t need to, as these earbuds make all your music sound better. They’re reliable, have a long battery life, and are sure to please music lovers.

I’ve praised the QuietComfort Ultra, but Bose’s latest earbuds, the entry-level QuietComfort, are also fantastic, especially with their under-$200 price tag. Even after adjusting the ear tips and bands, I didn’t find the fit on these quite as secure as the Ultras. However, my colleague Bethany Allard, who also tested the QuietComfort earbuds, said they were the best earbuds that have ever fit her.

The QuietComfort’s sound quality is just phenomenal. With these earbuds, listening to Ethel Cain’s "A House in Nebraska" immersed me in the orchestrations. When "Brick House" by The Commodores came on, the earbuds elevated the snappy drum beats, imitating listening live.

The noise cancellation on the QuietComfort earbuds isn’t as sophisticated as the Ultras; I found they had more sound leakage and that classic ANC buzz when I was in noisy environments. The ANC on these is still great, especially in quiet spaces. 

One tiny beef I have with the Bose QuietComfort earbuds is that they require a different app than the standard Bose app. This is annoying if you’re an existing Bose user and need to download another app; plus, this earbud app just isn’t as good as Bose’s flagship app.

All in all, these are a solid pair of headphones that, for $179.99, are an unbeatable value.

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Read our full review of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds.

Earbuds with noise transparency might seem counterintuitive, but they're a unique alternative when safety is a concern. While you want to be able to listen to your music when biking or walking at night, it's essential to hear the world around you, too. The Bose Ultra Open offer an ingenious design. These earbuds clip onto your ear like a cuff and don't block your ear canal. They provide the right balance of high-quality audio while keeping you connected to the world around you.

Even if you're less concerned about noise transparency, these headphones are just flat-out comfortable and the ideal workout earbuds. If you don't love the feeling of having earbuds in your ears, these are a great in-between.

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are easily the most uniquely designed headphones I've ever tested. While I was hesitant about how well the clip-on style would work, I was quickly on board. They wrap around your ear, providing surprisingly good audio quality despite no noise cancellation benefits. Plus, they're super comfortable even for long periods of time, and they're ideal if you hate the clogged-up feeling of traditional earbuds. And while they seem like they might be less secure than regular earbuds, I found that they stayed in place even through exercise.

When working out, especially in busy areas, I'm often concerned about safety, and these buds ensured I could hear cars or bikes coming my way. That's why I loved the Bose Ultra Open; I had the best of both worlds — I could tune into my podcast and still hear the world around me.

If you're looking for a pair of Bose earbuds for working out, these are my pick.

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Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (1st gen).

Look, if you want the best battery life, sound, and ANC, then splurge on the newest version of Bose's flagship headphones. But if you can live without the iterative improvements — or if your budget maxes out at $300 — we can still heartily recommend the original QuietComfort Ultra cans. While they're still available, you can often find them on sale for $298, and those savings might be worth the battery-life tradeoff (you get about six hours less).

We can't recommend the original QuietComfort Ultra headphones over the new version, released in October. The new flagship Bose headphones are even more impressive, even if they only offer modest upgrades. (Read our full breakdown of the differences between these Bose headphones.) However, it's Black Friday season, and if you're looking for a deal, we think you should at least consider saving some money on these noise cancellers. At their current price, they're even cheaper than Bose's mid-range headphones.

They're still some of the most comfortable and best-sounding headphones we've ever tested.

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