The best Bose headphones combine sleek design with excellent sound performance. It’s no wonder Bose consistently ranks as one of the world's leading audio brands, with its headphones always appearing in our guides to the best headphones and best earbuds.
Choosing the right Bose headphones for you depends on your budget and personal preferences. Bose offers lightweight, noise-cancelling models that frequently top our best over-ear headphones guide, providing comfort for everything from daily commutes to long-haul flights. Bose is also renowned for producing some of the best wireless earbuds, which are ideal for more versatile listening and workouts.
Our expert team has reviewed hundreds of the best headphones over the years, and we’ve spent significant time testing every pair of the best Bose headphones in the guide below. Which is how you know you can trust all of our recommendations based on years of knowledge and experience. Don’t forget to check our Bose promo codes guide for the best deals.
The quick list
Looking for a simple way to find the best Bose headphones with the key features and design that's right for you? Use our quick list below and click to see a longer write-up of each product for more in-depth information.
Best earbuds overall
Not only the best Bose buds but some of the best on the market, period. Especially if excellent ANC and head-tracking audio are your list of priorities. Immersive audio has never sounded so good.
Best headphones overall
Expect incredible sound and class-leading ANC. These over-ears are also comfortable and feature-packed – though the battery is disappointing. Not cheap, but they're worth the splurge.
Best value earbuds
Bose is generally a high-end brand, but you can find the same fantastic sound, fit and ANC smarts in the latest QC Earbuds for a more reasonable price. They're not perfect, but they bring you the best of Bose for less.
Best open-ear
The first open-ear buds from Bose are the best on the market, keeping you aware with a comfortable design and surprisingly little sound leakage. They're pricey, but a good choice for outdoor runners.
I've reviewed over 150 audio products since becoming a tech journalist, ranging from super-budget earbuds to high-end Hi-Res Audio music players. Before joining TechRadar, I spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing everything the world of audio had to offer; before that, I was a professional dancer. My love of music ties it all together.
Best Bose headphones of 2024
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The best Bose earbuds overall
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds deliver the best noise cancellation we’ve ever experienced from a pair of buds and with spatial audio features built-in too. So if you want audio that feels immersive and silences the outside world, these are the buds for you. Admittedly, when they were first released, we felt they had limitations. But a software upgrade in July 2024 introduced multipoint pairing and a price drop around that time made them better value, too. We did continue to recommend the QE Earbuds II that came before them, because they were similar and cheaper, but now they’re discontinued and the Ultra buds make more sense as our top pick.
At first glance, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds seem similar to their predecessors, but they have some notable upgrades. For starters, they’re now Snapdragon Sound-certified, offering aptX Adaptive support for higher-quality audio streaming and impressive device-agnostic spatial audio. Unfortunately there’s no wireless charging here. You can buy a case cover that adds it, but they’re already expensive buds to begin with.
Sound-wise, Bose’s Immersive Audio is the star of the show, expect a realistic listening experience that surrounds you with music. It’s so effective we called it “scarily good” in our review. For the most part, music feels alive and energetic. As far as ANC goes, the Ultras prove Bose is still the best. We’ve tested hundreds of earbuds at this point and no others come close to silencing the world around you as effectively as these do.
Although they may look very similar to the previous Bose QCE II buds, there are a few subtle refinements, like a shiny finish on the stems and updated stability bands that keep the buds in place. These bands make the fit feel mostly secure, though anyone with smaller ears might find them a bit bulky.
Like most Bose devices, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are expensive. Plus, they do face strong competition these days from the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Technics EAH-AZ80, which offer similar premium features. However, Bose’s unbeatable ANC and immersive audio give them a unique edge.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
The best Bose headphones overall
It should go without saying at this point that every pair of headphones and earbuds in this list do ANC very well because Bose does ANC very well. But the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are exceptional, in our review we wrote they: “set a new standard when it comes to active noise cancellation.” So if you prefer the fit and design of over-ears, these premium cans are not only the best Bose headphones, but the best headphones with ANC currently available.
Like the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds above, you’ll find Immersive Audio here, Bose’s sound technology that creates a dynamic, moving soundstage. As we’ve already stressed, there’s ANC, which is excellent. You’ll also find support for Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive for high-resolution audio – although this isn’t going to work with all aptX devices, meaning they fall short if you’re after hi-res options. 24 hours of battery life is the only other thing on the spec sheet that feels a little weak compared to what competitors are offering.
In our review, we wrote that we experienced “an absolutely thrilling listen” from these headphones. Of course, Immersive Audio is one of the top features, wrapping you in a spatial sound experience, which is bolstered by that best-in-class ANC. But that’s not all these headphones have going for them. In our review we wrote: “They deliver some of the most alive, exciting, textured, finely resolved, deeply engaging music I've ever heard from a pair of wireless headphones.” This is due to a number of factors, including unique angled drivers in the earcups that promise a performance better engineered for the shape of our heads.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have a sleek and premium design and they’re crafted from high-quality materials. They deliver a very comfortable fit, ideal for long periods of listening. Although they feel high-end, they’re a little lighter and more refined-looking compared to previous Bose QC models, and you also get a carrying case that’s sturdy so they don’t get damaged when you’re on the move.
The price tag here is high, and they compete with other very capable high-end headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max, but they justify the price and still have the edge on rivals for their sheer noise-cancelling power.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review
The best Bose earbuds for value
Bose does noise-cancelling, sound and design extremely well, but often at a high price. Enter the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024, which bring you the best of Bose not at a budget price by any means, but at a mid-range price that should have much wider appeal. You’ll find everything you need from a pair of buds here, and then some.
All of the essential features are here, multi-point pairing, touch control customization, a low-latency gaming mode, a battery prediction feature and voice control. Although during our testing voice control was far too sensitive.To the point we had to simply turn it off. The buds also do support the SBC and AAC codecs for music streaming, but unfortunately audiophiles will be disappointed by the lack of aptX, FLAC and WMA. Battery life isn’t the best on the market, but did deliver better than Bose’s estimate, providing 9 hours of listening, even with ANC on.
Like many Bose buds, ANC is the star of the show when it comes to sound. ANC here really is among the very best at this mid-range price point – it even gives some high-end buds a run for their money. In our review, we wrote: “It completely eradicates all but the most incessant and loud background noises.” Not just that, but it comes with a really good Aware mode, which both isolates and amplifies voices while masking out other sounds. Generally, they sound great too. In our review we said they had a “crackling warm tone, with rich and meaty bass” and plenty of nuance so the bass never feels too heavy-handed. We also rated the buds for their dramatic sound stage.
The fit here was snug, sturdy and incredibly comfortable for long listening sessions. We didn’t once worry about them falling out during testing, even when they joined us for an 8km run. This is largely due to improved stability bands as well as a design with a good balance in the ear. They’re IPX4 resistant, which means they should be good for workouts. The only design choice here we didn’t like was the charging case, it’s not bad it’s just a little big, especially if you’d prefer to carry it in a pocket.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 are still pricier than a lot of options out there. But we do think the price here is pretty low, all things considered. They’re a great pick if you want excellent ANC and if you often struggle to find buds that fit well.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review
The best open-ear Bose earbuds
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have an open-ear design, which means there’s no bud to fit inside your ear canal and no cup to cover your ear completely. Instead, they “hook” onto the side of your ear’s helix. This design is becoming more popular for people who want to hear what’s going on around them, whether they run or workout outdoors, need to stay aware in an open plan office or just walk outside a lot and want to feel safe.
These open-ear buds work by aiming dual drivers at your ears, using Bose’s Immersive Audio technology, which you’ll find in most of the devices in this guide. There are several listening modes, Still and Motion, which we liked in our testing. Motion allows you to turn your head and move within the soundstage. We described the resulting sound as “incredible” in our review. Which isn’t surprising from Bose buds, but is surprising from open-ear buds. What’s also surprising is there’s very little sound leakage. Think about it, some sound leakage would be totally expect from this open design, but it’s not very noticeable at all.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds join a mounting category of open-ear buds and yet they’re different to other open-ear designs that have big hooks to fit over the back of your ear. Instead, they hook onto the edge of your ear’s helix and a battery cylinder sits behind it. During our testing we did comment that they feel a little wobbly and there’s a feeling that the weight distribution is uneven, yet they didn’t fall off – even when we took them running.
Unfortunately, these buds are expensive. Which means we’d only recommend them if this form factor really appeals. Whether that’s because you don’t like the feel of in-ear or over-ear buds or think being more aware of your surroundings as you listen could be a revelation and make you feel safer.
Read our full Bose Ultra Open Earbuds review
How to choose the best Bose headphones
Does Bose make the best ANC headphones?
Bose makes great-sounding and incredibly stylish headphones. But it’s the high-end tech that the company packs into its earbuds that makes them stand apart from the rest, especially noise-cancellation.
Bose offers the best-in-class ANC that we've ever tested. It's no surprise you'll find Bose headphones in our best noise-cancelling earbuds and best noise cancelling headphones guides.
Which Bose headphones have the best sound quality?
For us, it has to be the over-ear Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Not only do they sound excellent, they have class-leading ANC and Bose's Immersive Audio, the result is rich, detailed and realistic sound with zero distractions from the outside world.
Of course, if you prefer an earbud form factor, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds at the top of our list are our best pick for buds. Bose packs its ANC features and wonderful sound into this smaller design. There was a time when the over-ears would always deliver a better experience, but these buds almost beat them – almost.
Is Bose better than Sony?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Bose and Sony are two of the top headphone makers in the premium audio space, but they tend to excel in slightly different ways.
As you can tell from our guide above, Bose wins when it comes to noise cancellation. If you want headphones that allow you to escape the world and wrap you in a cocoon of near-silence, then most of the options in the guide above will bring you that level of immersion, especially the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in the top two spots.
In comparison, Sony is considered better for features and, often, sound performance – though the race is tight. For example, Sony’s WH-1000XM5s provide outstanding audio with rich bass and a solid app with a customizable EQ. You’ll tend to find Sony’s headphones often have a longer battery life than Bose’s devices too with some additional features, like added wireless codec support and LDAC for high-res listening.
If you can’t decide, spend more time considering your top priorities. But if you already know ANC and comfort are the most important, Bose might be the best choice.
How we test the best Bose headphones
In the guide above, you'll find our pick of the best Bose headphones. Unlike other best headphones guides, we're only looking at devices by Bose here, but that doesn't mean we're included every single Bose pair.
What we're looking for is the best Bose headphones for a range of preferences, whether you need a pair of the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds, or an over-ear pair. That's what enables us to suggest which are the best when it comes to value, comfort or ANC.
With that in mind, we also wanted to test for all-important audio quality – although that's rarely an issue with Bose's high-end products – as well as comfort and value for money. Bose products are never budget, but we compare like for like, so you know you're getting the best headphones that perform admirably for the price.
We have tested all of the headphones in this guide for days and sometimes weeks at a time, analyzing the sound, fit, design, specs, and value for money so that you'll be able to choose the best Bose headphones for you.
Latest updates best Bose headphones
December 16, 2024
Refreshed the introduction. Swapped out the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 as our 'best earbuds' pick for the newer and better QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Added the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in the place of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 as our 'best headphones' choice. Replaced the Bose QuietComfort earbuds with the newer Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 in our 'best value' slot. Removed the QuietComfort 35 II headphones. Removed the QuietComfort 45 headphones as they're no longer widely available. Added the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds in at the no. 5 spot as our 'best open-ear' choice based on recent testing. Rewrote some of the FAQs to bring them up to date with all of the new picks.
December 13, 2023
Updated the format of this guide to include a new quick menu and lead image. Rankings have been left unchanged until QuietComfort Ultra range reviews are in.
