The Bose QuietComforthas beenthebusiness traveler's headphones. For many frequent fliers, Bose has been the go-to for noise-canceling headphones and has dominated the market. I’ve spotted close to a dozen of them at every airport and on every flight I’ve been on. That’s staying power for the company that pioneered noise-canceling technology in consumer headphones and has released many versions of the QC since 2000.
But with the new QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), I just don’t know if they’re still the travel headphones to get. They improve on the first-generation version where it matters—they are more comfortable and have even better active noise-canceling (ANC). The sound quality is also among the best you can get. But noise cancellation has become one of the most competitive segments in the premium over-ear headphone market, and the QuietComfort Headphones 2 take a few missteps, namely battery life and price point, that make them hard to recommend over the competitors.
True to Its Name
Wireless connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4 with Multipoint (for simultaneous pairing)
Wired connectivity
USB-C (enables lossless up to 24 bit/48 kHz)
Battery life
Up to 24 hours
Weight
230 grams
Codec
SBC, AAC
Water/dust resistance
None
