Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)

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QuietComfort 35 II compared with QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)

	BoseQuietComfort 35 II	BoseQuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2017	August 2026
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	–	Yes
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	–	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	SBC and AAC
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	–	Yes
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	High, Low and Off settings in the Bose Connect app or via the Action button; defaults to High on power-up; no dedicated transparency mode described in the maker's guide	QuietControl noise cancellation with a six-microphone system; adaptive feedforward control compensates for gaps in the ear cup seal (glasses, hair, hats); Quiet, Aware, Immersion and Cinema modes plus custom modes; Aware mode with ActiveSense softens sudden noise spikes; noise cancelling adjustable or fully off in the Bose app; wind block in custom modes
Audio features
Audio features	No custom equaliser in Bose Connect (SoundGuys); SBC and AAC codecs confirmed by SoundGuys	Bose TrueSpatial Technology with Immersive Audio (Still keeps the virtual speakers in place as you turn your head; Motion lets them follow) and Cinema Mode; SoundDesign signal processing; three-band EQ in the Bose app; two-way USB-C audio with lossless input up to 24-bit/48 kHz and voice output up to 24-bit/16 kHz
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 20 hours	Up to 24 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 20 hours wirelessly or 40 hours using the supplied audio cable; headphones do not play while charging; analogue listening remains possible with a depleted battery	Up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, 18 hours with Immersive Audio on; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL; can be used over Bluetooth or USB audio while charging; the USB-C to 3.5 mm cable works only with the headphones powered on, so with a flat battery Bose says to listen over USB-C while charging
Fast charging
Fast charging	Full charge in up to two hours (current owner's guide); What Hi-Fi reports 15 minutes provides 2.5 hours of wireless listening	15 minutes gives up to 2.5 hours of playback; full charge in up to 3 hours (slower while in use)
Design
Weight
Weight	–	230 g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	4.1	5.4
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	Power/Bluetooth slider, volume buttons and multi-function button on the right earcup; left Action button can control noise cancellation; multi-function button accesses the phone's voice control	Physical buttons; on the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power slider, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls) and volume buttons; on the left ear cup, an Action button for modes and a shortcut to the voice assistant, Spotify or Immersive Audio settings
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone system for calls and voice assistants; maker's launch announcement describes voice pickup but does not publish a microphone count	Six microphones, used for noise cancelling and calls, with updated background noise filtering for calls
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Around-ear cushions; headband folds and earcups rotate for the supplied carry case	Around-ear (circumaural) with a redesigned adjustable headband with smooth sliders; oval ear cups with removable protein leather cushions; plastic headband and yokes; folds for the carry case
Dimensions
Dimensions	SoundGuys reports 235.3 g and 180 × 170 × 81 mm; What Hi-Fi's table gives 240 g; no current maker headphone weight was verified, so the main weight field is left out	–
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	No IP rating verified in the maker documents used; owner's guide says not to use near water	No water resistance rating published
Works with
Works with	Bose Connect app for iOS and Android; two active Bluetooth devices, one audio stream at a time, with eight stored pairings; NFC pairing; SimpleSync with compatible Bose speakers and soundbars; Bluetooth 4.1 confirmed by TechRadar; Google Assistant is not available on iOS according to Bose's current article; current maker product page also lists Amazon Alexa, subject to country and language availability	Bose app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair; USB-C audio for calls and video conferencing on computers
Colours
Colours	Black and Silver at launch	Black, White Smoke; limited-edition Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint and Rosewood Mauve; Bose UK also lists Sky Pink
In the box
In the box	Headphones, carry case, USB charging cable and analogue audio cable; micro-USB charging connector; 2.5 mm headphone to 3.5 mm device audio cable (TechRadar)	Headphones, carry case, USB-C to USB-C cable (1 m), USB-C to 3.5 mm cable, safety sheet