Bose QuietComfort 35 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| BoseQuietComfort 35 | BoseQuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | June 2016 | October 2023 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | Over-ear | In-ear |
| Noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency mode | – | Yes |
| Spatial audio with head tracking | – | Yes |
| Bluetooth codecs | – | SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive |
| Back | Closed | – |
| Noise cancelling detail | Noise cancellation can run without audio; microphones inside and outside the earcups feed two Bose processing chips | Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling), Aware Mode and Immersion Mode, plus custom modes with noise cancelling levels in between; CustomTune tailors sound and noise cancelling to your ears |
| Audio features | Volume-optimised EQ adjusts the balance with listening level | Bose Immersive Audio (Still keeps the sound in place as you turn your head; Motion lets it follow); three-band EQ in the Bose app; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices, normally at 44.1 kHz and up to 48 kHz for high-resolution listening, with a low-latency mode |
| Battery | ||
| Listening time (maker's claim) | Up to 20 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| With the case | – | Up to 24 hours |
| Wireless charging | – | No |
| Battery life detail | Up to 20 hours over Bluetooth or 40 hours with the audio cable and power on; passive wired audio remains available when the battery is depleted | Up to 6 hours per charge with Immersive Audio off, 4 hours with it on; the case holds three full charges; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet Mode |
| Charging case | – | USB-C; earbuds charge in up to 2 hours, the case in up to 3 hours; an optional silicone case cover (sold separately) adds wireless charging |
| Fast charging | – | 20 minutes in the case gives up to 2 hours of playback |
| Design | ||
| Weight (each earbud) | – | 7.7 g |
| Water and sweat resistance | – | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth | – | 5.3 |
| Two devices at once | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone cable | Yes | – |
| Controls | Power/Bluetooth slider, volume and multi-function buttons on the right earcup; NFC touchpoint for pairing | Touch surface on each earbud (tap to play, pause or answer calls; double-tap to skip forward or end calls; triple-tap to skip back; swipe up or down for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to switch modes or the voice assistant) |
| Microphones | Built-in microphones for calls; the launch announcement describes a dual-microphone system for voice pickup | Adaptive microphone system with adjustable self-voice; TechRadar counts four microphones per earbud |
| Fit and ear tips | Around-ear cushions and folding headband with rotating earcups | Silicone eartips in small, medium and large (medium fitted); stability bands in sizes 1, 2 and 3 (size 1 fitted), with a notch that aligns them on the earbud; extra-small and extra-large sizes available from Bose Support; either earbud can be used on its own |
| Case weight | – | 0.132 lb (about 60 g) |
| Water resistance detail | – | IPX4 for the earbuds; the inside of the case resists water left on the earbuds, but Bose advises keeping the outside of the case dry |
| Works with | Bose Connect app for iOS and Android; stores eight Bluetooth pairings and can connect to two devices at once, with one audio stream playing | Bose app (launched with Bose Music) for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices since a July 2024 update; Google Fast Pair; SimpleSync with Bose smart soundbars and speakers |
| Colours | Black and Silver at launch; Midnight Blue was sold later | Black and White Smoke at launch; Bose UK now sells Lunar Blue |
| In the box | Headphones, carry case, USB charging cable, back-up audio cable and airline adapter | Earbuds, charging case, eartips (small and large; medium fitted), stability bands (sizes 2 and 3; size 1 fitted), USB-C to USB-A cable |
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