The best Bose headphones and earbuds in 2026

There are a few audio companies that appear from audio forums and become a part of our culture. For a long time, it was synonymous for people to associate ANC headphones with Bose. For many consumers, that same sentiment rings true even today. Still, other companies, such as Sony, have made strides in noise canceling capabilities, and the competition has kept Bose on its toes, continually refining its offerings. Whether you’re a long-time Bose enthusiast or a newcomer to the brand, we’ve rounded up the best Bose headphones currently on offer.

Quick answer

Browse our picks of the best Bose headphones for all needs and budgets below. Each includes a link to our full review.

The best headphones overall

The best earbuds overall

The best for workouts

The best midrange

The best budget

The best open-ear

The in-depth answer

Below you’ll find our in-depth coverage of each of the best Bose headphones. Each model has been rigorously tested in our lab, ensuring trust in our recommendations.

Best Bose headphones overall: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are ideal for frequent travelers needing high-performing ANC headphones. Their lightweight design is easy to wear for long sessions, and their ANC consistently shuts out noise. Our testing shows that the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) reduce the loudness of external noise by an average of 87%. Even with ANC disabled, the physical isolation is strong enough to quiet most outside noise. Bose’s premium headphones support lossless audio via USB-C and aptX Adaptive. The last is supported by most newer Android phones, making them an extremely future-proof pair of headphones.

The Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) have a bass-forward, consumer-friendly sound quality. The CustomTune feature successfully tailors playback based on your fit and ear shape. Unfortunately, the in-app EQ is pedestrian for audiophiles, as it only allows for basic adjustment of bass, mids, and treble. However, our MDAQS scores show that most people will enjoy the headphones’ default tuning. Similarly, our testing demonstrates that Bose’s premium cans last 27 hours per charge. They also have strong Bluetooth connectivity options and a compact folding design that fits neatly into backpacks.

Best Bose earbuds overall: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Bose’s updated QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) bring incremental upgrades to their predecessor. Sporting an IPX4-rated exterior, earwax guards, ovoid nozzles, and concha fins, the earbuds are durable and easy to place in the ear. The upgraded case also supports wireless charging, which is ideal for topping up the buds on the fly. Battery life is somewhat average, though, lasting just 5 hours and 34 minutes per charge. However, the touch controls are intuitive, and the addition of triple-tap gestures allows for versatile functionality.

Bose’s premium earbuds support spatial audio, Bluetooth Multipoint, an Ear Tip Fit Test, and EQ adjustments. You also receive Bose’s signatures CustomTune feature, ANC modes, and voice assistant toggles. Most attractive is Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless, and Bose’s take on Apple’s Adaptive Transparency feature. Their noise cancellation is excellent, too, quelling external sounds by up to 85%. Most people will like their default frequency response, particularly those who enjoy bass. The earbuds also provide a solid microphone array for taking phonecalls on the go.

Best Bose headphones for athletes: Bose Sport Earbuds

The Bose Sport Earbuds are exceptionally comfortable. The slick design means you can use them outside the gym without looking like you’re about to deadlift double your weight. The StayHear Max ear tips work extremely well, keeping the earbuds in place during rigorous movement. Just like Bose’s debut true wireless earbuds, these have an IPX4 water-resistant rating, so you can sweat to your heart’s content while wearing them.

Battery life is average for earbuds of this variety, and we measured just over 5 hours of playtime from a single charge. However, the case can fast-charge the earbuds when you’re in a pinch. Placing the buds in the case for 15 minutes delivers 120 minutes of playtime. These use Bluetooth 5.1, and the connection strength is decent. They also support AAC and SBC, with the former supplying consistent, high-quality audio from iOS devices. If you want to stay well under $200 and need a pair of earbuds for everyday use, we recommend the Bose Sport Earbuds.

Best midrange Bose headphones: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones remain excellent noise canceling headphones for less than their newer sibling. They emphasize comfort over flashy aesthetics and are packed with future-proof features. For example, the ANC can reduce sounds, like bus engines and airplanes, by approximately 87%. Similarly, you can switch to an Aware Mode to let your surroundings in when needed. The headphones support aptX Lossless and Snapdragon Sound, provided you have a device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor or newer.

Sound quality is rock-solid if not a bit bass-heavy, but you can adjust it in the Bose Music app. You can also opt for the immersive audio setting, which utilizes head tracking to emulate a speaker set up right in front of you. Battery life nets over 27 hours of playtime with ANC and conveniently charges using a USB-C cable. The price point is less steep than it once was, thanks to relatively consistent deals throughout the year. Those seeking advanced ANC with cutting-edge features will enjoy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphone.

Best budget Bose headphones: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024)

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) deliver excellent sound quality for a fraction of the price of Bose’s other premium buds. Our MDAQS scores show an overall rating of 4.9, and our objective measurements demonstrate that the buds have a consumer-friendly tuning. This emphasizes the sub-bass and treble, albeit less than some of Bose’s other headphones. Their noise cancellation is also excellent, quelling most low-frequency sounds by over 80%. The Bose QC Earbuds (2024) battery lasts 8.5 hours per charge, while the case supplies an additional 2.5 charging cycles.

The earbuds’ design is more compact than that of Bose’s other premium headphones, with a stem that rests within the ear. They’re also IPX4-rated, which is ideal for taking the buds for a sweaty workout. Downloading the Bose app unlocks a unique 5-band custom EQ, Voice ID, Battery Prediction, ANC modes, control customizations, and firmware updates. While the buds do not support Hi-Res Bluetooth codecs, they do support Multipoint connectivity. The microphone quality is decent, and the noise-rejection algorithm successfully attenuates background noise.

Best open-ear Bose headphones: Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

Some listeners enjoy an unoccluded fit. If that’s you, then you may get some mileage out of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. These cuff-like, clip-on buds have an IPX4 water-resistant rating and place the drivers outside your ear canal. This design helps to maintain situational awareness while allowing you to enjoy your favorite songs simultaneously. The buds operate via two control buttons, and each bud can store one shortcut of your choosing. They also connect to your chosen device via Bluetooth 5.3 and support the SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs. Those running multiple devices can use Bluetooth Multipoint.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have a formidable battery life of 8 hours and 53 minutes. Bose also claims that you can fast-charge the buds for 10 minutes to receive two hours of listening time. As these are open-ear buds, you shouldn’t expect noise canceling here. Similarly, the sound quality suffers due to the surrounding environment leaking into your mix. Most notably, the buds suffer from a perceived lack of bass. You can use the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for phone calls. However, they’re not going to win any awards.

Best Bose headphones: Notable mentions

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: These earbuds remain a decent and affordable option for ANC enthusiasts. With an IPX4-rated design, excellent noise cancellation, and over six hours of battery life, the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds offer good value for money.
• Bose QuietComfort Headphones: The Bose QC Headphones are a comfortable, portable, and ANC-focused pair of headphones. However, their bass-forward frequency response and expensive price tag make them a difficult recommendation.
• Bose Sport Open Earbuds: If you can find them, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds are Bose’s best workout earbuds to date. They’re comfortable, secure, and have an IPX4-rated exterior. They also have better sound quality than bone conduction alternatives.
• Bose QuietComfort 45: The now-discontinued QC 45 remain some of Bose’s most popular and affordable headphones. They enjoy excellent noise cancellation, support wired playback, and a comfortable, long-lasting form factor.
• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: The original Bose QC Earbuds are a great do-it-all option with good ANC, wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance, and battery life. However, you may struggle to find them new nowadays.

How we test the best Bose headphones

At SoundGuys, our testing methodology for Bose headphones is comprehensive and rigorous, ensuring that every pair is evaluated on a level playing field. Our process includes a series of standardized tests designed to assess various aspects such as sound quality, battery life, active noise cancellation effectiveness, build quality, and comfort. These evaluations are conducted in controlled environments to guarantee accuracy and repeatability. For a detailed insight into our testing protocols, visit our in-depth explanation at How We Test.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

Each writer at SoundGuys has accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market, and our staff is not permitted to recommend one product over another. SoundGuys’ survival depends almost exclusively on readers enjoying their purchases. We pride ourselves on transparently outlining objective facts while accounting for the subjective experience to contextualize an audio product’s performance. When we do get it wrong, we correct and admit to it.