If you have been wondering whether the Bose QC35 II still holds up in 2026, the short answer is yes, absolutely. I have owned these headphones four times, twice personally and twice through work, and I still use them at work to this day.
As someone who is deep into the Apple ecosystem and uses AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2 regularly, I can confidently say that if it were not for that Apple integration, the Bose QC35 II would be my go-to headphones without any hesitation.
This is not a comparison review. This is a full breakdown of how these headphones perform as a standalone product, from the perspective of an everyday consumer, not an audiophile or audio expert.
Table of Contents
What Comes in the Box
The unboxing experience with the Bose QC35 II is clean and straightforward. You get a well-built carrying case that includes a 3.5mm headphone jack cable and a USB-A to Micro-USB charging cable. The carrying case itself is compact and thoughtfully designed, featuring a small pocket and even a lanyard carabiner holder.
It is the kind of case that makes traveling or commuting with these headphones genuinely easy and convenient. It is a small detail, but it matters when you are moving around the city or hopping on a flight.
Design and Build Quality
The Bose QC35 II is built from high-quality plastic, but do not let that word fool you. This plastic feels premium. It is soft to the touch, flexible, and surprisingly durable. These headphones bend and stretch without feeling like they are going to snap, which gives you real confidence in their longevity.
On the left ear cup, you will find an action button that cycles through active noise cancellation levels, low, high, and off. This same button also triggers Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa through the Bose Connect app. On the right ear cup, there is a volume rocker and a middle button that handles playback controls, including skipping tracks, going back, playing, pausing, and answering calls.
There is also a small indicator light that shows Bluetooth connection status and battery level. The power switch is intuitive as well. Slide it all the way to the right to power on and connect via Bluetooth, and slide it all the way left to power off.
The headphones come in two color options, silver and black. At around 310 dollars, they sit in a premium price range, though being a slightly older model now, you can often find them for less on Amazon or at local retailers.
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The Tech That Makes It Worth the Price
Bose played a significant role in bringing high-quality active noise cancellation to the consumer market, and the QC35 II is a strong example of that legacy. The technology packed into these headphones is a big reason why the price reaches the 300-dollar range, and it is well justified.
The battery life sits at 20 hours with active noise cancellation on, which is more than enough to get you through a full day. What makes it even more impressive is the quick charge feature. Just 15 minutes on the charger gives you approximately two and a half hours of playback.
This is not a marketing claim either, it has been tested and confirmed through real-world use. You can throw these on the charger, fold some laundry, come back, and have enough juice to keep going. That kind of convenience is genuinely useful and something a lot of competing headphones still struggle to match.
The built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration is handled through the Bose Connect app. While it was not possible to test this personally due to not having either service set up, the feature is there and works well for those who use voice assistants to manage playlists, make calls, or control smart devices. It keeps the QC35 II relevant in a world where every device is expected to have some form of personal assistant built in.
The 3.5mm headphone jack is also worth highlighting. Being able to plug directly into an airplane’s entertainment system while still benefiting from the physical comfort of these headphones is a great travel perk. The wired connection also eliminates audio delay, which is useful when editing video or audio content on the go.
Audio Quality
After spending an entire day listening to music through the Bose QC35 II leading up to this review, and having used them for years before that, the audio quality is genuinely impressive. In terms of pure sound, these headphones outperform the AirPods Max. That is a bold statement, but it holds up.
The audio feels like it surrounds your ears completely. The highs are crisp, the lows are deep, and the bass is clean without being overdone. It is a rich, full sound that comes across in every type of content, whether you are listening to music, podcasts, or YouTube videos.
There is no harsh sharpness or muddy low end. Everything feels balanced and smooth in a way that makes long listening sessions genuinely enjoyable. For an everyday listener who just wants great sound without needing to understand the technical side of audio, the Bose QC35 II delivers one of the best experiences available at this price point.
Active Noise Cancellation
Active noise cancellation is now a baseline expectation for any premium headphone, and the Bose QC35 II does it exceptionally well. Bose was ahead of the curve on this technology, and it shows. With noise cancellation set to high during media playback, outside noise practically disappears.
These have been used in full football stadiums while operating a boom mic, and the active noise cancellation was strong enough to drown out most of the crowd and field noise. That is a real-world test in one of the loudest environments possible.
What makes the noise cancellation on these headphones stand out even further is what happens when you stop your audio. The moment your music or podcast pauses, you can hear everything around you clearly. It almost functions like a natural transparency mode without being labeled as one.
Whether you are in a coffee shop, an airport, or a busy office, you can easily switch between being fully immersed in your audio and being aware of your surroundings just by pausing your content. The ability to adjust between low, high, and off settings adds even more flexibility to how you use them in different environments.
Specifications Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Bose QuietComfort 35 II |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and 3.5mm Wired |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 Hours |
| Quick Charge | 15 Minutes for 2.5 Hours Playback |
| Charging Port | USB-A to Micro-USB |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes, Three Levels: Low, High, Off |
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa |
| Companion App | Bose Connect |
| Included Accessories | Carrying Case, 3.5mm Cable, Charging Cable |
| Color Options | Silver and Black |
| Price | Approximately 310 Dollars |
| Best For | Travel, Work, Everyday Listening |
Final Verdict
The Bose QC35 II continues to be one of the most well-rounded headphones available at its price point. For around 300 dollars, you are getting premium build quality, outstanding audio, long battery life with fast charging, solid active noise cancellation, voice assistant support, and the convenience of a 3.5mm connection.
Whether you are commuting, traveling, working in a loud office, or just enjoying music at home, these headphones cover all the bases without cutting corners. If you are not locked into a specific ecosystem the way Apple users are, the Bose QC35 II is genuinely one of the best choices you can make. Even for those who are, these are hard to put down once you have spent real time with them.
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