Bose QC 35 II
Over-ear · 2017
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive
Bose QuietComfort Ultra takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Bose QC 35 II lands at 84 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra at 93. That puts Bose QuietComfort Ultra ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Bose QC 35 II if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra if…
- ✓Best comfort in class
- ✓Excellent ANC
- ✓Immersive Audio spatial feature
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Bose QuietComfort UltraTuning, detail, and staging
Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on sound (92 vs 84).
Noise cancelling
Bose QuietComfort UltraANC strength for commute and travel
Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on anc (96 vs 82).
Comfort
Bose QuietComfort UltraLong-session wearability
Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on comfort (98 vs 83).
Value for money
TieSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Bose QC 35 II | Bose QuietComfort Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | — |
| Release year | 2017 | — |
| Driver | — | 35 mm dynamic |
| Battery | — | 24 h (Immersive Audio off) / 18 h (on) |
| Weight | — | 253 g |
| Codecs | — | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
Bose QC 35 II
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- +Best comfort in class
- +Excellent ANC
- +Immersive Audio spatial feature
- −Bose app fiddly
- −No USB-C audio (3.5 mm + Bluetooth only)
- −No LDAC support
FAQ: Bose QC 35 II vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Which is better, Bose QC 35 II or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +
Bose QuietComfort Ultra scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Bose QC 35 II worth the price? +
At $349, Bose QC 35 II delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in sound.
Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra worth the price? +
At $429, Bose QuietComfort Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in comfort.
Does Bose QC 35 II or Bose QuietComfort Ultra last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for sound quality, Bose QC 35 II or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on sound (92 vs 84). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Bose QC 35 II or Bose QuietComfort Ultra? +
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on anc (96 vs 82). ANC strength for commute and travel.