If you're looking for the most premium noise canceling headphones from Bose, look no further than the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. With a high-end design, USB-C, and 11-step noise cancelation, headphones don't get much better.
Pros
- Gorgeous, high-end design
- 11 step noise cancelation
- Four-microphone system
Cons
- Expensive
- Non-foldable design
The stalwart of the industry. Chances are, if you've considered noise cancelling headphones, you've looked at getting the QC35 II. The headphones are a crowd favorite because of the comfortable design, sound quality, and active noise cancelling technology.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Great noise cancelation
- Foldable design
Cons
- Micro-USB connection
- Plastic build
- Dual-microphone system
Whether you work in a busy office or simply want a more immersive sound experience, a good pair of noise cancelling headphones is a worthwhile investment. The Bose QC35 II have become one of the most popular noise cancelling headphones on the market, but they're beginning to show their age. That's where the new Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 come in.
Let's break it down
While the Bose QC35 II are still a solid pair of noise cancelling headphones, they're starting to feel outdated. The Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 features 11 steps of active noise cancelation, but the QC35 II only features three. Meanwhile, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 feature a more premium design, with a comfortable stainless-steel headband; the QC35 II are mostly made of plastic.
Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 | QC35 II | |
---|---|---|
Battery life | 20 hours | 20 hours |
ANC levels | 11 | 3 |
Size | 8 x 6.5 x 2 inches 0.56 lbs |
7.1 x 6.7 x 3.2 inches 0.51 lbs |
Charging cable | USB-C | Micro-USB |
Bluetooth range | 33 feet | 30 feet |
Design | Non-foldable | Foldable |
Ambient noise mode | Yes | Yes |
Voice assistant | Alexa Google Assistant Siri |
Alexa Google Assistant Siri |
Microphones | Four | Two |
Misc. | Navigation controls Bose AR |
Physical controls Bose AR |
The winner is obvious
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 feel like a big update over the QC35 II. Instead of microUSB, there's USB-C. Instead of three steps of noise cancelation, there's now 11. And instead of a mostly plastic build, Bose opted for stainless-steel. Bose's latest headphones are clearly a step up in quality.
The Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 also feature gesture-based controls, rather than physical buttons. It remains to be seen which method is superior, but gesture-based controls seem to be where the market is trending—and the lack of buttons make the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 appear sleeker.
Bose's new noise cancelling headphones are an upgrade over the QC35 II in almost every way.
Additionally, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 features an adaptive four-microphone system, which Bose says offers unrivaled noise cancelation and voice isolation capabilities. In comparison, the QC35 II features a dual-microphone system, which many people have complained pick up a lot of background noise when in a crowded area.
Bose has also introduced a new Conversation Mode in the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, a feature that will pause your music and allow ambient noise to come through, so you can quickly chat with someone without taking your headphones off.
There is one area where the QC35 II is better than the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, and that's its foldable design. The QC35 II can be folded down into a small case, making them much more portable. The Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are more rigid in their design, and therefore more difficult to travel with.
Bottom line
If you own the QC35 II, there's no major reason to upgrade to the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, because you're getting a similar sound profile, similar battery life, and access to smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.
However, if you're new to the world of noise cancelling headphones, Bose's latest model is the clear winner. You get a more premium design, a four-microphone system, and 11 steps of noise cancelation, so you can fine-tune the listening experience to your liking.
Premium noise cancelation

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
The best of the best
With 11 steps of noise cancelation, an adaptive four-microphone system, and a stainless-steel design, the new Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are Bose's most premium headphones yet.
Crowd favorite

Bose QC35 II
Going out of style
The QC35 II headphones have become a crowd favorite due to their comfortable, foldable design, excellent audio quality, and top-notch noise cancelation. Now that the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are around, however, the QC35 II feel quite outdated.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Stay connected with these awesome headphones with a microphone
With more and more people working from home having a reliable way to communicate is important. We look at the best headphones with a microphone that are available right now.

Charge your AirPods 2 with these chargers
Picked up a new pair of the second generation AirPods? These chargers, both wired and wireless, are the best ways to charge your Apple earphones.

Bring out the champion in you with these best tennis balls
Tennis is such a diverse sport played by people of all ages either as a recreational or professional sport. Once you find the perfect tennis racquet, the next thing is finding the best tennis ball. As is expected, there are different tennis balls best suited for various courts, tennis ball machines, and skill levels. Whatever your needs are, here are the best tennis balls for a fun-...