We tested the best Bose headphones of 2024

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones here.

Who it's for:

If you wear headphones all day while commuting and working, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are a match made. They're truly comfortable, as the circumaural design fully covers your ear without pinching or adding undue pressure. Plus, the 24-hour battery life will keep them running just as long.

If you're willing to spend a little extra, the QuietComfort Ultras are worth it. At $429, they're more expensive than similar quality headphones from Sony, but these will be a worthy upgrade thanks to the spatial audio and all-day comfort.

Why we like it:

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are an excellent pair of headphones. They absolutely live up to their comfort name. While testing them, I wore the Bose QuietComfort Ultras for a full eight hours with glasses and earrings and experienced zero discomfort.

The headphones deliver gorgeous, rich audio no matter what you listen to. I enjoyed the peppy beats of Sabrina Carpenter's Espresso in equal measure to the lush strings of Vivaldi. Active noise cancellation blocked out the world while I was listening; however, it's weak on high-pitched noise compared to other headphones I've used.

It offers three different listening modes: aware, transparent, and immersive. All of them allow for a more customizable audio experience, best for the pickiest listeners. These headphones are expensive, but they are the best Bose has to offer.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

Who it's for:

As much as we like over-the-ear headphones, earbuds are often more practical. They're compact and ready to be thrown in a bag, plus they stay out of the way during workouts. Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the brand's best earbud offer. There are plenty of earbud options out there, but these are for the person who wants the sound quality you find in over-the-ear headphones in a smaller size (including) ANC and spatial audio. Plus, they're a more affordable choice, over $100 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.

Why we picked this:

We're big fans of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth tested them and said that music just sounds better on them. They're easy to pair with devices and feature Bose's 3D spatial technology, Immersive mode. However, the real star of the show is the active noise cancellation.

The buds don't completely block out the world, but they dilute the loudest and nearest noises, ideal for focusing on work or snoozing on an airplane. One downside Mashable testers have noticed though, is buggy Bluetooth connection — typical of some Bose products. At $299, these earbuds are worth the price; however, if you want a deal, we saw them drop to $229 during Prime Day 2024.

Read our full review of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds here.

Who it's for:

If you live with just one earbud in or one side of your headphones pushed off, consider the Bose Ultra Open earbuds. The unique design cuffs around the ear so you can listen to music while aware of your surroundings. This is a particularly good option for cyclists or runners in congested areas, who must stay alert to cars and pedestrians.

Why we like it:

When we first encountered the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, we were skeptical. The design seemed gimmicky and not so tempting at its $299 price. However, our tester RJ Andersen deemed them worth the price for their comfort alone, calling them "the most comfortable earbuds I've ever tried."

While they're a great solution to pulling out an earbud to hear the world, you don't lose out on sound quality. Like all of Bose's headphones and earbuds, they're compatible with its fantastic app that allows customization. Remember, these are designed for noise transparency, letting the world in, so don't expect any ANC benefits. But if you're not looking for noise cancellation, these are great at what they do — maintaining sound quality while keeping you aware of your surroundings.