Bose review
Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Bose suits shoppers who want one maker across headphones, earbuds, speakers and soundbars instead of mixing brands between purchases. It scores 9 overall, and the trade-off to weigh is entry pricing of $99 against warranty cover of 1 years across the range.
Key facts
- Best for
- A single brand covering every audio category, bought in a single market.
- Price from
- $99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Noise cancelling
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Battery life
- 30 hours (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Warranty
- 1 year (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- IP rating
- IP67 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- US, VI, PR (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Bose Corporation (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 1964 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre, Chat, Phone (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- Headphones, Earbuds, Speakers, Portable speakers, Soundbars
- Bluetooth codecs
- Aptx adaptive
- Official website
- bose.com
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- A single maker covers personal listening and home audio across headphones, earbuds and speakers, so headphones, speakers and soundbars come from the same brand.
- Noise cancelling is supported across the range, which suits travel and commuting.
- Battery of 30 hours holds the 30 hour median in the speakers and soundbars ranking.
- Support runs through help centre, chat and phone, and phone support is offered by 70.8% of brands in that ranking.
- The listed codec for the headline headphones is aptx adaptive, so wireless pairing is not limited to the basic option.
Cons
- Warranty of 1 years sits below the 1.75 year median for headphones and earbuds, so longer cover is available elsewhere.
- Entry price of $99 ranks 42 of 64 on price from, so cheaper entry points sit with other brands.
- Battery of 30 hours trails the 48.5 hour median for headphones and earbuds and ranks 36 of 61 on battery hours.
- Bose covers headphones, earbuds and speakers, a shorter list than JBL at headphones, earbuds and speakers, so buyers who want the wider catalogue end up with JBL.
Who it suits
- Shoppers who want headphones, earbuds, speakers and soundbars from one maker
- Travel buyers who want noise cancelling across the range
- People who want phone support alongside chat and a help centre
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a catalogue wider than headphones, earbuds and speakers, since JBL lists headphones, earbuds and speakers
- Headphone and earbud buyers chasing the 1.75 year median warranty in that ranking, against Bose at 1 year
- Gamers who only need personal audio, since HyperX covers headphones and earbuds and CORSAIR headphones
How it compares on our data
Bose sits mid pack on the measures this group is ranked on. On price from it places 42 of 64, on battery hours 36 of 61, and on warranty years 29 of 56. None of those positions leads the group, and none sits at the bottom either. The overall score is 9, split into 8.9 on cost, 8.8 on offer and 9.4 on trust, so brand backing outscores price. Read the ranks alongside the category medians: 48.5 hours of battery and 1.75 years of warranty in the headphones and earbuds ranking, against 30 hours and 1 years in the speakers and soundbars ranking. The same figure reads strong beside the speakers ranking and thin beside the headphones ranking, which is why the rank on its own tells only part of the story.
Core features
Noise cancelling is supported across the range. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones second generation sit behind the headline specs, running 30 battery hours with 1 warranty years, and the listed codec is aptx adaptive. Portable speakers in the range carry an IP67 rating covering dust and water. Battery is the figure to weigh against the category: 30 hours sits level with the 30 hour median in speakers and soundbars, and under the 48.5 hour median in headphones and earbuds. Warranty of 1 years matches the speakers median of 1 years and falls short of the 1.75 year median for headphones. These figures come from a single product, so buyers chasing a longer run should read the listing for the model they want.
The company behind it
The seller is Bose Corporation, headquartered in the United States and founded in 1964. That length of trading history matters to an audio buyer weighing durability, since a long operating record is a different bet from a recent entrant. Terms of sale cover US, VI and PR, so buying outside those markets means checking delivery, warranty service and returns for your country with a retailer first. Support runs on help centre, chat and phone, which covers a help centre, chat and phone. The legal entity name is the one to quote when you contact support or a retailer.
How Bose compares
- 9.0 vs 9.1
- 9.0 vs 8.6
9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 8.8- 9.0 vs 8.6
- 9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 9.2- 9.0 vs 9.1
- 9.0 vs 8.9
- 9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.3- 9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.4- 9.0 vs 9.3
- 9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 9.0- 9.0 vs 9.0
- 9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 8.6
9.0 vs 8.6
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ESR EU
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Minisforum EU
Uperfect Monitor
XPPen
Where Bose is available
- Available
- Puerto Rico, United States, Virgin Islands, U.S.
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Bose audio cost to get started?+
Prices start at $99 across the range, and Bose ranks 42 of 64 on price from. That figure is the entry point rather than a typical spend, so a full setup of headphones, speakers and a soundbar costs more. Cheaper entry points sit with other brands in the group.
What warranty comes with Bose products?+
Warranty runs 1 years on the headline headphones. That matches the 1 year median in the speakers and soundbars ranking, while the headphones and earbuds ranking carries a median of 1.75 years. Buyers after longer cover should compare brands before settling.
How long does the battery last on Bose headphones?+
The headline headphones run 30 battery hours. That is level with the 30 hour median in speakers and soundbars and under the 48.5 hour median in headphones and earbuds, where Bose places 36 of 61 on battery hours.
Does Bose make noise cancelling products?+
Noise cancelling is supported, and the range covers headphones, earbuds and speakers. It is now common in the headphones and earbuds ranking, where 82.5% of brands offer it, so it no longer separates brands on its own. It still tells against a brand limited to headphones.
Which countries can I buy Bose products in?+
Terms of sale cover US, VI and PR, and the seller is Bose Corporation, headquartered in the United States. Buying outside those markets means asking a retailer or the support team whether delivery, warranty service and returns apply where you live, since the published terms list those markets.
How do I get help from Bose?+
Support runs on help centre, chat and phone, so the help centre, chat and phone all apply. Phone is offered by 70.8% of brands in the speakers and soundbars ranking, while the help centre stands at 96.7% across the site, so the help centre is the broadest route.
Can a single brand cover my whole audio setup?+
Bose covers headphones, earbuds and speakers, which spans personal listening and home audio under one maker. JBL lists headphones, earbuds and speakers, adding hi-fi and turntables, while HyperX covers headphones and earbuds and CORSAIR headphones. Pick Bose when soundbars and speakers matter alongside headphones.
Are Bose portable speakers built for outdoors?+
Portable speakers in the range carry an IP67 rating, which covers dust and water. That rating is stated for the speaker category rather than the headphones, so check the listing for the model you want before relying on it near water. Soundbar and headphone models carry their own terms.
Sources
- bose.com/about checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded
“It's this vision that has guided the Bose team since our founding in 1964.”
- bose.com/c/headphones checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Noise cancelling, Products
“Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) ... Active Noise Cancellation Yes”
- bose.com/c/speakers checked September 30, 2026
Backs: IP rating, Price from
“Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker ... Water & dust resistance IP67”
- bose.com/legal/terms-of-sale checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Markets, Support channels
“Bose Corporation, 100 Mountain Road, Framingham, Massachusetts, 01701, United States of America”
- bose.com/p/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-... checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Battery life, Bluetooth codecs, Warranty
“Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) ... Up to 30 hours (23 with Immersive Audio)”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
What changed
- September 30, 2026: axisScores cost was 9.0, now 8.9
- September 30, 2026: axisScores trust was 9.3, now 9.4