Bose QuietComfort Headphones Review: Buy the 2023 Pair on Sale?
The 2023 QuietComfort headphones still offer useful ANC, physical buttons, multipoint, and a wired fallback. Their value now rests on the discount versus Bose's newer model.
A good pair of travel headphones earns its space in your bag long before you press play: it needs to tame cabin noise, survive a long journey, and pack away without fuss. This Bose QuietComfort Headphones review looks at the 2023 over-ear model, the one with Quiet and Aware modes, physical buttons, and a stated 24-hour battery life. Bose now sells a second-generation version, so choosing the right generation matters as much as choosing the right color.
Even so, the older pair has a case for itself. Its cushioned, folding design, strong noise-cancelling focus, and included analog cable cover the basics that frequent flyers actually use. But with the newer model listed at the same price on Bose's US site, this version makes the most sense when you find it meaningfully discounted.
Think about your routine before paying for another feature list. If you move between a phone and laptop, two-device Bluetooth multipoint may matter more than a novel listening mode; if you take long flights, a wired fallback may matter more than either. Those are the details that decide whether these QuietComfort headphones fit your day.
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The Quick Take
For a traveler who wants over-ear noise cancellation, folding storage, physical controls, and an analog fallback, the 2023 QuietComfort headphones remain a practical choice. Their 24-hour battery claim and two-device multipoint connection suit travel and desk work. Buy them on a clear discount; at the newer generation's price, choose the newer pair.
Verdict
For frequent travelers who find a meaningful discount, the 2023 Bose QuietComfort Headphones still make sense. Their strongest argument is not a single headline spec: it is the combination of Quiet and Aware modes, folding over-ear design, tactile controls, multipoint, and an analog cable that still works when the battery dies. For that buyer, they offer a straightforward way to handle noisy journeys and a mixed phone-and-laptop routine.
Pass at the newer generation's price. Bose now offers the second-generation QuietComfort with Immersive Audio and USB-C wired listening while listing the same 24-hour battery figure, so the older model needs a price advantage to justify itself. Buyers focused on longer battery life for less money should look at Sony's WH-CH720N instead.
That is the buying decision in this Bose QuietComfort Headphones review: choose the 2023 pair for its travel-ready basics when the deal is clearly better; choose the newer Bose model when it is not. Do not mistake the version number for a small detail, because it changes the features you take home.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Over-ear noise cancellation, Quiet and Aware modes, Bluetooth multipoint, and wired listening
High-end travel headphones; compare with the newer generation
These are the original QuietComfort Headphones released in 2023, rather than the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) introduced in 2026. Bose built them as an over-ear, closed-back listening option with active noise cancellation and a folding design. The distinction is easy to miss in a search result, yet it changes which controls, wired connections, and newer listening features you get.
Quiet Mode applies the strongest available noise cancellation; Aware Mode feeds outside sound back in through the microphones. You can also set up a custom mode in the Bose app, so the choice is not limited to total isolation or full awareness. That flexibility is useful when a train announcement or a conversation needs your attention but you would rather keep the headphones on.
Bose describes the noise reduction as a combination of the earcups' physical seal and microphones inside and outside the cups. The electronics respond to detected sound, while cushion fit and headband pressure provide passive isolation. Neither part makes a noisy space silent, but together they explain why this design appeals to commuters and people working around steady background noise.
Wireless listening uses Bluetooth 5.1, and Bose's support specifications give the range as up to 10 meters, or 33 feet. Walls, doors, and interference can shorten that distance; it is a ceiling, not a promise that a call will stay connected across every floor of a house. Multipoint lets the headphones maintain connections to two devices, so a phone call can interrupt audio from a connected laptop or tablet.
Battery life is rated for up to 24 hours with noise cancellation on, with a listed full-charge time of 2.5 hours. Bose includes a carry case, a USB-C charging cable, and a 3.5mm-to-2.5mm analog audio cable. If the battery runs out, the analog connection still plays audio passively, although active noise cancellation and Active EQ stop working.
Key Specs and Compatibility
Start with the specifications that change how you use the headphones. Battery life, connection options, control methods, and the supplied cables tell a buyer more than a driver diameter alone can.
Specification
Value
Brand
Bose
Product
QuietComfort Headphones, 2023 model
Audio Driver Size
40mm, reported by an independent product review
Bluetooth Version
5.1
Bluetooth Range
Up to 10 meters (33 feet)
Bluetooth Multipoint
Two simultaneous device connections
Battery Life
Up to 24 hours with noise cancellation on
Battery Charge Time
2.5 hours
Noise Modes
Quiet, Aware, and app-configured Custom Mode
Charging
USB-C cable included
Wired Listening
3.5mm-to-2.5mm analog cable included
Form Factor
Folding over-ear headphones with carry case
Buttons on the right earcup handle playback, calls, and volume; the left Action button changes noise modes and can launch a configured shortcut. That layout gives you direct control without relying on a touch gesture on the outside of a cup. The Bose app adds bass, midrange, and treble adjustments, along with custom listening modes.
Ordinary Bluetooth playback works across compatible phones, tablets, and computers. The app adds the settings, but you can pair through a device's Bluetooth menu as well. For wired playback, use the included analog cable; the charging port on this generation is not the newer model's USB-C digital-audio connection.
Fit deserves its own check because no specification can guarantee comfort on every head. Bose lists protein-leather ear cushions and describes a low-clamping-force design, while the cups fold into the supplied case. That gives you a concrete reason to consider them for longer sessions, without turning a wearer's individual experience into a universal promise.
What Stands Out
Noise-mode control is the clearest reason to choose this pair. Quiet Mode is for a cabin or a busy office; Aware Mode is for hearing what is happening around you without removing the cups. Switching between them with a dedicated button is simpler than digging through a phone app each time your surroundings change.
Physical controls also matter when you are carrying a bag, wearing gloves, or working at a desk. Separate volume buttons sit beside the multifunction button on the right earcup, while the left Action button handles listening modes. You can tell which control to use by its position, a small design decision that is more practical than a vague promise of effortless operation.
Two-device multipoint makes this more useful as a work headset than the battery figure alone suggests. Bose says it can hold connections to a phone and another device, pausing the second source when a call arrives. You still listen to one source at a time, but you do not need to re-pair the headphones every time your attention moves between a meeting and a phone call.
There is also a wired escape route. A seatback screen or depleted battery does not make the headphones useless because the included analog cable supports passive listening. You give up active noise cancellation and Active EQ without power, so the cable is a fallback, not a way to preserve every wireless feature.
Finally, the folding earcups and carry case answer a problem that full-size headphones often create: finding a safe place for them between uses. Bose's soft cushions and restrained clamping design target longer listening sessions. Those choices make more sense for travel than a claim that a particular driver diameter alone determines sound quality or comfort.
Strengths
Quiet and Aware modes give the headphones a specific job in two different environments. Quiet emphasizes isolation on a flight or during focused work; Aware keeps surrounding speech and announcements accessible. You can assign a custom mode in the app, which is useful when neither extreme fits your usual commute.
An over-ear seal, protein-leather cushions, and low-clamp design support Bose's comfort-first approach. Unlike in-ear tips, the cups sit around the ear, so buyers who dislike a seal inside the ear canal have a different fit option. Comfort remains personal, but the construction makes the intended use clear: extended listening rather than pocket-sized portability.
Battery and connection details are similarly practical. Bose quotes up to 24 hours with noise cancellation active, and multipoint keeps two devices connected. That combination can cover a travel day plus desk use without treating charging or device switching as an every-hour interruption.
Supplied accessories are unusually relevant rather than decorative. A carry case protects the folding headphones in luggage, and the analog cable keeps music or in-flight entertainment available after the battery runs out. The supplied USB-C cable handles charging, although you must bring your own power adapter.
Weaknesses
A 24-hour battery rating is useful, but it is not the longest option in this price conversation. Sony lists up to 35 hours of playback with noise cancellation on for the less expensive WH-CH720N. If you rank time between charges above Bose's folding case, physical controls, or particular noise-mode setup, that gap is worth more attention than the brand on the earcup.
Bluetooth 5.1 and a quoted 10-meter range also have ordinary wireless limits. Walls and interference can shorten the connection, so the draft's promise of drop-free movement around a home would be too strong. Multipoint helps with switching sources; it does not extend the radio range or let two devices play into the headphones at the same time.
EQ adjustment is available in the Bose app, but it centers on bass, midrange, and treble rather than a detailed studio-style editor. That is enough for broad tuning, less appealing if you expect granular control over narrow frequency bands. The newer QuietComfort generation adds features this model lacks, including Bose Immersive Audio and digital wired playback through USB-C.
Price is the awkward part in 2026. Bose's US listings showed the older and newer QuietComfort generations at the same direct price during this check. At that level, the older pair's solid fundamentals no longer provide a clear buying advantage; a worthwhile discount is what restores its appeal.
Best Alternatives
Sony WH-CH720N is the lower-cost over-ear ANC option with a longer quoted battery life—up to 35 hours with noise cancellation on versus Bose's 24—though it gives up Bose's folding design and supplied travel case.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 trade Bose's around-ear cushions and 24-hour single-charge headset rating for an in-ear fit, a pocketable charging case, and Apple features such as Personalized Spatial Audio; Apple rates the earbuds themselves for up to eight hours with ANC on.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) keep the Bose over-ear approach but add Immersive Audio and USB-C wired playback, making them the stronger choice when their price matches the older model's.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the 2023 QuietComfort pair if you travel often, want over-ear cushions and physical controls, and find it clearly below the newer Bose model's price. The strongest reason is the whole travel setup: Quiet and Aware modes, a folding case, and an included analog cable. Together, they cover noisy transit, storage between stops, and wired seatback audio.
It also fits an office routine built around a laptop and phone. Multipoint keeps both devices connected, while the Action button gives you a quick move from focus to awareness when someone approaches. If you dislike in-ear tips for long sessions, the over-ear construction is a real design alternative rather than a marginal specification change.
For someone who already owns the same 2023 model, there is no reason here to buy another pair simply for the stated 24-hour rating or Bluetooth 5.1. The value is in replacing a less capable travel setup at the right price. Compare the exact generation in the listing before assuming every QuietComfort Headphones deal refers to the same hardware.
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Who Should Skip It
Skip the older model if it costs the same as Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). The newer pair brings Immersive Audio and USB-C wired playback without giving up the listed 24-hour battery rating. At equal pricing, those added options are the strongest reason not to choose the 2023 version.
Gym users should look for headphones or earbuds with a stated sweat- and water-resistance rating. Bose does not give this 2023 over-ear pair a published IP rating, and its cushioned protein-leather cups are aimed at travel and listening rather than heavy workouts. Apple's AirPods Pro 3 offer an IP57-rated in-ear option if that use matters more than around-ear fit.
Anyone prioritizing maximum battery life at a lower price should also compare Sony's WH-CH720N. Likewise, listeners who want detailed equalizer control beyond Bose's bass, midrange, and treble settings may prefer another app or a wired audio setup. Paying for this pair only makes sense when its comfort-oriented form, cancellation modes, and travel accessories address needs you actually have.
Sources & References
Specifications and claims in this analysis were cross-referenced against the sources below.
Yes. Bluetooth multipoint keeps two devices connected, such as a laptop and phone. Audio plays from one source at a time, and an incoming call can interrupt playback from the other device.
