Bose 700 Headphones Wireless Review 2024

Bose 700 Tech Specs

Bose Headphones 700

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What's in the Box?

When you open the box of the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 you’ll see a crisp black carrying case. This form-fitting, soft case has hard edges that are sturdy enough to keep your headphones safe in a backpack while traveling or commuting. The sleek design of the Bose 700 headphones is revealed as you open the case. The device has no notched hinges so the band is one continuous piece.

Also included is an audio cable for listening to lossless audio, a USB-C charging cable and a quick start guide. The headphones come charged with enough juice to connect to your device and immediately tap into your favorite playlist or podcast. Overall, this compact packaging design includes everything you need to begin your listening experience right away.

Users should note that the included audio cable is the standard 3.5mm size on one end, but 2.5mm on the end that plugs into your headphones. That means if you lose the cord, you have to buy a specialty replacement from Bose instead of a cheap universal cable. On the other hand, if you have a late model iPhone, you don’t have a 3.5mm port to plug into anyway.

Bose Headphones 700

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Headphone design

This model is a redesign of one of Bose’s most iconic products. To me, the new design is sleek and flawless. Unlike some competitors and even other Bose models, the 700 has no notch to fold the earcups in. This means the band and the earcups are one continuous piece. In black, the headphones are sleek and look great on or off.

The headphones weigh less than half a pound and were still comfortable after hours of wear. The ear cups tilt to 15 degrees, and the pads rotate a full 90 degrees to fit into the case and adjust to each user's unique features. The tight fit helps with passive noise cancellation and as soon as you put them on, some mild outside noise is blocked.

The earpads are made of a soft “protein leather” that caresses your ears like a European spa treatment, and the headband sits comfortably on a layer of soft gel-like foam. The stainless steel headband ensures they are built to last.

There are only three buttons on the headphones, one of which is marked with the Bluetooth icon while the other two are blank. The Bluetooth button works as both the power button and your connection to other devices. There is a small light to let you know when the headphones are on and when they are in Bluetooth search mode.

Most of the features of the headphones can be controlled using touch gestures on the right earcup. Double tap to pause your music and other customizable commands are available to suit your needs.

Noise cancellation

Bose has a reputation for being a pioneering company in active noise canceling technology. Using the Bose app to access the compilation of full features and adjustments, you can make 11 different adjustments to the amount of noise cancellation.

With the noise cancellation on 10 at home, with no music playing, I could hear a loud tv, but no voices in conversation and not even the active dishwasher or washing machine. Going down to level 4, I could have a conversation, and listen to the TV, but drown out the washing machine and AC fan noise. With music playing at a moderate volume I couldn't hear any outside noise at all.

Another helpful feature is the unmarked button on the left earcup, which halves and then zeros out the noise cancellation quickly. You can jump into a conversation or hear your surroundings without fumbling around in the app looking to adjust the ANC with a quick click. This feature is very helpful if you’re using the headphones in an office or commuting and need to hear your surroundings quickly.

Bluetooth capabilities

Bose advertises a range of up to 30 feet from your bluetooth source. Walking around my condo, I had no issues with music dropping out or signal loss. Another helpful feature for multitaskers is the built-in ability to keep the headphones connected to two devices at once and use a button or the app to switch between them. This is ideal for working from home as you can listen to your music on your phone and then switch to your computer when you need to hop on a call.

Connected devices are easily managed in the Bose app. I found the app easier to use than scrambling around in my iPhone settings trying to organize which devices are connected or not.

Sound performance

Right off the bat, these headphones sound fantastic. They have a pleasant sounding sound stage—no frequency is too harsh. Listening to Kate Bush’s retro hit “Running Up That Hill,” the vocals float over the driving drums and bass line. All the background instruments are clear and you can pick out parts you may have never heard before.

Listening to the classic “Smokin' Out the Window” by Silk Sonic, the deep bass can be felt and the vocal harmonies shine through. The balance of frequencies creates an overall great listening experience.

The app offers an eq (equalization) that allows you to control the bass, mid, and treble. So bass heads, fear not, you can turn it up as much as you like. Bose even offers a few presets so you can experiment with different combinations on the fly.

I was pleasantly surprised that no matter what genre I was listening to, these headphones could keep up and deliver consistently great-sounding audio.

Microphone quality

The headphones can also be used for making phone calls. Active noise technology is applied to phone calls so the conversation remains clear on both ends, even in noisy environments.

The Bose 700 product page says there are an impressive 8 total microphones in the headphones. 6 microphones are used for the Active Noise Canceling. And 4 microphones are used for making phone calls and the voice assistant (2 are shared with ANC).

In testing, my phone calls were clear and the recipient could hear me with no issues. This feature is another plus for commuting as the environment around you won't disrupt your calls.

Battery life

Bose advertises a battery life of up to 20 hours, which in comparison to other similar headphones does not lead the pack, but is still very good. In testing, I used the Bose headphones for multiple hours over several days, and I did not have to charge them all week. Using them at a reasonable volume and, if necessary, using less active noise canceling, will yield more battery time.

The Bose 700 Headphones come with a USB-C charging cable but no outlet plug. One of the best features is that a five-minute charge will provide up to two hours of playtime. So if you run out of battery a quick charge is all you need to get up and play your favorite tunes again.

App integration

The Bose app has been a treat to use alongside the Bose 700 headphones. From the moment you turn on the headphones, they prompt you to download the Bose app. Once you hit the Bluetooth button, a smooth voice talks you through connecting your device and downloading the Bose app. iOS takes this connection one step further, informing you as soon as you connect to Bluetooth that this device uses apps to control it. You can then click the prompt to bring you directly to the download link to the app.

Once the app is downloaded you can name the headphones as a new device and connect to any device. You will also receive instructions on how to use your device and how to set up the voice assistant. The headphones can summon either Google Assistant or Siri if the user hits the dedicated button on the right ear cup.

The app offers tips on Touch Control, Phone Calls, Noise cancellation, and Voice Assistant. The app is an easier experience than reading a manual, and you can access it whenever you want to learn about a feature.

The app also lets you access the EQ. Bose provides a few presets so you can quickly switch between different sound profiles and see which works best for you.

Bose 700 versus the competition

The Bose 700 is competitive for its price point however, options like the Sony WH-1000XM5 offer slightly better active noise cancellation. Other models from Sony have support for high-quality audio files.

Bose also offers other noise canceling headphones with the QC 35 II being one of the most popular in their lineup. The Bose 700 headphones sound better and arguably have a better-looking design.

Overall, they have a great set of features at a great price point. At this price, users will have to review each product for the features they can’t live without and base their decision on that. The competition between Sony and Bose is stiff and many updates arrive annually.

Final verdict

Overall the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are an excellent pick if you’re looking for a pair of over-ear noise canceling headphones. While there are many contenders in the price range, the Bose headphones have exceptional active noise canceling technology, superior comfort, and a user-friendly app to maximize all the features.

The new design is sleek and stands out from the competition. These headphones are extremely comfortable, sound great, and offer amazing noise cancellation.

Bose Headphones 700

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