Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs. Bose 700: What’s new and different?

This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.

Bose has a reputation for creating the best noise-canceling headphones, but the company has recently stepped out of its comfort zone to launch its first spatial audio headphones: the QuietComfort Ultra. A launching pad for the company’s new Immersive Sound format, these next-gen cans bring several improvements to the table, such as aptX Adaptive codec support, intuitive multipoint connectivity and stronger ANC.

The introduction of one flagship means the discontinuation of another, which, in this case, happens to be the universally acclaimed Bose 700. However, the long-reigning king of active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones aren’t giving up their crown so easily. These wireless headphones still produce excellent call quality and noise cancellation that no other rival has matched during their three-year run. Bose’s design is also worthy of its own exhibit at The Met 20 years from now.

Your choices are a potential new category leader or an undeniable classic. Thanks for making the decision so easy, Bose. After a long week of testing, we’ve come to a decision on which is the better model. Read our full breakdown to find out the winner.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs. Bose 700 at a glance

Quick comparison

Class-leading ANC that’s stronger on the QC Ultra

There are reasons why the 700 have been acknowledged as the top headphones for noise cancellation. Bose’s adaptive eight-mic system (six mics used for ANC) block out 90% of incidental sounds. We’ve tested the headphones in numerous environments over the years, even on planes where engine rumble and standard in-flight disruptions were silent. They also put a kibosh on most indoor and outdoor fracas. Adjustable ANC is the 700’s biggest selling point, letting users select between 10 levels for optimal noise neutralization. Setting the feature to Level 5 or lower basically activates transparency mode, and lowering it to Level 1 pulls in a lot of ambient noise. You’ll hear conversations clearly from across the room and emergency sirens from two blocks away.

More mics combined with adaptive algorithms and ports allow the QC Ultra to eliminate up to 95% of incidental noise. We tested Bose’s latest ANC technology in settings where noise traffic was high. Walking through The Square shopping district in West Palm Beach was peaceful; live performances and outdoor dining chatter never broke my concentration. Construction noises had zero presence on music tracks. Noise cancellation was more rewarding indoors. I was able to work disruption-free while fire alarm testing occurred throughout my apartment complex.

Bose’s latest ambient listening mode, Aware, increased my awareness during strolls and when monitoring my son’s naps via video monitor. Instead of an ANC slider on the homepage of the app, the QC Ultra come with multiple modes that let you select an ANC level and turn on the Wind Block feature for reduced wind interference. The latter is beneficial for listening to music in gusty conditions.

Generally, the QC Ultra canceled out a little more noise than the 700.

TL;DR: The 700’s noise cancellation is still unbeatable, except against the QC Ultra’s ANC.

Immersive Audio gives the QC Ultra a significant sonic edge

The QC Ultra are not just Bose’s best-sounding headphones to date; they’re a threat to several audiophile-grade models like the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 and Sony WH-1000XM5. That’s mainly attributed to the all-new Immersive Audio feature that works with all stereo content to deliver lively, spacious sound. Listening to live performance and orchestral tracks felt surreal, as the technology reproduced details like crowd applause and special effects with finesse. Brass instruments were vibrant, and vocals gained a nice boost in clarity that carried over to podcasts and dialogue-centric scenes in movies. Speaking of which, movies were a delight, thanks to Bose’s incredible head-tracking technology that accurately directed sounds to head movement. The headphones are just as impressive for standard listening. Bose’s CustomTune technology is on board to calibrate sound based on your ear properties, while aptX Adaptive dynamically scales bit rate for faster, meticulous streaming on Android devices.

If you like clean, well-balanced sound, the 700 will treat you right. Their warm sound signature with clear vocal presentation is pleasant for slow jams and most contemporary tracks. Bass is tight but less punchy compared to older Bose releases. Sound can be personalized in the Bose Music app by adjusting bass, midrange or treble on the EQ. Desktop modes on hi-fi streaming services (like Tidal’s Exclusive Mode) can heighten sound performance by letting the platform take control of audio processing for the highest quality possible.

TL;DR: While the 700’s dynamic soundstage is appeasing, Bose’s proprietary sound technologies push the QC Ultra to another level.

Equally attractive with chic, practical designs

Bose crafted a work of art with the 700. Everything from the hidden screws and threading to the smooth-sliding extenders built on a track system are perfectly implemented. Sturdy aluminum and plastic make up most of their composition, with soft-touch leather wrapping around the ear cups and headband for pleasant comfort. The flush buttons produce solid tactility that ensures they work as intended. The action button can be assigned to different tasks (e.g., ANC, Spotify Tap) in the companion app. Bose smartly placed its mics throughout the design for optimal voice capture, which is evident in the 700’s outstanding call quality and voice assistance. Wear detection to auto-pause playback when removing the headphones is spot-on. Even the touch controls are conveniently programmed (up/down for volume and left/right for track management), and some of the most responsive we’ve tested in the category.

Design-wise, the QC Ultra are essentially the 700 minus the unibody frame. A collapsible frame was introduced for convenient portability. These headphones use the same leather to give listeners plenty of comfort during long listening stretches. The swiveled ear cups provide a bit more breathability. You’re also getting the same reliable input methods, along with stellar auto-pause functionality and voice activation. Furthermore, Bose incorporated a volume strip on the right ear cup that operates flawlessly and stuffed more mics into the QC Ultra’s design.

TL;DR: The 700 might be older, but their creative craftmanship is iconic, while the QC Ultra admirably pay homage to legacy releases with a sleek, minimalist appearance.

The 700 have better call quality, but the QC Ultra win on battery life and features

Nothing tops the 700 as a calling headset. Their mic array makes the speaker’s voice louder and clearer during chats. Enabling the Self Voice feature will adjust vocal volume so you can hear yourself better. ANC also filters out external sounds at the highest level. The QC Ultra fall slightly short of their predecessor, but you can still expect adequate call quality with minor background noise.

Bose not only upped the battery life on its latest creation, but it also added more features to the QC Ultra’s spec sheet. ANC playtime is up to 24 hours per charge; listening with Immersive Audio on drops it to 18 hours. The 700 last up to 20 hours. Quick charging is more powerful on the 700 (15 minutes equals three and a half hours) than the QC Ultra (15 minutes equals three hours). There’s no way to turn off noise cancellation on either model.

The 700 originally launched with impressive features, including adjustable ANC, Bluetooth multipoint, Google Fast Pair and Self Voice. EQ was introduced in a future update. Bose set these features up on the QC Ultra, along with several others that improve usability. We already touched on aptX Adaptive, Immersive Audio and the volume strip. Multipoint — which allows you to pair your headphones to two devices at once — operates well on both models, though the QC Ultra have the benefit of switching to single-point connection.

TL;DR: The 700’svoice calling is superior, but we’ll take the QC Ultra’s better battery life and functionality.

Bottom line

Dominant noise cancellation, remarkable sound and a longer spec sheet earn the QC Ultra their flagship status. Bose spared no expense developing the market’s best ANC headphones, which is reflected in their overall performance and steep price tag. Tweaks to the soundstage unveil more detail on tracks. Immersive Audio is a game changer for cinema buffs who want to be engrossed in their favorite action and horror movies. The uptick in battery life is also nice.

It’s been an amazing three-year run for the Bose 700, highlighted by top-tier noise cancellation and crisp sound in an avant-garde design. Responsive touch controls and unrivaled call quality add to their value, which is even greater at their current sale price of $299. However, the lack of modern features and shorter battery life are shortcomings that the QC Ultra address.