Friday, October 02, 2020
Surface Headphones 2
Surface Sounds
Pros
- Excellent build quality and sound
- Very comfortable
- USB-C with fast charge
- More affordable
- Included carry case
Cons
- Quite chunky
- No voice assistant built-in
Microsoft's latest headphones are incredibly impressive, with excellent battery life, superb design and sound, and built-in voice features while cutting the asking price quite significantly over its predecessor.
Bose QC 35 II
Superior ANC
Pros
- Available with Alexa or Google Assistant
- Great noise cancellation
- Very comfortable
- Included carry case
- Fold up fully
Cons
- No EQ
- Flat sound profile
- Micro USB charging
The Bose QuietComfort became popular for its noise cancellation, and it's still hard to top this pair of headphones if that's high on your list of priorities. At the same time, Alexa or Google Assistant support adds some additional smart features.
It's an incredibly close call, which is impressive considering Microsoft is still a reasonably new name in the headphones space. If noise cancellation is the draw, though, the Bose headphones are still the top dog, but the lower price of the Surface Headphones 2 certainly cannot be ignored.
It's worth highlighting, too, that Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon, and it's always a good time to get a new pair of headphones. The Bose QC 35 II are some of the best noise-canceling headphones on Amazon so that any discount would be a winner for all parties. The Surface Headphones 2 aren't currently in stock on Amazon except for inflated prices through resellers. Still, sometimes deals are released by competitors around Prime Day to take advantage of the shopping fever. Microsoft's own store is the best place to look.
Two great pairs of headphones
Whichever you choose, you're getting a great pair of headphones. Microsoft is the newcomer in the space, but with the Surface team behind it, there was never a doubt the Headphones would be a quality product.
Bose is one of the class leaders with good reason. It has a legendary reputation for quality, and the QC 35 II is just another notch on that belt.
Both are very similar in terms of specs, so which one is right for you?
| Surface Headphones | Bose QC 35 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Noise cancellation | Active | Active |
| Battery life | Up to 20 hours (with ANC, Bluetooth enabled) | Up to 20 hours (Wireless) |
| Charging port | USB-C Fast charge |
Micro USB |
| Assistant | Built-in voice features | Google Assistant or Alexa |
| Price | $250 | $350 |
There are a couple of notable differences, however. Naturally, Microsoft has voice support in the Surface Headphones 2, but the Bose supports either Google or Amazon powered assistants built into the headphones, depending on your preference. You'll also get equal battery life on the Bose, at the expense of having to carry the old hat micro USB cable to charge the QC 35 II with.
By contrast, the Surface Headphones 2 will charge likely using the same cable as your smartphone or laptop, and with fast charge, you're back up and running much quicker.
Proper voice assistant support from Bose built-in
Both sets of headphones have voice built-in, but Microsoft's offering is more limited. Bose, however, uses either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. If you're not interested in using an assistant at all, you can skip ahead.
It's no secret that in the wide world, both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are mature assistants, with a wealth of smart integrations and global appeal. It's possible that without using your phone or a connected speaker, you can use your Bose headphones to turn on your lights, adjust your heating, or even control your Xbox. The Bose headphones can also fully interact with Google Assistant when paired with an iPhone.
The Surface Headphones 2 can interact with a voice assistant, however, but it's limited to the one on your phone, so the experience isn't quite as fluid. Whether it's Alexa, Google Assistant, or Bixby, you can use your headphones and the built-in microphone to trigger the assistant on your Android phone or Siri on the iPhone. Surface Headphones 2 can also read emails on iPhone thanks to Cortana built into Outlook.
The Surface Headphones 2 do also boast a unique voice feature, but one that's only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. Voice dictation in apps like Word and Outlook allow you to speak naturally while wearing the headphones and watch your words appear in front of you.
Bose has superior ANC, Microsoft edges it on sound quality
Which you choose should ultimately hinge on what you're looking for from your headphones. If you want the absolute best noise cancellation performance, then the Bose wins. Microsoft did a fantastic job, but it falls short of what you get from Bose.
However, the Surface Headphones 2, perhaps surprisingly, edge it on sound quality. The Bose lacks an equalizer and have a decidedly flat sound profile. The Surface Headphones 2 have an all-round richer sound, and through the Surface Audio companion app, you have access to equalizers to tweak it even further.
A great all rounder
The Surface Headphones 2 are undoubtedly worthy contenders against the likes of Bose and Sony. The newest version is an excellent refinement of the original, simply making the headphones better rather than radically redesigning anything. And one of the most pleasant parts is the much lower asking price than the first version launched at.
Surface Headphones 2
Surface Sounds
The difficult second album comes off with flying colors
While the ANC and voice features fall behind Bose, the Surface Headphones 2 make up for it in several other areas, not least sound quality and a much more attractive price.
Easy to recommend
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is an easy to recommend a pair of headphones for folks who are prioritizing ANC, perhaps for frequent travel. The sound may not be ultimately as pleasing as the Surface Headphones 2, but they're still the ones to pick to block out the sound of the outside world.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
ANC king
Still the best choice for noise cancellation.
$349 at Amazon $349 at Best Buy
The sound may be a little flat compared to the Surface Headphones, but if you're hunting for the best noise cancellation, you found it with the Bose.
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