It's a minor point, but whenever you turn the headphones on they helpfully play a short audio notification of both the device they're connected to as well as how much battery life is left. It rounds this to the closest 10%, but it's still a helpful indicator to have. When it comes to Bluetooth music streaming there's standard Bluetooth and then there's AptX Bluetooth. The latter is appreciably better for streaming music, but Apple's devices only support the former. You can read more about the difference between them in our Bluetooth vs AptX explainer. These headphones are bluetooth headphones and an effective upgrade from the QC 35 which are also hugely popular. Google Assistant has been added which is a welcome addition and the same button can be used to trigger noise cancellation. Quiet Comfort Design

The QuietComfort 35 II's integrated microphones delivered crystal-clear call quality. It was nice to make calls and not have the person on the other end complain that I sounded like I was inside a soup can. Most of my calls were made from the home or office, but I was brave enough at times to call from the windy streets of NYC and was pleasantly surprised to hear the same clear sound quality. I preferred pairing via the app, as I could also configure the headphones by, for example, naming the units and adjusting the level of noise cancelling to fit my environment.It’s only as useful as Google Assistant on your phone is, though, but handily – if you don’t find yourself using it very much – you can reassign the button to adjust the noise cancellation between High, Low and Off settings. All you have to do to switch it over is load up the accompanying smartphone app and delve into the settings menu. The one criticism I have is that there’s no support for the superior AptX or AptX HD codecs and certainly nothing like the LDAC support you get with the Sony MDR1000X. And the latter is no longer completely proprietary; anyone with an Android O phone can take advantage, not just owners of Sony Xperia handsets. I was able to leave my iPhone about 35 feet away without losing the call or my music in between calls. This was a welcome feature, especially when I worked from home and needed to retrieve something I left downstairs. I found myself sending a lot of voice-to-text messages and interacting with Google Assistant, because the built-in microphone technology was excellent. I didn't need to repeat myself often when speaking. I just wish that this technology were built into young kids. When I switched to Active mode (powered up, connected wireless via Bluetooth to my iPhone), the headphones went into full throttle, producing louder audio with noticeable active noise-cancelling effects. I would strongly suggest using the units in active mode to achieve the full benefits of the sound-design technology that Bose has worked many years to perfect.

Still, if you're happy to sacrifice that last little bit of sonic ability in the name of added comfort, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II could well be the noise-cancellers for you.

How does it compare to the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless?

The Active EQ is subtle, but personally I don't think it added anything to my listening experience. Verdict The QuietComfort 35 II felt right at home atop my head and snug against my ears, sealing out the distractions from people who might want to ask for directions. Once I removed the QC35 II from the comfortable protective pouch, it was clear that these headphones were ready to take on my long and noisy train ride to and and from work, as well as on the loud and busy streets of New York City. Another area where the QC35 II’s lag behind a little is Bluetooth range. You only have to wander a few metres away from your phone or laptop before the audio signal starts to cut out where the Beats Studio 3 Wireless were able to hang onto that signal much further away. Battery life is excellent, though, rated at 20 hours with both noise cancellation and wireless enabled. Bose QuietComfort 35 II review: Verdict

Sound quality, too, is superb. Yes they’re not the last word in sparkling excitement and, yes, the bass is a touch overblown at times but, by and large, there’s plenty enough dynamism and detail for most people. They’re better from a sound quality perspective than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless for instance, though they can’t match the Sony MDR1000X. The QuietComfort 35 II are hugely effective in a Ronseal kind of way: the excellent noise-cancelling keeps everything around you quiet, and they're exceptionally comfortable. In those regards they're unbeatable, and for many a regular long-hauler, they'll be the most important factors. They won’t completely silence the world outside. You’ll still be able to hear (faintly) the tip-tapping of typing on a nearby keyboard but, for the most part, you’ll be completely undisturbed while you enjoy your music, podcast, TV show or movie. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are, like the headphones that preceded them, simply brilliant personal audio companions. While they may not be able to match rivals for sound quality and looks, in terms of all-round practicality and comfort they’re second to none.

The Bose QuietComfort 35s offer great sound quality and the best noise cancelling out of any headphones I've tried. They're super comfortable, and despite the fact that they don't use the newer AptX Bluetooth standard, the wireless doesn't harm their sound quality one bit. We disliked I used the headphones for a half hour video call in a noisy office and was perfectly audible throughout thanks to the efforts of the noise-cancelling technology. We liked

As with all noise-cancelling headphones, the QC35's are best at cancelling out consistent low frequencies like the rumble of a train or plane rather than higher-pitched office chatter, but even the latter is drowned out to a certain extent by the padding around the headphone's earcups. We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency. It took Bose a while to come up with a pair of headphones that combined noise cancellation technology with Bluetooth wireless connection, but when it did it had an instant classic on its hands. Now, flush with success, there’s a successor on the market – the Bose QuietComfort 35 II – which don’t mess with the formula too much but, intriguingly, add support for the Google Assistant. Bose QuietComfort 35 II review: What you need to know The noise-cancelling sensation is a little odd at first and feels a little like being in a pressurised cabin, but you soon get used to actually being able to listen to your music rather than the world around you. Have you tried turning them off and on again? I know, this seems basic, but you’d be surprised how many technological bugs can be fixed with a simple reboot. If this doesn’t work, continue on to the next steps.

Does the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II sound better than the Sony WF-1000XM4?

Battery life on the QC35s is very good. Bose promises that the headphones will last 20 hours when operating wirelessly, which rises to 40 hours when used as a pair of wired headphones. I didn't time exactly how long the battery took to run down, but the headphones lasted me several days of on and off use before needing to be recharged. Pairing via Bluetooth yielded a cheerful female voice that informed me when the process was completed and popped up if I happened to wander out of pairing range or if the battery level dropped too low. The entire process of setting up the QC35 II took under 10 minutes and completed without requiring me to restart my device or the headphones. Bose QuietComfort 35 II review: Bose Connect App Dynamically, these headphones can take changes in intensity in their stride. From the quieter drums and strings that rise up when the song begins to the hearty, husky tones of Lisa Gerrard’s idioglossia (her invented language) that fill the space, these headphones make smooth transitions allowing you to really become immersed in your music. Bose continues to be the gold standard for noise cancelling, helping you create your own fortress of solitude even in aurally chaotic settings. Yep, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II (QC35 II) are the first headphones – aside from the Google Pixel Buds – to build in support for Google’s smart voice assistant, and this capability comes courtesy of a button built into the left earcup of the headphones. Tap it and the headphones will tell you the time and read out any unread notifications; hold it and you can run Assistant queries just as you would on your phone, except you don’t have to embarrassingly shout “OK Google” before you do it.