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You don’t always need to buy the most expensive and feature-loaded headphones, and there’s no other pair that’s proved that sentiment to me more than the Bose QuietComfort headphones. Midrange headphones are a tricky category to find a pair of headphones to remain faithful to, as you usually compromise performance for a lower price.
Although Bose’s QuietComfort headphones, retailing at $359, aren’t the cheapest midrange headphones out there, their performance justifies the price — when they’re on sale. During Amazon’s October Prime Day sale, the QuietComfort headphones are at their lowest price of $199, or $160 off. Not every color is discounted to that low price, but staples like Black, Sandstone, and Moonstone Grey are on sale at Amazon.
Also: Best Amazon Prime Day deals 2025: Our 75+ favorite sales this October
I’ve always been a fan of Bose’s midrange QuietComfort line, as I was incredibly loyal to my QuietComfort 45 headphones for many years. Bose revamped this model in 2023. I tested them earlier this year, and they’re still as wonderful as ever. The new QuietComfort headphones aren’t much different from their predecessor, offering almost identical design elements, controls, and overall user experience.
Still, they’re a solid option if you’re looking to upgrade your current headphones to a newer model, as they offer Bose’s excellent noise cancellation and comfort. Their sound is bass-forward with an emphasis on the treble, and unfortunately, Bose is known for its limited in-app equalizer.
Compared to their more premium — and expensive — QuietComfort Ultra sibling, the QuietComfort headphones lack Bose’s Immersive Audio, adaptive noise cancellation, and USB-C audio support. Depending on your preferences, their lack of advanced features could be a positive or a negative thing.
Conversely, compared to other similarly priced midrange options, the QuietComfort headphones’ 24-hour battery life is somewhat lackluster, but their noise cancellation performance and comfort can compensate for their shortcomings.
I don’t typically recommend purchasing the QuietComfort headphones at their full retail price of $359. At that price, you can find headphones that offer more. However, at $199, they’re a solid deal, especially for people who want a simple yet reliable pair of cans.
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How I rated this deal
Bose’s midrange QuietComfort headphones are one of the company’s best-executed product lines, offering longevity and high performance. I’ve given this deal a 4/5 based on ZDNET’s deal rating criteria for its deep discount on a high-quality product.
Amazon’s October Prime Day sale officially ends on Oct. 8, and Bose’s fall flash sale offering the same discount ends on Oct. 8 at 3 am ET/12 am PT. It’s possible that Amazon will run this sale at $229 instead of $199 once the sale officially ends.
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