My Experience After Two Weeks with the Bose 700

My recent high-speed train trips and the further deterioration of my work environment have moved me from hesitating about buying noise-canceling headphones to deciding to buy them. Here are my considerations for the purchase and my feelings after two weeks of use. Since people around me have been asking, I’m summarizing my experience.

Why I Bought the Bose 700

My colleagues all uniformly bought the Bose QC35 II, to the point where others mistakenly thought our company was giving out headphones. I had considered this model too, and also tried the WH-1000XM3, but I personally found Sony’s uncomfortable and pressing. The comfort of the 35 is truly unmatched.

After extensive testing and watching review videos, I finally decided to buy the 700. Here’s why:

1. At this stage, JD.com still maintains the QC35 II price at 2299 yuan, while Pinduoduo and Taobao are not trustworthy - there could be issues with invoices and repairs
2. Bose recently released the new 700 model, priced at 2999 yuan, and the price difference alone isn’t that significant
3. One rule of digital products: buy new, not old
4. For the Sony WH-1000XM3, I tried them at the electronics store and found them uncomfortable. Some people say they’re good, maybe they’re just not for me [I had impulsively ordered them before, tried them, and immediately returned them]
5. Bose updates slowly - the 35 was from 2017, and they just released something new, so at least I won’t feel like I’m losing out

Based on these factors, I purchased the 700.

Usage Feedback

I ordered on August 18th and have been using them for 2 weeks now. Here are the pros and cons.

Advantages

1. The build quality is much stronger than before. The previous model felt very plastic, but now the headband has a matte feel, the ear cups are more comfortable than before, and the overall build quality is really excellent
2. The touch controls are good, with gestures consistent with AirPods, so there’s no learning curve. Regarding accidental touches, I haven’t had any issues with that
3. USB-C port, moving toward more standardization - if you have many USB-C devices, you can carry fewer cables
4. The headphone case is also more upscale than before. The larger size isn’t an issue for me since I use a backpack
5. Excellent noise cancellation, plus support for personalized noise cancellation level settings
6. Call quality is good
7. 20-hour battery life is enough for me

Disadvantages

1. The new Bose Music app is as terrible as it gets - it’s so bad I don’t even want to open it. I feel like Bose needs to hire my company to design and develop it. There’s absolutely no user experience. Hopefully, they’ll upgrade it soon
2. The physical buttons are too small, and I think their placement isn’t good. When taking off the headphones, it’s particularly easy to press them accidentally

Controversial Issues

Looking online, there are several highly debated issues. Here’s my take on them:

Disclaimer: Everyone’s experience may differ, I recommend trying them in a physical store

1. Reduced noise cancellation level? I don’t think so. I didn’t use the 35 much, just for a day, but I personally feel the noise cancellation has improved. A colleague who has been using the 35 also confirmed an improvement after trying the 700. From Bose’s product perspective, it wouldn’t make sense to release a new product that’s worse than before. So I don’t think it has decreased. As for how much it has improved, I think different people will have slightly different perceptions.
2. Larger size, less convenient? Yes, compared to the previous model that could fold, the storage space has definitely increased, to the point where the official headphone case is larger than before. But personally, I don’t think it’s a problem. At first, it seemed big, but after using it, it’s fine. Also, there are advantages to not folding - you can use it right away when you take it out. So I don’t consider this issue a real flaw.

My Daily Usage Scenarios

I primarily use headphones in the following scenarios:

1. Wearing them in the office to help focus on work
2. On commutes, quietly listening to music or reading, which is quite pleasant
3. The dreaded high-speed train with all kinds of noise - I haven’t taken one since buying these headphones, but I’m looking forward to using them during the National Day holiday

Conclusion

New designs bring new problems. But the pros outweigh the cons, and what matters is that they work for you. The 700 certainly has flaws, but I personally think it’s still better than its predecessor. So, if you’re planning to buy Bose, don’t hesitate, jump on board now!