Bose QC35 II & QC45 Review: The Used Market Kings

Some headphones get replaced. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II got inherited — passed from the new market to the used market without ever really leaving the conversation. Launched in 2017 as the refinement of the already-beloved QC35, it added a dedicated Action button for voice assistants and noise-cancelling levels to what many travellers still call the most comfortable headphone Bose has made. The QC45 arrived in 2021 to succeed it, and our existing Bose QC45 review covers that model as a standalone product in depth. This article does something different: it treats both models strictly as used purchases in 2026, weights the QC35 II — which has never had its own full review on this site — heaviest, and tells you exactly what to check before money changes hands.

SoundMavericks has not hands-on tested either model for this article. What follows is a research- and specification-based buying assessment built from Bose’s published specifications and the live Amazon listings we verified for this piece — including the Amazon Renewed QC35 II listing — combined with the well-documented wear points these two models are known for. Used buying is a condition game, so our scores reflect the model at its best realistic used condition, and the checklist sections tell you how to verify you are actually getting that condition.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II — Black (Renewed)

Bose QuietComfort 35 II — Silver

The QC35 II as a Used Buy: Why It Still Works

Start with the thing no specification sheet captures: the QC35 II is light, soft-clamping and easy to wear for an entire long-haul flight, and that has not been beaten by age. Its glass-filled nylon build flexes rather than creaks, the earcups fold up into a compact case, and every control is a physical button you can find by touch with your eyes closed — volume, play, and a noise-cancelling switch with high, low and off positions. In a used market full of early touch-control experiments that have aged badly, honest buttons are a genuine longevity feature.

The performance underneath is still credible. Noise cancelling at the high setting remains strong on the low, steady noises that dominate travel — engines, fans, road roar — even if a current QuietComfort Ultra clearly beats it on voices and higher-frequency clutter. Battery was rated at up to 20 hours wireless and up to 40 hours wired when new, Bluetooth multipoint lets it stay connected to a phone and a laptop together, and the sound — warm, bass-gentle, easy for hours — is the classic Bose tuning that made the line famous. For the full context of where it sits against today’s field, see our best noise cancelling headphones guide and our guide to choosing noise cancelling headphones.

QC35 II vs QC45: Specifications Side by Side

Specifications from Bose’s published data. Note the deliberate difference in our links: the QC35 II row points to the verified Amazon Renewed listing, because that is how most buyers should purchase this model in 2026.

The Differences That Actually Matter Used

The Action button and the assistant split

The QC35 II’s Action button is its signature extra. Out of the box it summoned your choice of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant; Bose also let you reassign it to cycle noise-cancelling levels instead. That flexibility was a real selling point in 2017 — and it is the feature to test most sceptically in 2026. Assistant integrations depend on Bose’s app and cloud support for a discontinued model, and behaviour varies by phone and region now. Treat any working assistant function on a used QC35 II as a bonus, not a promise, and value the button for its dependable second job: switching ANC levels without opening an app. The QC45 dropped the Action button entirely, relying on a long-press for your phone’s own assistant. Less to go wrong, less to miss.

Firmware: the invisible used-buy variable

Both models receive — or received — firmware through Bose’s apps, the QC35 II through Bose Connect and the QC45 through Bose Music. On any used unit, connect it to the app on day one: confirm the headphones are recognised, check for a pending update, and leave the firmware wherever the update lands rather than chasing version numbers from old forum posts. Long-time QC35 II owners will remember that firmware releases for this model were debated for years over perceived noise-cancelling changes; the practical 2026 advice is simpler. Buy on condition and return rights, update once, and judge the noise cancelling with your own ears in your own return window.

Charging and battery: where four years shows

The QC45’s USB-C port is not a spec-sheet nicety — on a used buy it means one less legacy cable, a port standard that has not been wearing since 2017, and a four-year head start on battery age. The QC35 II’s micro-USB port is its most fragile daily interface: check a used unit’s port for looseness and confirm it charges steadily before anything else. On battery, both models use sealed cells. A QC35 II that still delivers a solid working day of wireless playback is a good unit; one that fades by mid-afternoon is telling you its price should fall or your search should move on.

The Used-Buy Checklist: Battery, Pads, and Everything Else

Battery first. Charge fully, then run the headphones at moderate volume with noise cancelling on and note the hours. Compare honestly with the when-new ratings — 20 hours for the QC35 II, 24 for the QC45 — and treat anything under roughly two-thirds of the rating as a reason to renegotiate or return.

Ear pads second. This is where the QC35 II quietly wins the used game. Its pads unclip and replacements are cheap and everywhere, so flaking protein leather — the most common cosmetic failure on both models — is a ten-minute refresh on the QC35 II, and nearly as easy on the QC45. Budget for a fresh set on any well-used pair of either model and the headphones feel a generation younger.

Then the hardware sweep. Work every button, including the QC35 II’s ANC switch and Action button. Flex the headband and check the yokes for hairline cracks. Test the wired cable — both models still play passively with a flat battery, which is a real safety net on a used purchase. Pair to two devices to confirm multipoint, make a test call, and listen for driver rattle at high volume, which no amount of pad replacement will fix.

Bose QuietComfort 45 — Triple Black

Score card above: Bose QuietComfort 45, assessed as a used buy. The QC35 II’s card appears earlier in this article.

Which Ages Better — and Who Should Buy Which

On paper, the QC45 ages better: younger batteries, USB-C, longer rated life, an Aware mode the QC35 II lacks, and slightly stronger noise cancelling. In the hand, the argument tightens. The QC35 II’s enormous parts and pads ecosystem, simpler electronics and three-position ANC switch give it a fix-it-and-keep-going quality, and a large share of owners prefer its warmer stock tuning to the QC45’s leaner one. Our honest summary: the individual unit’s battery health matters more than the badge. A strong QC35 II beats a tired QC45 every time — which is exactly why graded channels matter. The verified Amazon Renewed QC35 II listing and Renewed QC45 listing linked in this article exist precisely to take the worst of that lottery away.

Buy the QC35 II used if comfort is your top priority, you want physical controls and an ANC switch, and a battery-checked unit is clearly the cheaper of the two. Buy the QC45 used if the price gap is small, you refuse to carry a micro-USB cable in 2026, or you want Aware mode for office and street use. Skip both if used prices approach a discounted current model — at that point a new QuietComfort Ultra or standard QuietComfort buys you a fresh battery, current Bluetooth and a full warranty, and our best noise cancelling headphones for travel roundup shows the current alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bose QC35 II still worth buying in 2026?

As a used or Renewed buy, yes — provided the battery still holds a useful charge and the price reflects its age. Its comfort, physical controls and noise cancelling remain genuinely good. If a used QC35 II costs close to a discounted QC45 or current QuietComfort, buy the newer model instead.

What is the difference between the QC35 II and QC45?

The QC45 charges over USB-C instead of micro-USB, runs up to 24 hours instead of 20, adds an Aware transparency mode and Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint, and drops the QC35 II’s customisable Action button. The QC35 II counters with a three-level ANC switch and, to many ears, a warmer stock tuning.

Can you replace the QC35 II battery and ear pads?

The ear pads, yes — they unclip, and inexpensive replacements are widely available, which is a major reason this model ages well. The battery is not designed to be user-replaceable, so battery health is the most important thing to test on any used unit.

Does the Bose QC35 II have USB-C?

No. The QC35 II charges over micro-USB. USB-C charging arrived with the QC45 — for many used buyers, the QC35 II’s most annoying daily compromise.

QC35 II or QC45: which ages better as a used buy?

The QC45 ages better on paper — younger batteries, USB-C, longer rated life. The QC35 II ages better in the hand — a huge pads-and-parts ecosystem and a simpler feature set. The battery health of the individual unit matters more than the model badge.

One last practical note on pricing behaviour: used prices for both models swing with the sales calendar. They soften when a new Bose launch pulls attention upward and harden again when travel season starts and every frequent flyer remembers their old pair died. If your need is not urgent, watch both the Renewed listings and the standard listings for a few weeks — the Renewed channel restocks in waves, and a graded unit at a fair price is worth more than a private-sale gamble at a slightly lower one. Patience is a genuine discount on the used market, and on these two models it is usually rewarded.

Final Verdict

Used-market kings earn the title by surviving, and both of these have. The QC35 II remains our default recommendation for the value hunter: buy it Renewed or battery-checked, refresh the pads, and enjoy comfort and calm that embarrass many newer budget models. The QC45 is the same crown with a newer battery and a modern port, worth it the moment the price gap shrinks. Either way, buy the unit — its charge, its pads, its return window — not just the name on the headband.