When comparing Samsung Gear IconX vs Bose QuietComfort 35 II, the Slant community recommends Bose QuietComfort 35 II for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Bose QuietComfort 35 II is ranked 36th while Samsung Gear IconX is ranked 38th. The most important reason people chose Bose QuietComfort 35 II is:
Most full-sized, wireless over the ear headphones are quite heavy and bulky. The QC 35 IIs on the other hand are relatively compact and light, yet still deliver great performance, battery life and top notch noise cancelling. The integration of Google Assistant is also a first in headphones, and gives you a host of smart features like notification reading, quick music searches and call making using voice commands and many more.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Clear sound signature with a good amount of bass
The highs and mids are not amazing, but they most certainly sound good with nice clarity and warmth. The bass is very good. There is a lot of low-end presence with good thump. These will most certainly excel with bass heavy music and are great choices for working out, as the thump will definitely help you stay upbeat.
Pro Internal memory can store files
The Gear IconX has 4GB of internal memory where you can store files like music and play them from just the earbuds.
Pro Fitness tracking
There is a built in heart rate monitor and you can set these earbuds to tell you exercise-related metrics at set intervals. Also, you can sync the IconX to Samsung's S Health app where you can view fitness metrics.
Pro Earpiece touch sensitivity for smartphone controls
Once synced with your smart device, you can set which of the earpieces is the primary device. You can do gesture controls on it to control your playlist as well as answer or end calls.
Pro A variety of ear and wing tips to choose from
These come with ear tips in three different sizes for you to get a nice and comfortable seal, as well as 3 wing tips in various sizes which adjust how snug these earbuds can be.
Pro Splash/sweat resistant
A nano-coating is applied to the ear pieces, preventing sweat and splashes of liquid from causing damage.
Pro Great sound performance, effective noise cancelling, long battery life and Google Assistant smart features in a compact package
Most full-sized, wireless over the ear headphones are quite heavy and bulky. The QC 35 IIs on the other hand are relatively compact and light, yet still deliver great performance, battery life and top notch noise cancelling.
The integration of Google Assistant is also a first in headphones, and gives you a host of smart features like notification reading, quick music searches and call making using voice commands and many more.
Pro Great active noise cancelling
Bose's noise cancelling tech is quite effective at blocking ambient noise. This will help you fully enjoy the music by virtually eliminating outside noise.
Pro Fairly balanced sound signature with slight boosts to the mids and highs
Bass is full and punchy. While the sub-bass is not pronounced, there is good and fast bass extension, and this is what gives the music punch and a sense of tightness.
The mids are full and slightly forward so vocals and guitars can be clearly heard.
The highs are clear and do not distort at high volumes. There is a peak on the upper treble which helps to add more detail and clarity to the music, but some may also find the high frequencies to be quite harsh at times.
Pro Very good Google Assistant integration
These headphones are much more convenient to use and functional thanks to the Google Assistant upgrade. Press the long, flat button on the left ear cup to activate the feature, and you’ll be able to make voice commands to search for music, start calls, set reminders, get weather updates and many other features. This addition makes the QC 35 II one of the best travelling headphones you can get today.
Pro Has wired and Bluetooth connectivity
Aside from Bluetooth connection, you can also connect the QuietComfort 35 II to a source using a 3.5mm cable. This makes the headphones usable even with the battery depleted.
Pro Ear cup buttons allow easy control
You can easily control playlist functions using the buttons on the right ear cup. These functions include volume control as well as the play, pause, next track and previous track commands. The on/off switch for the headphones is also on this ear cup.
Pro Very good battery life
The QC35 IIs can play music continuously for up to 20 hours. This should cover most of your trips' duration before needing to recharge.
Pro Mic produces great voice quality
Multiple microphones are strategically located on both ear cups, allowing for great voice quality when taking calls. The noise cancelling also helps to clean up the voice quality that goes into the headphones.
Pro Built in mic allows hands-free calls
You can simply press a button on the right ear-cup to answer a call. This reduces the hassle of having to remove the headphones to take a call.
Pro Not straining on the head/neck
Despite having internal batteries, these headphones are still fairly lightweight, coming in at under 300 grams. This makes the headphones really easy to wear for extended periods, even when you are on the go.
Pro Feels soft and comfortable
The QC 35 II's ear cups and headband feature quality memory foam material which are soft and supportive so they do not pinch on your ears or apply too much pressure to the top of the head. These contact points are also covered with a quality leather material which feels nice and smooth on the skin.
Pro Great for on the go use as they are wireless
With these, you won't have to deal with long and dangling cables that can be difficult to manage.
Cons
Con S Health tracking only works with Samsung devices
Syncing the Gear IconX with S Health on a non-Samsung device can have problems ( heart rate monitor on the IconX cannot be detected ). This is not an issue with S Health on Samsung devices though.
Con Poor battery life
These can only last around 2 hours of playback from a full charge to empty. This is much lower compared to other true wireless headphones in this price point.
Con Noise cancelling may cause ear discomfort
Some experience a feeling of extra pressure into the ears when noise cancelling is on. Many find this to be unpleasant.
