Microsoft Surface Headphones vs Bose 700

Microsoft kind of surprised us all when they announced the Surface Headphones, while it was a good surprise but the one thing that worried us all was the fact that these headphones were going to try and make a name for themselves in a market that is heavily saturated and dominated by the likes of Sony and Bose.

Still, the reviews were very good, and the critics loved the headphones. Granted, they had some issues like not the best battery life in the market, but overall, the Microsoft Surface Headphones were a success. Soon after the release of Surface Headphones, Bose came up with the Bose 700; this was the first time Bose was releasing something high end that was not from their QuietComfort range and that got us excited, too.

That made us wonder if we should draw a comparison between both the Microsoft Surface headphones, and the Bose 700. Considering how both of these headphones are targeted to the same consumer base, it is important to know that the comparison needs to happen so those who are in the market looking to buy a good pair of headphones are fully aware of what they are getting themselves into.

With that out of the way, for now, let’s just focus on the comparison. As always, the comparison will be in line with all the previous ones we have done. So, let’s have a look.

Design

First things first, the design is definitely an important factor because people have become a lot more design-conscious in the modern-day and age as compared to the older days. That being said, the good news is that companies are fully aware of this, and you should definitely not have any issue.

The design on the Surface headphones looks a lot in line with what most people would prefer. It is a clean white design that looks striking but subtle at the same time. Microsoft did not pull any fancy tricks and we actually like that since it does give an appeal to the headphones. The headphones look great and definitely work well.

On the other hand, the design on the Bose 700 is a lot similar to the Microsoft Surface Headphones except a few changes here and there. The design is certainly lower profile, so if you are looking for something that does not make a statement right away, you should definitely go for these headphones. They look great, but my only gripe here is that they don’t really fold, although you do get a nice carrying case that is slim enough to fit into your backpack.

Overall, it is a tough way to tell just which design is better and which is not. I believe that the design on the Bose 700 is a lot more streamlined than it is on the Microsoft Surface headphones and while it will take you some time to be adjusted to the new design language by Bose, it certainly is a good step in the right direction, that much I can assure you.

Winner: Bose 700.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is another extremely important factor and we all can collectively agree to that. In the past, wireless headphones have suffered greatly from the sound quality mainly because the signal was not strong enough and the technology used was not good enough, either. However, things have changed drastically, and there is no way to overlook that.

The Microsoft Surface headphones are a lot better when it comes to delivering some fantastic bass. The bass is powering but not muddled so if you do enjoy music like that, I can assure you that you are going to have a fantastic time. However, that is also the point where I have some issues with these headphones. You see, while the sound quality is great, it is bass oriented, so you might not be able to enjoy the other music type without some tuning to the overall sound.

On the flip side, we have the Bose 700; these headphones in comparison are a lot better in terms of the overall sound quality. They have the balanced sound to them, something we have come to expect from Bose over the past couple of years and I can assure you that they do sound good, too. If you are in search of something that provides you with that balanced sound and allows you to enjoy all sorts of music, then this is the way to go without any hesitation.

Choosing the winner is not that difficult; the sound quality is certainly better on Bose, it is balanced, which means that regardless of the genre of music you are listening to, you are going to have a good experience and will enjoy the music, too. So, this is definitely a noteworthy thing.

Winner: Bose 700.

Build Quality

Now build quality is definitely one of the most important factors you need to keep in mind whenever you are in the market looking for a good pair of headphones. Even if you are not a hardcore user like some of us, it is still important to buy headphones that have a solid build quality rather than going for something that is not built to last.

Thankfully, both Bose and Microsoft has put some great attention to detail in the headphones; both of the competitors are well built and are definitely going to last you a long time. There is a nice mix of metal and plastic, which is something that we have been used to for some time now.

Winner: Both.

Battery life

Battery life on wireless headphones has come a long way. Gone are the days when headphones required multiple charges throughout the day to keep running. This is good for people who stay out a lot during the day and use their headphones throughout the day.

The battery life on Bose 700 is upwards of 20 hours with all the features turned on. While it is not the industry-leading battery life, it is still better than most of the headphones in the market. The headphones can easily last you an entire day and you really do not have to worry about much.

On the other hand, the Surface headphones posed less than promising battery life because it only gives you 15 hours of battery life with everything turned on. While it may seem that 15 hours is not that different from 20 hours, the real-life usage obviously varies, and the results are often different, as well.

It should not come as a surprise that when it comes to battery life, the Bose 700, despite not posting the best results, is still ahead of the Surface Headphones.

Winner: Bose 700.

Features

Features are obviously one of the most important things that most people will look for when it comes to a good pair of wireless headphones and that is definitely, what most people look for, as well.

When it comes to features, Microsoft Surface headphones, they are packed with some amazing features. For starters, you have dials and touch sensors in both ear pads that allow you to control multiple functions on the fly. I know it might sound like a lot at first but if used properly, it can make everything a wondrous experience.

Bose, on the other hand, have kept things simple for the most part. This should not come as a surprise since they work towards functionality over form. There are not a lot of features that you are going to get from this pair of headphones but those that are included are great to have and they work really well.

Overall, the features are certainly better on the Microsoft Surface headphones and that is one thing that we cannot really deny.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Headphones.

Comfort

The last factor that we are looking at is the comfort of the headphones that you are buying. You have to make sure that whatever you are getting is actually comfortable enough for you so you can have no problems wearing it for the longer periods of time.

Thankfully, as far as the comfort is concerned, Bose does it again with the best possible comfort in the industry. The Bose 700 is extremely comfortable; whether you are wearing them for a smaller amount of time or for a longer amount of time, the one thing I can guarantee you is that the comfort is just too good and you should not have any issues that might come in the way.

On the other hand, the good news about Microsoft Surface headphones is that they are comfortable, too. However, the issue with them is that they have a clamping force that can end up making you not feel comfortable enough after a longer period of time. So, that certainly is one thing that you need to know about these headphones.

Overall, I have to say, whenever you are looking at something that is comfortable enough, there are not a lot of options that come close to the Bose. All their headphones have always been extraordinarily comfortable.

Winner: Bose 700.

Conclusion

I have to admit that comparing these headphones was not easy. It was perhaps one of the most difficult things because both of these headphones butt heads with each other on so many different levels. However, we always have to pick the winner because the purpose of this entire comparison would be pointless, otherwise.

With that said, after carefully going over all the aspects, we have decided that the winner for this comparison is definitely the Bose 700. Sure, they are lacking in features but when it comes to the overall experience, they are definitely providing a great one.

Winner: Bose 700.