I received the QC20 free when I purchased an aviation headset. I used the QC20 for three days of airline travel (three separate flights with about 5 hours of total use) and a day around my house. The obvious major downside is the fact that they're wired. The apple version did not come with a lightning adapter. The sound quality is excellent - just what you would expect from Bose. The noise-cancelling worked well in a relatively quiet environment - around my house with minor background noise. In the back of a noisy airplane, the noise cancelling was only slightly better than another brand of in-ear wireless headphone (without noise-cancelling) that I use regularly. If you need noise-cancelling for a noisy environment, go with an over-the-ear headset over these.
Response from bose.comBy Charlotte, Customer Support, January 15, 2020
Hi Mark,
Great to hear that you enjoy the sound quality of the QC20's. These headphones are not exclusive to Apple devices that only support the lightning connection. The difference the Apple variant has is actually the controls on the inline remote.
It’s eerie how well the noise cancelling works. I had two people having a full-on heated conversation outside my office door - I could see them, but I could BARELY hear them at less than 10 feet away. Great product!!
These are great-fitting and great noise-cancelling phones if you travel by car, rail or plane.
Sound is “ok” only. Battery lasts very long without recharge which i think is super important if you travel often, and especially if for business.
The rubber of the “battery” case peeled of quickly, which i fixed easily with some black tape.
True big downside is that there is apparently no option to repair them. My cable broke, but while the rest is fine including the battery, Bose Europe does not repair them, which is against my conception of sustainability. Admittedly, i have used them a lot, and handled with little care, that is why I still gave 5stars.
Bose suggested that i buy a new pair, but for that to happen, i am now waiting for a newer version of this earphone, with better sound and maybe some more repair options and/or wireless (but same run time ) Suggestion: The earphone could come with a cable to a battery case, but the case would also be a bluetooth receiver, making them not truly “wireless” but “unplugged”. And please, no horrible “necklace”
I've had then for 2 years now. Perfect for long haul flights and lie flat side sleeping. Great charging and works on all my flight needs and superb private crystal clear conversation on my android phone even in busy airports.
I just purchased these noise cancelling head phones and they are great. It is the most comfortable in ear phones I have ever had. You forget they are in your ear. Also the battery is so lightweight that you forget you have a battery attached to your cord