Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones, priced at $349, promise the comfort and noise cancellation the brand has built its reputation on, but a closer look at the over-ear headphones reveals a product that changes little from its predecessor while introducing a sound profile that several reviewers have described as an unwelcome step backward.

Released in 2023 as a replacement for the long-running Bose QuietComfort 45, the QuietComfort Headphones sit as the entry-level model in Bose’s current noise-cancellation lineup, positioned below the pricier QuietComfort Ultra line. According to a detailed review from SoundGuys, which tested the headphones over a two-day period using the stock firmware and version 8.0.5 of the Bose Music app, the new model earned an overall score of 7.5 out of 10, reflecting a headphone that performs competently in several areas while stumbling in others.

Familiar Comfort, Familiar Design

Anyone who has previously worn a pair of Bose QuietComfort headphones will find the new model immediately familiar. According to SoundGuys, the QuietComfort Headphones are nearly indistinguishable from the QuietComfort 45 in terms of materials, microphone placement and button layout, aside from a new olive green color option. The ear cups measure 63 by 40 millimeters, are lightweight, and feature sufficiently soft padding, continuing Bose’s reputation for headphones well-suited to extended listening sessions. In testing, the headphones delivered 27 hours and 14 minutes of continuous music playback, several hours beyond Bose’s own promotional claim of 24 hours, enough for roughly a week’s worth of daily commuting or about three full days of continuous use.

The headphones ship with a compact, fabric-wrapped travel case designed to fit easily into a carry-on bag, along with a 3.5mm to 2.5mm cable, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and printed documentation. Notably, the package does not include an airplane headphone adapter, though most airlines have increasingly updated their in-flight entertainment systems to reduce the need for one.

Reliable Physical Controls

Unlike some competing noise-cancelling headphones that rely on touch-sensitive surfaces, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones use physical buttons positioned on the back of each ear cup, a design SoundGuys described as more reliable and easier to operate by feel than touch-based alternatives. The right ear cup houses volume and playback controls, while the left ear cup includes a dedicated action button that can toggle between noise-cancellation modes, mute an active call, or trigger a customizable shortcut, though that shortcut is currently limited to launching Spotify or announcing the current battery level aloud.

Solid, if Unspectacular, Noise Cancellation

The Bose Music app remains necessary to unlock the headphones’ full functionality, including firmware updates and adjustable noise-cancellation modes, a feature that allows users to save up to two custom presets tailored to specific environments. In testing, the active noise cancellation reduced between 10 and 30 decibels of low-frequency noise below 1 kilohertz, a level SoundGuys said was effective at cutting engine and street noise by roughly 50% to 85%. High-pitched noise reduction measured between 20 and 45 decibels, described as respectable though not class-leading given the increasingly high standards set by competing noise-cancelling headphones on the market.

A Sound Profile That Divided Opinion

Where the Bose QuietComfort Headphones drew the most pointed criticism was in their default sound signature. According to lab measurements cited by SoundGuys, the headphones’ sub-bass response is dramatically over-emphasized, creating an impression that the midrange sounds comparatively weak or underpowered by contrast. The review’s author described the overall listening experience as “weird,” pointing specifically to a pronounced peak in the treble range between 6 and 8 kilohertz that can create the sensation of missing detail elsewhere in a song’s higher frequencies. In practical listening tests, the reviewer noted that tracks with busy high-end instrumentation, including hi-hats and cymbals, sounded noticeably different than expected on other headphones, an effect the review compared to listening to band-limited audio through a phone speaker, though less extreme.

Attempts to correct the sound profile using the Bose Music app’s built-in equalizer presets did not meaningfully improve the situation, according to the review. Both the app’s Bass Boost and Treble Boost presets were found to exacerbate existing imbalances rather than resolve them, and manual adjustments using the app’s basic three-band custom equalizer similarly failed to bring the sound closer to a more neutral listening preference. Despite these technical criticisms, the review noted that a broader crowd-pleasing quality score, based on an industry-standard multi-dimensional audio assessment, suggested that many casual listeners, particularly those who enjoy heavier bass, might still find the default sound signature enjoyable.

Calling Performance and Everyday Use

For phone calls, the headphones performed reasonably well handling wind noise, though background noise rejection during calls was flagged as a relative weak point. Connectivity is handled through Bluetooth 5.1 or a standard 3.5mm wired cable, though the headphones support only the SBC and AAC audio codecs and do not offer USB-C audio passthrough, a feature found on some competing 2023-era headphones. The headphones are not waterproof, and while their ear pads can be replaced, the ear cups themselves cannot.

How the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Stack Up

Compared with the Sony WH-1000XM5, a similarly priced competitor, reviewers found Sony’s offering superior in several respects, including sound quality, in-app equalization options and features such as spatial audio, making it difficult to recommend the Bose model over Sony’s alternative except on the basis of price, aesthetics or brand preference. Against the similarly priced Beats Studio Pro, neither model was judged clearly superior, with the Bose headphones offering better comfort but the Beats providing USB-C audio support that Bose lacks.

The Verdict

Ultimately, reviewers have suggested that shoppers considering the Bose QuietComfort Headphones might be better served financially by seeking out the older Bose QuietComfort 45, which offers roughly equivalent noise cancellation, arguably better default sound quality, and is frequently available at a lower price during seasonal sales. For buyers willing to spend closer to $350, alternatives such as the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless or the Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 were also cited as offering more robust equalization options and additional features, positioning the Bose QuietComfort Headphones as a comfortable but ultimately unremarkable option within an increasingly competitive premium noise-cancelling headphone market.

Operator

Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to Legacy Housing Corporation Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions]

Please be advised that today’s conference is being recorded.

I would now like to turn the conference over to your speaker for today, Jon. Please go ahead.

Jon Langbert
Chief Financial Officer

Good morning, and thank you for joining Legacy Housing Second Quarter 2026 Conference Call.

I’m Jon Langbert, the Chief Financial Officer; our CEO, Kenneth Shipley is also on the line and will join me for the question-and-answer session following our prepared remarks.

Before we get into the quarter, I want to briefly note a leadership change in July. Curt Hodgson retired as Executive Chairman and from our Board of Directors after decades building Legacy alongside Kenny from a Texas partnership into one of the largest producers of manufactured homes in the country. Curt is the reason I joined Legacy. I’ve known him personally for more than 20 years, and I’ve learned an immense amount from him about this business and about business in general. So I’ll always be grateful to him.

Kenny continues to lead the company as Chief Executive Officer, and he’ll share a few thoughts on Curt, at the close of our prepared remarks.

Before we begin those remarks, I’ll read our safe harbor disclosure. Management’s prepared remarks today will contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties, and management may make additional forward-looking statements in response to your questions. Therefore, the company claims the protection of the safe

Sourcing some additional fans might feel like a relatively minor cost overall, but for those hosting, catering and supplying weddings, the financial impact of coping with this summer’s heatwaves has spiralled.

“It has affected the industry massively. You are talking into the thousands [of pounds] for businesses,” says Michelle Miles, board adviser to the UK Wedding Association and founder of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance.

One of the biggest costs wedding venues are facing is the equipment and energy costs of trying to keep a space and food cool, she says.

“[Some] venues are having to bring in air conditioning units; they are at a premium when everyone else is wanting those units to keep their houses cool and businesses.”

Guests are also drinking more water – which brings another issue for venues.

“There has been a massive hit on alcohol sales. Venues would quite often rely on these to boost their profits, and people are…not drinking alcoholic drinks as much as they would on a temperate day,” says Miles.

It is not just the wedding party wilting in the heat but also the flowers. Peonies and roses – some of the most popular choices for a British wedding – saw their flowering window narrow from two months to two weeks.

“It has been an extremely tough growing season with water shortages, drought, no rainfall, slow germination in the heat, flowers going over too quickly,” explains Rebecca, from Lilac and Lace Floral Design.

For a recent wedding, she had to go to three times as many growers to get enough stems.

“For now, it’s more a time cost than a direct financial one. But using more growers often [has] larger delivery costs – I would estimate it costs £200 more in delivery.”

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple has increased estimated trade-in values for the majority of its iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch models, according to an update reflected on the company’s trade-in page as of August 6. Some devices saw gains approaching 30 percent compared with previous estimates, while the company also expanded the list of eligible Android phones.

The adjustments apply to “up to” credit amounts that customers can receive when trading devices toward a new purchase through Apple’s program. Final values depend on the condition, year and configuration of the returned device, and not every model qualifies for credit. The changes follow earlier adjustments earlier in the year and come as Apple continues to promote device upgrades amid rising hardware prices and the recent introduction of its Upgrade leasing option.

Among iPhones, the largest absolute increase went to the iPhone 16 Pro, which rose from a previous maximum of $560 to $630. The iPhone 16 Pro Max climbed from $695 to $720. The iPhone 16 Plus moved from $465 to $485, and the standard iPhone 16 advanced from $460 to $480. The iPhone 16e remained unchanged at $310.

Older flagship models also received higher estimates. The iPhone 15 Pro Max increased from $490 to $530, the iPhone 15 Pro from $410 to $420, the iPhone 15 Plus from $325 to $340, and the iPhone 15 from $320 to $335. The iPhone 14 Pro Max rose from $375 to $405, the iPhone 14 Pro from $320 to $335, and the iPhone 14 from $225 to $235. The iPhone 14 Plus stayed flat at $235.

Further down the lineup, the iPhone 13 Pro Max advanced from $320 to $340, the iPhone 13 Pro from $260 to $285, the iPhone 13 from $195 to $205, and the iPhone 13 mini from $150 to $155. The iPhone 12 Pro Max moved from $220 to $240, the iPhone 12 Pro from $180 to $195, the iPhone 12 from $125 to $135, and the iPhone 12 mini from $85 to $90. The third-generation iPhone SE rose from $80 to $85, while the second-generation model held steady at $45.

Even older devices saw modest gains in several cases. The iPhone 11 Pro Max increased from $150 to $160, the iPhone 11 Pro from $135 to $145, the iPhone 11 from $100 to $110, the iPhone XS Max from $90 to $95, the iPhone XS from $65 to $70, and the iPhone XR from $80 to $90. The iPhone X remained at $60, the iPhone 8 Plus at $40, and the iPhone 8 rose from $35 to $40.

Apple Watch trade-in estimates improved for most models. The Series 10 rose from $150 to $165, the Series 9 from $130 to $135, the Series 8 from $90 to $95, and the Series 7 from $65 to $70. The Ultra 2 stayed at $305, the original Ultra at $205, the second-generation SE at $60, the Series 6 at $45, and the first-generation SE at $30.

On the tablet side, every listed iPad model received an increase. The iPad Pro advanced from $690 to $720, the iPad Air from $460 to $490, the standard iPad from $235 to $260, and the iPad mini from $265 to $300.

Macs recorded some of the most substantial percentage gains. The MacBook Pro estimate jumped from $690 to $855, the MacBook Air from $520 to $580, the Mac mini from $375 to $480, the iMac from $355 to $380, the Mac Studio from $1,045 to $1,305, and the Mac Pro from $2,045 to $2,195. The iMac Pro remained unchanged at $315.

Apple also broadened the Android portion of the program. Newly added models include the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G at up to $95, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL at $315, the Pixel 9 Pro at $305, the Pixel 9 at $210, the OnePlus 13 at $250, and the OnePlus 13R at $165. Some existing Android estimates shifted slightly downward, including the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G from $130 to $125, the Google Pixel 8 Pro from $165 to $155, the Pixel 7 Pro from $95 to $90, and the Pixel 7 from $65 to $60. Other Galaxy and Pixel models held steady or saw small increases.

The trade-in program allows customers to receive credit toward a new Apple device or, in some cases, an Apple Store Gift Card. Devices are evaluated for functionality and cosmetic condition once received. Apple partners with third-party recyclers and refurbishers to handle returned hardware, with the goal of extending product life cycles and recovering materials.

The August update arrives at a time when consumers face higher list prices for new Apple products. Industry observers have noted that more generous trade-in credits can help offset those increases and encourage more frequent upgrades. The addition of recent Android flagships expands the pool of potential customers who might switch platforms by trading in non-Apple phones.

Apple has not issued a formal statement accompanying the value changes beyond the standard language on its trade-in site noting that estimates are approximate and subject to inspection. The company periodically revises the table to reflect secondary-market conditions, supply of used devices and demand for refurbished inventory.

For customers considering a trade, the higher estimates improve the effective net cost of a new purchase, particularly for owners of recent Pro models or higher-end Macs. Those with older devices may still find limited residual value, though the modest increases for several legacy iPhones and Watches provide a small additional incentive to recycle through official channels rather than third-party marketplaces.

The program remains available online and in Apple Stores across the United States. Customers can obtain an instant estimate by entering device details on Apple’s website before completing the process. Actual credit is finalized after the device is inspected and accepted.

By raising values across a broad range of models and expanding Android eligibility, Apple has made its trade-in offers more competitive relative to previous months. The changes give consumers clearer incentives to return older hardware while supporting the company’s circular-economy efforts and ongoing product refresh cycles.

Yes. Corporate subscriptions are available for teams and organisations, with discounted rates as user numbers increase. Pricing starts from $1,625 + GST per user.
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Plans to extend a scheme that provides free activities and meals to children during school holidays have been recommended for approval.

North Northamptonshire Council will discuss re-commissioning the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme at a meeting on 11 August.

Paid for by the Department for Education (DfE), it is aimed at children and young people aged five to 16 who receive benefit-related free school meals.

Elizabeth Wright, executive member for children, education and families, said recommissioning would “build on the success achieved so far” and “continue supporting vulnerable families” as well as “work alongside our excellent local voluntary, community and sports organisations”.

Last year, the government announced a three-year extension for the scheme as part of a £600m investment nationally.

In 2023 the council awarded the contract to Northamptonshire Sport to run the service initially for two years with two optional extensions of 12 months each.

The authority said both of these extensions had been used and the current contract would lapse in March 2027.

In summer 2025, more than 2,100 children participated, a slight drop on the attendance in the two previous summers – with 2,630 recorded in 2024 and 2,250 in 2023.

In a report to executive, external, the fall in numbers had been attributed to a change in booking system which officers said would “require further monitoring”.

In previous years, North Northamptonshire Council has been awarded about £1.1m for administering the scheme.

The sessions ranged from drama to computer programming – but they all included some physical exercise.

If approved, North Northamptonshire Council will tender the contract and anticipate awarding it in November.

West Northamptonshire Council’s arrangements for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme beyond March 2027 are due to be considered by cabinet in September.

The unitary authority said: “As this process is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this stage.”

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