With the new QuietComfort Ultra 2, Bose doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it’s made strides in almost every essential aspect.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2)
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) are available for $449 in five colors.
They solidify Bose’s warranted confidence in its design, comfort, noise cancellation, and sound performance.
The only major, eye-catching upgrades relate to battery capacity and power management.
How do you convince yourself to pay $400+ for a pair of headphones when they look and operate almost identically to the previous generation? That’s a question I hope to answer, and a question Bose hopes its second-generation flagship headphones will answer based on their performance alone.
I spent two weeks working, traveling, and lounging in the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2), which I’ll refer to as the QC Ultra 2, searching for how Bose spent two years making them more « ultra » than their predecessor. Without major upgrades to design, speaker drivers, or noise cancellation performance, I’ll have to dig deep.
It’s easy to position the Sony WH-1000XM6 as QC Ultra 2’s direct competitor, but I wonder: are the QC Ultra 2 competing with their predecessors as much as they are with other brands? Let’s find out.Bose QuietComfort Headphones (Gen 2)
Bose’s latest flagship headphones excel in comfort and noise cancellation, while offering meaningful — yet subtly incremental — updates.
Apple AirPods Max ANC Wireless Headphones (USB-C Charging, Blue):
$500 (save $50)
Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black):
$40 (save $20)
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black):
$250 (save $101)
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones:
$278 (save $70)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Over-Ear Headphones (Black):
$300 (save $80)Same look, smarter details
The QC Ultra 2’s defining theme is that it doesn’t attempt to rewrite Bose’s legacy but rather tidies it up. They look identical to the first generation, except for the yokes, which swap a matte aluminum finish for shiny polished metal.
The QC Ultra 2’s earcups are slightly shallower than those of their predecessor, which can cause fit issues for people with larger heads and ears. Otherwise, the look, feel, and fit of the QC Ultra 2 don’t bring notable changes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Bose QC Ultra (Gen 1) (left); Bose QC Ultra (Gen 2) (right).
More significant upgrades lie in the smaller details, including USB-C audio support, available at up to 16-bit/44.1kHz or 48kHz. Thus, the QC Ultra 2 is more suited for gaming or more faithful listening than the first generation. Unlike the Sonos Ace and Apple AirPods Max, the QC Ultra 2 retains its 3.5mm headphone jack. And unlike the Sony XM6, you can listen through the QC Ultra 2’s USB-C port while charging it.
Although USB-C audio support in 2025 feels more like an expectation than a new feature to celebrate, it rounds out the QC Ultra 2’s audio capabilities.
