I thought the Bose QuietComfort headphones had already reached their peak – so I tried the newer model

Oct/2025

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How do you convince yourself to pay over $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.

Also: Best headphones of 2025

I spent two weeks working, traveling and resting in QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2)which I’ll call the QC Ultra 2, looking like Bose spent two years making them more “ultra” than their predecessor. With no major design updates, speaker drivers, or noise-canceling performance, I’ll have to dig deeper.

It’s easy to position the Sony WH-1000XM6 as a direct competitor to the QC Ultra 2, but I wonder: is the QC Ultra 2 competing with its predecessors as much as other brands? Let’s find out.

Same look, smarter details

The defining theme of the QC Ultra 2 is that it doesn’t attempt to rewrite Bose’s legacy, but rather to organize it. They look identical to the first generation, except for the yokes, which swap the matte aluminum finish for shiny polished metal.

The ear cups on the QC Ultra 2 are slightly shallower than those on its predecessor, which may cause fit issues for people with larger heads and ears. Otherwise, the QC Ultra 2’s look, feel, and fit don’t bring any notable changes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

More significant updates are 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 better 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.

Also: 7 Smart iPhone USB-C Port Tricks Every User Should Know

While USB-C audio support in 2025 seems more like an expectation than a new feature to celebrate, it rounds out the QC Ultra 2’s audio capabilities.

Beauty is in the ears of the beholder

The QC Ultra 2 has a great sound profile if you like exaggerated bass response, slightly dialed-back mids, and louder highs. It provides great reproduction of bass lines and center vocals on pop tracks such as One Direction’s “Stockholm Syndrome”,“ and ’90s rap like Craig Mack’s “Flava in Ya Ear.”

Plus: Why I Keep Four Pairs of Headphones With Me at All Time (and the Unique Role Each Plays)

On the other hand, the QC Ultra 2 isn’t as strong with layered ambient post-rock like Ben Howard’s “Time Is Dancing.” Songs with more subtle musical textures aren’t as easy to listen to, but turning down the bass helps. Overall, the tuning of the QC Ultra 2 is warmer and more spacious sounding, providing an extended and more accurate bass response than the first generation. Their sound should be fun for most people.

Bose continues with its version of spatial audio, Immersive Audio, and introduces a new spatial adjustment for podcasts, TV shows, movies and other dialogue-heavy media. The feature works – you can hear your media expanding around your head. Personally, I’d prefer Bose to adopt Dolby Atmos support.

Still the ANC gold standard

Bose’s marketing conveys to me that noise cancellation is no longer considered a feature of a pair of headphones – it’s a lifestyle choice. Noise cancellation not only silences the world around you, but also helps create a private listening space when you’re out in public.

Bose follows this philosophy, as noise-canceling upgrades haven’t been at the forefront of the headphone launch. Despite little fanfare surrounding noise cancellation improvements, the QC Ultra 2 is slightly better at noise cancellation than its predecessor. Additionally, the QC Ultra 2’s ANC better covers high-pitched noises like keyboard clicks and low-pitched noises like the roar of an airplane engine than the first generation.

When the headphones’ active noise cancellation (ANC) is turned on, even when no audio is playing, there is virtually no noise. This feat is highly impressive and comparable to Sony’s WH-1000XM6. The difference between Sony and Bose’s high-end ANC is negligible; you will have to find another category to help you choose one brand over another.

Also: I tried the AI ​​noise cancellation of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones and can’t go back to normal ANC

Bose has also refined its AI-powered adaptive noise cancellation feature, ActiveSense. This feature maintains transparency mode and activates noise cancellation when the environment becomes too noisy. ActiveSense is my favorite feature on the QC Ultra Earbuds 2 and it works so well on the earbuds.

The best feature is the most unexpected

For me, the QC Ultra 2’s standout feature is related to its improved power management. In addition to increasing battery life from 24 hours in the first generation to 30 hours in the second, Bose also made its product’s power button obsolete.

You can use the power button on the headphones to turn them on and off, but it’s not necessary. Instead, you can take the headphones off your head and place them horizontally – headphones up or down – and they will immediately disconnect from your devices, disable Bluetooth, and start saving power. Just pop them back in and they’re ready to use.

Also: Bose took my favorite AirPods Max power feature — and did it better

I love this feature because headphone on/off buttons are the bane of my existence. If you don’t press the button long enough, the earbuds won’t turn off, but if you press it long enough, they will enter pairing mode. You need to time the long press perfectly for the headphones to cooperate.

The Bose’s startup was particularly confusing and faulty, causing the company to deliver the first-generation QC Ultra’s only firmware update to specifically address the issue. For me, not having to use the power button is a lifesaver.

A well-made companion app

Many headphone brands are notoriously known for their lackluster companion apps. Problematic features and boring user interfaces keep me away from them. Bose’s app is the best, offering a reliable, pleasant, and easy-to-use experience.

The app highlights the QC Ultra 2’s improved customization features, giving users the ability to completely disable the headphones’ noise cancellation and touch control strip, one of my least favorite features of the first-generation QC Ultra. You can now completely disable ANC, which was previously impossible with Bose headphones.

The only issue I have with the Bose app is the limited equalizer. Instead of allowing users to adjust the headphones’ EQ by frequency bands, Bose only offers boosts and decreases for overall bass, mids, and treble, without specific, granular, quantifiable measurements.

ZDNET Buying Advice

THE Bose QC Ultra 2 offer subtle upgrades to the headphones’ noise cancellation, design, sound profile, power management, and user customization. They’re not a particularly exciting, headline-grabbing second-gen launch. Instead, Bose focuses on what it does best, offering smaller but significant refinements to address its few blind spots.

If you already own the first-gen QC Ultra, hold on to them until the wheels fall off or wait for what Bose does next, which could be a major overhaul of the product. If you have the Bose NC700, QuietComfort 35, or 45, and they’re at the end of the road, the QC Ultra 2 would be a significant upgrade for you.

Plus: Your Sony headphones have new tricks in a free update – but there’s a catch

In short, between Sony and Bose, Bose offers a sleeker design, less cheap plastic build materials, a more relaxed fit, and USB-C audio. However, Bose’s sound profile leans heavily toward warmth and sweetened highs to account for strong ANC processing and long-term listening sessions, especially when traveling or working.

The Sony’s sound profile is also warm, but its equalizer allows for more customization. THE WH-1000XM6 they have more accurate bass response, clearer mids, crisper highs, and a more spacious soundstage. Its sound is more analytical, but it can become tiring after a few hours of listening.