Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 Review: Best for Most People?

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The Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 refine an already excellent formula with better comfort, improved ANC, and the addition of Immersive Audio - all without the premium price tag of the Ultras. Unless you need aptX or the very best Bose sound, these are the ones to buy.

The Good

1. World-class ANC performance
2. Exceptionally comfortable for all-day wear
3. Great sound quality for the price
4. Lossless audio via USB-C
5. Immersive Audio included

The Not So Good

1. No aptX codec support
2. Mic quality only adequate
3. Audio jack removed

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I decided to make a list of the things most people need from a great pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones. And it turns out it’s all pretty straightforward, obvious stuff.

They need to block out noise, let noise in when the user wants to hear the world around them (or their own voice), look good without being too in-your-face, and pack down small enough for easy transportation.

However, combining all of those features at a price which makes sense to most people is tricky. Adding in great sound quality is even more troubling.

Unless you’re Bose.

For years, Bose has been making what I’d describe as ‘regular’ ANC headphones that just do the job. Brilliantly. And sound great, too. The QuietComfort, released in 2023, were the epitome of this. They were so good, in fact, that it was hard to recommend anything else. Why spend more?

Now, we have the second-generation QuietComfort. Which begs the question: should you finally upgrade your rapidly disintegrating five-year-old Bose headphones?

Specs and Pricing

As is always the case with a new generation of headphones, Bose offers the QuietComfort 2 (let’s call them that) in a range of new colours – notably, Eucalyptus Green, Rosewood Mauve, and Dewdrop Mint. Although if you just want white or black, you can still opt for those, too.

Bose doesn’t publicly state the size or type of driver in the QuietComfort, so I can’t enlighten you there, but I can tell you that they have 24 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint for two devices, six mics for calls and ANC, lossless audio over USB-C, and support for AAC and SBC codecs. There’s no aptX support; if you want that, you’ll need to go for the Ultras.

In the box, you’ll find a hard carry case, a 1m USB-C to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to 3.5mm cable.

At the time of writing, they cost £299.95 in the UK and $359 in the US.

The big question is: what has Bose done in the intervening years since the launch of the previous generation?

QuietComfort 2 vs QuietComfort 1

There’s a launch price difference, although not what you’d expect from 2026 (if you live in the UK). Over here, the QuietComfort 2 are £50 cheaper than the first generation were at launch. In the US, however, they are $10 more expensive.

I have no idea. I’m just the messenger. Don’t shoot, etc.

There are some relatively minor but welcome design changes. The new pair have slightly reshaped ear cups, a new sliding headband, more clamping force, plusher cushions and the buttons have changed location. The power button, for instance, no longer sits on the side of the ear cup – it’s located at the bottom, which is far neater.

The audio jack has been removed, but the second generation do gain lossless audio at up to 24-bit/48kHz via USB-C. It doesn’t feel like a loss, because you get that USB-C to 3.5mm cable in the box, so you can still connect these cans to a wide variety of sources.

The QuietComfort 2 also get Immersive Audio and are the first non-Ultra Bose headphones to do so. For the uninitiated, this means you’ll get surround sound-like, all-encompassing audio when watching movies. Which is nice – particularly given how many flights you’re probably going to take them on.

The ANC has been tweaked, too – namely to deal better with any potential seal issues relating to glasses or hats.

Wondering how these stack up against Sony’s best? Check out our AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6 comparison for more.

Design and Comfort

The original QuietComfort really lived up to their name. They remain one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones I’ve tested for long listening sessions.

Good news – the QuietComfort 2 are even better. Thanks to those new cushions and the redesigned headband, they feel more premium and even more comfortable. At 230g, they’re incredibly light and, just like the old pair, disappear into near non-existence after a while.

They fold properly, too, which means the QuietComfort 2 slot conveniently into the new rounded case, which itself is entirely non-irritating for an everyday carry.

Looks-wise, if you go for the black or white version, they’re inconspicuous in just the right way. However, I love the fact that Bose has decided to add a splash of colour with the aforementioned exclusive paint jobs for anyone who is that way inclined. The Dewdrop Mint version I was sent to review look, in my opinion, rather lovely.

So, they look as understated as they should, you can wear them all day, and they’ll never annoy you while you go about your business. But what do the QuietComfort 2 sound like?

Sound

They sound great. No, really great.

In fact, unless you spend time A/B testing the QuietComfort 2 against the QuietComfort Ultra 2, it’s hard to recommend the latter, given the price hike. The good news is that no one undertakes that kind of testing apart from annoying YouToobers like myself, and what you don’t know won’t hurt you.

The Ultras sound better and have wider codec support. That’s partly what you’re paying extra for. But if you just want one of the best ANC headphone experiences on the market and great sound, the QuietComfort 2 will do the job perfectly.

They deal with all types of music admirably. Deep bass is present but not overpowering, mids are nicely represented, and there’s no annoying top-end over-processing to irritate you during longer listening sessions. Bose knows what it’s doing when it comes to sound, and that is immediately evident with these latest ‘regular’ ANC cans.

Noise Cancelling and Calls

More good news. The ANC performance on the QuietComfort 2 remains one of the best on the market. It’s up there with the AirPods Max 2 and the Sony XM6.

Although, to be honest, I’d be concerned if that wasn’t the case.

Once again, you’re in very good hands with Bose when it comes to ANC. They’ve been doing this for years, and there’s a reason you arguably see more Bose headphones on aeroplanes and trains than any other brand.

I wear glasses, and I can confirm that the QuietComfort 2 don’t appear to be bothered by their presence at all. Although I will say that I’ve never experienced ANC issues with glasses. If you have, at least you know Bose is aware of it and doing its best to mitigate issues.

The transparency mode is a notch above the previous generation, but also one of the best I’ve heard south of the AirPods Max, which remain the industry standard in that regard. Still.

As for the mic quality, during my famous YouTube outdoor mic test, the QuietComfort 2 performed ok. Not knock-your-socks-off good, but good enough to get you by for most noisy situations during calls. You can hear the result of the test in the YouTube video version of this review.

If you’re considering Sony’s rival offering, our Sony WH-1000X ColleXion review is well worth a read.

Conclusion

Bose has done it again. The QuietComfort 2 are one of the best all-rounder ANC headphones money can buy.

Unless you want specific codec support and the knowledge that you’re getting the absolute best Bose sound quality, there really is no reason to buy the more expensive Ultras. At least you have the choice.

And what a choice it is. Oh, and yes, you should indeed upgrade your rapidly disintegrating five-year-old Bose headphones to these.

Quick note: Sony has recently released a rebooted version of the legendary XM4 (now called the XM4C). Those were – and still are – my favourite ever ANC headphones, and the new version deserve a revisit and comparison with Bose’s latest effort. Stay tuned for that.

Shop the Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 below!