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The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Generation earbuds improve upon their predecessors in some minor ways like multi-point connectivity whilst retaining the core components of industry-leading sound quality and noise cancelling.
The Good
- Outstanding sound quality
- Top-notch noise cancelling
- Comfy and secure fit
The Not So Good
- Expensive compared to competitors
- Call quality still could be improved
Need-To-Knows
- Best-in-class sound quality
- Brilliant noise-cancelling
- Chunky design may put some people off
- Call quality is fine but could be better
Two years ago, I declared the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds the best noise-cancelling earbuds you could buy. They still have world-class ANC, gloriously rich audio, and a comfort level that made long-haul flights feel a lot more bearable. But they weren’t absolutely perfect.
The original Ultras suffered from a lack of multipoint Bluetooth pairing, occasional connectivity dropouts for some users, and call quality that was oddly unimpressive when compared to everything else they had to offer.
Now we’ve got the second generation, which looks and feels almost identical, but with a few low-key tweaks that might make all the difference. Going into this review, I wasn’t really sure what to expect to feel. As I said above, the original Ultras ticked pretty much every box. So Bose must have a reason for updating them, right?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 Specs
| Feature | Bose QC Ultra 2 |
| Price | £300 / ~$300 |
| Colours | Black, White Smoke, Deep Plum |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Multipoint Pairing | Yes (also added to Gen 1 via firmware) |
| Battery Life | 6 hrs (ANC on), 4 hrs (Immersive Audio on), ~24 hrs with case |
| Charging | USB-C + wireless charging (new for Gen 2) |
| ANC | Adaptive ANC with AI-driven algorithm + Bose CustomTune |
| Audio Drivers | Same as Gen 1 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 |
| Weight | 6.24g per bud |
Design and Comfort
Bose clearly subscribes to the “if it ain’t broke” school of design, and rightly so. The Ultra 2s are identical in shape and size to their predecessors, right down to the chunky profile which you will either love or hate.
I fall into the former category. The chunkiness means that they feel anchored in your ears and easy to handle. That does mean they don’t entirely vanish into your ears like AirPods Pro, but they’re far more comfortable than they look. It does mean they can be susceptible to picking up a bit more wind noise due to the larger profile, but not to an extent that I find to be a problem.
There are two minor changes:
- A new wax guard on the ear-tip nozzle (you’re welcome for not showing you what that looks like).
- Wireless charging for the case
Bose has also added a new Deep Plum colour, which is a welcome point of difference from the well-worn standards of black and white.
There is one note for all you runners out there that I will still highlight. These still make that subtle “thunk” noise in your ears when your feet hit the pavement which is more noticeable if your ears tend to get sweaty. It might just be my ears, but the AirPods Pro don’t do it.
Audio Quality
The sound profile is unchanged from the first generation and that’s a very good thing. The QC Ultras still deliver one of the best listening experiences you can get from a pair of earbuds, and the fact Bose hasn’t tampered with the drivers will please long-time fans.
Bose’s tuning offers a wide, open soundstage with impressive separation, letting instruments and vocals breathe. Mids are warm and natural, highs have sparkle without fatigue, and bass is deep, adding punch without smothering detail.
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They’re equally at home with acoustic singer-songwriter tracks, dense electronic productions, or orchestral scores. Everything feels balanced and refined, with enough energy to keep things engaging over long listening sessions. There’s a three-band EQ in the Bose Music app if you want to tweak the sound, but most will be more than happy with the default tuning; it’s polished, musical, and instantly enjoyable.
There isn’t really much else to say here, they sound as good as ever.
Noise Cancellation
Here’s where the Gen 2 gets interesting. Bose has layered an AI-driven algorithm on top of its already excellent CustomTune ANC system. The promise? Smoother transitions when moving between environments and better handling of sudden noise spikes.
In real-world use, the difference is subtle but definitely noticeable. I’ve been travelling a lot recently, so managed to test the Ultra 2 quite extensively and they shaved off more low-end engine rumble than the originals. True to Bose’s claims, sudden noises like a screeching baby were handled more comprehensively, too.
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Are you going to notice if you’re not A/B testing them against the first gen? Probably not. But the refinement is definitely there and all of it is AI-related rather than hardware improvements.
Call Quality and Transparency Mode
Bose says it’s upgraded the microphone system with hearing-aid-inspired AI algorithms to better suppress background noise in windy or busy settings.
In testing, they performed ok, voice clarity was fine, and background noise was definitely reduced, including from a passing ambulance, but they still don’t dethrone AirPods Pro 2 for call quality. There are moments where your voice drops out still or it gets jumbled up amongst the cancellation of sounds around you.
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The same can be said for the transparency mode which remains serviceable but unremarkable. AirPods Pro 2 still win here by a mile.
Battery Life and Connectivity
The battery life is identical to Gen 1:
- 6 hours with ANC on
- 4 hours with Immersive Audio on
- ~24 hours total with the case
The big upgrade here though is related to pairing. Both generations of Ultra earbuds now support multipoint pairing via firmware updates, so if that was your biggest gripe with the originals, you don’t need to upgrade, but it’s nice to know if you’re buying new.
I didn’t encounter any connection dropouts on either Android or iOS during my testing.
Gen 1 vs Gen 2: What’s Actually Different?
If you’re squinting at photos and wondering whether you’re looking at the old ones or the new ones, you’re not alone. The Ultra 2s don’t reinvent anything visually; the improvements are subtle and mostly under the hood.
The notable changes are:
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- Wireless charging case
- Wax guard on ear-tip nozzle
- AI-enhanced Adaptive ANC – slightly better at handling environmental transitions and sudden noise spikes
- Improved microphone system – clearer calls in windy or noisy environments
- New Deep Plum colour – for those who want something other than black or white
Everything else, drivers, comfort, battery life, and core sound quality, is the same. That means the originals are still excellent if you find them at a good price.
| Feature | Gen 1 QC Ultra | Gen 2 QC Ultra |
| Price at Launch | £300 / ~$300 | £300 / ~$300 |
| Colours | Black, White Smoke | Black, White Smoke, Deep Plum |
| Case Charging | USB-C only | USB-C + wireless charging |
| Wax Guard | No | Yes |
| ANC | CustomTune Adaptive ANC | CustomTune + AI-driven Adaptive ANC |
| Call Quality | Standard mic array | Upgraded mic array w/ AI noise suppression |
| Multipoint Pairing | No at launch (added later via firmware) | Yes (out of the box) |
| Audio Drivers | Same | Same |
| Battery Life | 6 hrs ANC on / 4 hrs Immersive / ~24 hrs total | Same |
Should You Upgrade?
If you own the first-gen QC Ultras and you’re happy with them, there’s no pressing reason to upgrade unless call clarity and marginally better ANC matter to you.
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If you’re in the market for the best noise-cancelling earbuds for travel and work, the Ultra 2s are still unmatched in combining comfort, audio quality, and ANC performance.
They’re not the cheapest option, and they’re not the best for running, but if you want top-tier sound isolation in a comfortable package, these are as good as it gets.
2 Comments
I believe the gen 2’s FINALLY have the ability to disable touch controls, so you don’t pause your music and switch apps when you adjust them or sweat on them while running.
Sadly, a massive usability upgrade far more notable than any of the actual noted changes.
Chief reviewer lol you’re the only reviewer