I thought Bose QuietComfort headphones had already reached their peak — then I tried the latest model

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2)

ZDNET Highlights

• The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) are available in five colors for $449.
• They reinforce Bose’s expected confidence in its design, comfort, noise cancellation and sound performance.
• The only major, attractive upgrade is related to battery capacity and power management.

October/2025

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How do you convince yourself to pay $400+ for a pair of headphones when they look and operate almost exactly the same as 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.

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I spent two weeks working, traveling and relaxing QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2)Which I’ll refer to as the QC Ultra 2, exploring how Bose spent two years making them more “ultra” than their predecessor. Without major upgrades in design, speaker drivers, or noise cancellation performance, I’ll have to make do with depth.

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

Same look, better details

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

The QC Ultra 2’s earcups are a bit shallower than its predecessor, which may cause fit problems for people with larger heads and ears. Otherwise, the look, feel and fit of the QC Ultra 2 don’t change significantly, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The more significant upgrades lie in the smaller details, including USB-C audio support, available up to 16-bit/44.1kHz or 48kHz. Thus, the QC Ultra 2 is more suitable for gaming or more reliable listening than the first generation. Unlike the Sonos Ace and Apple AirPods Max, the QC Ultra 2 retains the 3.5mm headphone jack. And unlike the Sony XM6, you can listen through the QC Ultra 2’s USB-C port while it’s charging.

Also: 7 Clever iPhone USB-C Port Tips Every User Should Know

Although USB-C audio support in 2025 seems more like a hope than a new feature to celebrate, it rounds out the audio capabilities of the QC Ultra 2.

beauty lies in the ear of the beholder

The QC Ultra 2 has a great sound profile if you like exaggerated bass response, slightly lower mids and louder treble. It brilliantly reproduces basslines and front-and-center vocals in pop tracks like One Direction’s “Stockholm Syndrome.”, and ’90s rap, such as Craig Mac’s “Flava in Ya Ear.”

Also: Why I carry 4 pairs of headphones with me at all times (and the unique role of each)

In contrast, QC Ultra 2 is not as strong with layered, ambient post-rock like Ben Howard’s “Time Is Dancing”. It’s not as easy to hear songs with more subtle musical textures, but reducing the bass helps. Overall, the tuning of the QC Ultra 2 is warmer and more spacious-sounding, providing an extended, tighter bass response than the first generation. Their sound should be enjoyable to most people.

Bose continues its version of spatial audio, immersive audio, and introduces a new spatial tuning for podcasts, TV shows, movies, and other dialogue-heavy media. The feature works – you can hear your media being broadcast around your head. Personally, I would like Bose to adopt Dolby Atmos support instead.

Still the ANC gold standard

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

Bose relies on this philosophy, as noise-canceling upgrades aren’t at the forefront of headphone releases. Despite less fanfare over noise cancellation improvements, the QC Ultra 2 is slightly better at noise canceling than its predecessor. Additionally, the QC Ultra 2’s ANC better absorbs high-pitched noises, such as keyboard clicks, and low-pitched noises, such as the roar of airplane engines, compared to the first generation.

When the headphones’ active noise cancellation (ANC) is on, there is virtually no noise level, even when no audio is playing. This feat is extremely impressive and is on par with Sony’s WH-1000XM6. The difference between Sony and Bose’s latest generation ANC is negligible; You may have to look for another category to help you choose one brand over another.

Also: I tried the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds’ AI noise canceling, and can’t go back to regular ANC

Bose also refined its AI-powered adaptive noise cancellation feature, ActiveSense. This feature maintains transparency mode and activates noise cancellation when there is too much noise in the environment. ActiveSense is my favorite feature on the QC Ultra Earbuds 2, and it works equally well on headphones.

The best feature is the most unexpected

For me, the standout feature of the QC Ultra 2 relates to its superior power management. Along with increasing battery life from 24 hours in the first generation to 30 hours in the second generation, Bose also made the power button on its product obsolete.

You can use the power button to turn the headphones on and off, but this is not necessary. Instead, you can take the headphones off your head and place them upright – earcups up or down – and they’ll instantly disconnect from your device, disable Bluetooth, and start conserving power. Just put them back on and they’re ready to go.

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

I love this feature because power buttons on headphones are the bane of my existence. If you don’t press the button long enough, the headphones won’t turn off, but if you press it too long, they will enter pairing mode. You have to time the long press correctly to support your headphones.

Bose’s power-up was particularly confusing and glitchy, leading the company to issue the first-generation QC Ultra’s only firmware update specifically to address the problem. For me, not needing to use the power button at all is a lifesaver.

A companion app did the right thing

Many headphone brands are notorious for their weak companion apps. Messy features and boring user interface keep me away from them. Bose’s app is one of the best, providing a reliable, enjoyable, and easy-to-use experience.

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

My only problem with Bose’s app is its limited equalizer. Instead of allowing users to adjust the headphones’ EQ by frequency band, Bose offers only general bass, mids, and treble increases and decreases without specific, granular, quantitative measures.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

Bose QC Ultra 2 Provide subtle upgrades to the headphones’ noise cancellation, design, sound profile, power management, and user customization. They aren’t particularly exciting second-generation releases that grab headlines. Instead, Bose doubles down on what it does best, introducing small but meaningful improvements to address some of its shortcomings.

If you already have the first-generation QC Ultra, keep them until the wheels fall off, or wait for what Bose does next, which could be a major product overhaul. If you have the Bose NC700, QuietComfort 35, or 45, and they are at the end of their journey, the QC Ultra 2 will be a significant upgrade for you.

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In short, between Sony and Bose, Bose offers a more stylish design, less cheap-feeling plastic build materials, a more comfortable fit, and USB-C audio. However, with stronger ANC processing and for longer listening sessions, especially while traveling or working, the Bose’s sound profile leans toward warmth and soft treble.

The Sony’s sound profile is also warm, but its equalizer allows for more personalization. WH-1000XM6 It has tighter bass response, clearer mids, sharper treble and a more spacious soundstage. It has a more analytical sound, but it can get tiring after listening for a few hours.