Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.
Battery life and power management are important yet overlooked strengths, but they’ve always been one of Bose’s weaknesses. Its 2019 flagship headphones, the NC700, delivered about 20 hours of battery life, and its 2023 QuietComfort Ultra headphones delivered a maximum of 24 hours of battery life.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2)
new from bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Generation) Borrow one of the best power management features of the AirPods Max – but execute it better. Although the new headphones’ extended 30-hour battery capacity is great, their efficiency is more valuable.
Apart from Bose’s undeniable strength in creating best-in-class noise cancellation and comfort, the new low-power feature may be the most significant and useful improvement that Bose has implemented in its latest flagship headphones. here’s why.
Intuitive auto-standby for the win
Most premium headphones have gyroscopes or motion detection systems that enable their wear detection capabilities. Wear Detection pauses audio content when the headphones detect you’ve removed them from your head, and resumes content when you put them back on.
Apple’s AirPods Max and Bose’s QC Ultra 2 perform this feature best by pausing content when you remove the headphones and disconnect them from your phone’s Bluetooth. This allows you to switch audio from the headphones to your phone without pressing a button. Both headphones enter low-power mode when left inactive for a specified period of time.
Also: I wore the best headphones from Sony, Bose, Apple, and Sonos: Here’s how the AirPods Max wins
However, Bose’s QC Ultra 2 enter a low-power state faster than Apple’s AirPods Max, and you don’t need to put them in a case to achieve this. Simply lay the QC Ultra 2 flat – with the earcups facing up or down – and they’ll start saving battery.
In contrast, the AirPods Max have Find My compatibility, which requires the headphones to be turned on to detect your real-time location. This feature should be disabled for AirPods Max to save as much power as possible.
As a result, the AirPods Max eventually enter the same low-power state as Bose’s headphones, but not until after 72 hours outside the Smart Case or 18 hours inside it. Apple allows you to have constant access to the space around your headphones, but this comes at the cost of slowly draining their battery.
Power button, or no power button
The AirPods Max’s lack of a power button was a hot topic shortly after their 2020 release, as many people like to have full control over their devices. Bose noticed this feature gap, offering users an intuitive auto-standby mode And A dedicated power button.
The specifications also show off Bose’s power advantage, promising 30 hours of playback with ANC on and 45 hours with it off. Apple’s headphones, on the other hand, have a maximum battery life of 20 hours, regardless of audio mode.
Also: I tried the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds’ AI noise canceling, and can’t go back to regular ANC
The QC Ultra 2’s instant low-power mode, coupled with its generational battery life improvements, means you’ll spend fewer days a week plugging them into the wall. For travelers, those who wear headphones in the office, and frequent travelers, this smart power-saving design could be a game-changer.
The auto-standby feature is my favorite thing about both the AirPods Max and Bose QC Ultra. I love taking off my headphones and answering phone calls without having to fiddle with the power button.
ground level
I’ll admit that I’m impressed by Bose’s implementation of this feature – I’ve always appreciated the Bose brand more aesthetically than I have for the company’s software and firmware capability. But the feature works well; There is a slight delay after a few hours of inactivity and a slightly longer delay after a few days.
Also: Should you buy the AirPods Max in 2025? Long-awaited upgrade will lure professionals
Although Bose doesn’t offer advanced Bluetooth codecs like Sony or as many convenient device features as Apple, the second generation of QC Ultra headphones and earbuds demonstrate the company’s progress in producing more practical flagship products. What’s most impressive is that it does this without imposing a single device ecosystem disruption.
