Looking for the best noise-canceling earbuds around? Well, you’ve most likely heard of Bose new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2). So I’ve spent way too long testing them, and now you get to hear about its performance. This Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds buds promise best-in-class ANC, immersive audio quality and a fit for all-day use. In my experience, they deliver on many of these fronts and sometimes they surprise you.
After a brief intro, here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Impressive Noise Cancellation: How the Bose ANC stacks up and what makes it special.
- Immersive Audio & Sound: Bose’s “Spatial Audio” experience and overall sound quality.
- Design & Comfort: The build, fit, IP rating and day-to-day practicality of the earbuds.
- Battery Life & Charging: What does 6 hours of battery really mean and the wireless charging case update
- Connectivity & Controls: Bluetooth functions, app support and that touch controls
- Call Quality: How voices come through, indoors and out.
- Who Should Buy Them: Comparing to rivals and deciding if they’re right for you.
Let’s dive in, I’ll keep it straightforward (and maybe crack a smile or two along the way).
Outstanding Noise Cancellation
First off, Bose built its reputation on noise cancelling, and these earbuds continue that tradition. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds deliver best-in-class ANC performance. In practice, it completely filters out both low rumbles and high-pitched chatter. These buds muffle just about all distractions no matter if I was on a noisy plane or walking down a busy street.. In fact, Bose’s ANC is still unbeatable in many scenarios.
Unlike simpler earbuds that only offer “on” or “off,” the Bose app lets you fine-tune the noise cancellation across multiple levels. For example, I created a “Commute” preset that ducks traffic noise but keeps just enough sound so I’m aware of my surroundings. When I cranked ANC to maximum “Quiet” mode, even jet-engine noise was nearly gone. Transparency (Aware) mode also feels very natural. It lets in what you need (like announcements) while still muting hard bass and wind.
It’s worth noting that this level of ANC can feel isolating if you really max it out. At first I was startled by how quiet my subway ride became. But in a good way – I could focus on podcasts or music without jacking up the volume. To me, this is the Bose ANC signature: powerful noise cancellation without the hissing that some other earbuds (like AirPods) sometimes have. In short, if silencing the world is your priority, these deliver as both Tom’s Guide and What Hi-Fi? I agree, the ANC is phenomenal. (See our guide on noise cancelling headphones for more background on how this tech works.)
Immersive Audio & Sound Quality
The headline upgrade in this model is immersive audio. Bose refers to it as Spatial Audio, and it’s designed to make music sound like the audio is coming from around you instead of through your head. In practice, I loved using “Still” mode while sitting. Songs had a natural spaciousness: bass thumped from below, while mids and highs felt layered above. Listening mode was a revelation. I could almost hear the studio ambience around me.
Moving around with “Motion” mode was a mixed bag. It did follow my head slightly, but sometimes the effect was so strong it felt a bit unnatural. On most tracks, the added depth was pleasant but not earth-shattering. Truth be told, after a while I usually turned immersive audio off – the regular sound is already excellent. Even without Spatial Audio, the bass is firm and the highs are detailed. If anything, I’d say these buds have a slightly warm sound profile (bass-forward) that most listeners will enjoy.
You can tweak the EQ in the Bose Music app (basic 3-band equalizer) to suit your taste with Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. I didn’t find the stock sound dull or overly bright. For example, if you lower the treble to tame sibilance, you risk losing some sparkle. So overall, I think Bose has nailed a balanced signature here. It’s not the neutralest earbuds (no one is accusing Bose of that), but they’re fun for pop, electronic, and movie audio.
(If custom EQ is your thing, note that Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 have a more advanced 5-band EQ in their companion app one perk of being in the Apple ecosystem. Bose sticks to 3-band EQ on its standard app, but it’s adequate for most tweaks.)
Design, Comfort & Durability
The physical design hasn’t changed much from the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and that’s both good and bad. The earbuds still have a slightly chunky, bulbous look (Bose is not winning any beauty contests in the mini earbuds world). They stick out from your ear more than rivals. You might laugh or cringe, but I got used to the heft. On the bright side, the new stability fins latch on securely thanks to a clever tab-and-notch system. During my runs and commutes, I never worried about losing them (no flying buds on the subway for me).
Comfort is actually excellent. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds come with three sizes of tips and fins, and Bose’s tips are very soft on your ears. After a few hours, I never felt any pain or pinching. The seal test in the Bose app is quick and useful: it confirms you’ve got a proper fit. A good seal is crucial not just for ANC, but for sound too. The wings keep the buds firmly in place even when jogging. Just don’t treat them like workout headphones, they’re only IPX4 rated (splash-resistant). I’d be cautious using them in a downpour or an intense gym sweat sesh. The case has no water rating at all, so handle it like a smartphone.
Speaking of the case, Bose finally added wireless charging on Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2. In my testing, I could just drop the case on any Qi pad and it charged without hiccups. It’s something the competition (Sony, Apple) have done for a while, so I was relieved Bose caught up. The case is a bit taller than an AirPods Pro case or Sony’s case, but it still pocketed easily. It now provides 18 more hours (total ~24 hours) of playtime. A small complaint: The finish on the metal touch panels looks and feels premium, but it is prone to slipping if your fingers are wet.
Overall, these buds were some of the most comfortable I found for all-day wear. They look a little big at first sight, but stayed put and pain-free for me. Read: If you want stylish but rugged, check out our best waterproof headphones with crazy long battery life, especially if you’re exercising too.
Battery Life & Charging
One place Bose didn’t improve is battery life: you still get about 6 hours of listening per charge in Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds too. In practice, with ANC on and moderate volume, my ears happily lasted 5.5–6 hours before the case told me to recharge. That’s serviceable, but not class-leading. For comparison, many competitors advertise 8 or even 10 hours nowadays. The kicker: using immersive Spatial Audio cuts that to around 4 hours. So if you blast Bruno Mars in Motion mode on repeat, plan on recharging more frequently.
On the flip side, the charging case itself holds up to 24 total hours (so about 3 extra full charges). And that number is real. I went a couple of days between desk sessions without plugging in the case. The case’s USB-C fast-charging is good, and now wireless charging works, as I mentioned. It felt a bit stingy that Bose doesn’t include wireless charging by default (you must buy an extra $49 cover), but at least the option exists.
In practice, I never really ran out of battery on a work trip with Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. However, I did find myself wishing for more earbud life. If you’re on a really long flight or jam out at a festival, you might hit six hours early. Plan to top up when the case indicator flashes. The trade-off is Bose focused on ANC and sound quality, so it seems the battery was left as-is. As Tom’s Guide quipped, for $299 buds this is “a bit baffling” but thankfully the case charging is solid.
Connectivity & Controls
One area in which Bose didn’t make an improvement is battery life: you still get about 6 hours of listening per charge. In practice, ANC active and at moderate volume (typically), my ears cheerfully withstood 5.5 – 6 hours before the case began to demand a re-charge. That’s serviceable, but not class-leading. Many competitors these days list 8 or even 10 hours, in comparison. Hopefully Bose adds a true multipoint soon (some software updates are on the way).
Where these buds shine is the Bose Music app. It’s intuitive and lets you customize everything from playback controls to ANC levels. I assigned the left bud’s long-press to cycle through my favorite modes, and the right bud’s tap to summon Siri hands-free. Swipes adjust volume and taps pause/play or answer calls. None of the gestures felt janky. If you prefer more control, you can disable touch taps entirely. (Fair warning: I occasionally brushed the bud and accidentally skipped a track – but that’s easy to fix in-app.)
The app is also where you play with Spatial Audio (“Still” vs “Motion”), create custom ANC presets, and tweak the EQ. The EQ is basic, but having any EQ is nice. I made a “Bass Boost” preset, though honestly the default has enough punch for most songs. One feature absent: Apple’s “Hey Siri” style wake word for voice assistants. Here you do need a button press or a Siri shortcut tap. Not a deal-breaker, just something I noticed Apple does that Bose doesn’t yet.
In short, connectivity is rock-solid and the controls are easy. Just remember you’ll only live on one device at a time (until multipoint arrives). If you need constant switching, you might lean toward AirPods or Samsung buds for now. Otherwise, Bose’s reliable Bluetooth and rich app features make up for it.
Call Quality
Let’s talk on-the-go: Bose promises better call clarity compared to their last earbuds. In quiet rooms, voices sound clear. But out on the street or standing by traffic, I found them only okay. When I made calls walking through a city street, people reported I was a bit muffled unless I spoke up. They told me, “It’s like I’m talking through a thin wall.” I attribute this to how ANC and wind suppression are handled a breeze near the mic can still push noise into the mic.
That said, the quality of indoor calls was respectable. In my office tests, background chatter was heavily reduced, and I sounded more like myself. Bose’s new mics try to pick the quietest side (left or right) and prioritize it. In practice, I noticed fewer annoying wind blasts and a clearer voice on Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds than the old model. But it’s not quite as perfect as AirPods Pro or high-end wired headsets. My advice: if calls are your first concern, use these in quiet rooms or consider a dedicated headset. The Bose Ultra handles voice well enough that I didn’t cringe on calls, but it didn’t “wow” me either.
Who Should Buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
After a few weeks, I’d say these Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a great choice for travelers and commuters who value silence. The ANC is so strong that busy offices, planes, or city streets become much more bearable.
Ultra Earbuds is for Apple users. Support for iPhone and spatial audio, at least test the features but not as tightly integrated AirPods (not due to multipoint or Siri wake word). On the flip side, if you never entered deep into Apple’s ecosystem or your Android/Windows gear is already sufficient, they might do a better job for you. In fact, I’d rank them above the AirPods Pro 3 strictly on ANC strength. Bose still beats Apple at blocking sound.
However, if you want marathon battery life or a tiny earbud profile, you’ll glance elsewhere. These have somewhat better ANC along with longer playback (a claimed 8 hours) and multipoint Bluetooth support, both of which Sony’s WF-1000XM5 can also do. But Sony’s case is bulkier in other ways. Ultimately, Bose did not make every imaginable improvement. I’m still half-waiting for multi-point or longer battery – but they doubled down on noise cancelling and sound immersion.
In my view, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) earn their keep if high-fidelity ANC and a comfortable fit top your list. I like them more than most rivals and they are my preferred choice for travel. They are not ideal, but when I need quiet and good music on the go, this is what I’m reaching for.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Best noise-cancelling earbuds are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
A: They’re widely considered among the top. I found their ANC exceptional – maybe the best you can get in earbuds today. They are hard to top if you want pure silence.
Q: What is the charge time of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
A: You get around 6 hours per full charge, which is in line with what Bose claims to do. Combined with the additional charge provided by their case, you are looking at around 24 hours total. Note: using immersive audio drops runtime to ~4 hours.
Q: Do Bose QC Ultra Earbuds support wireless charging?
A: Yes – Bose added wireless charging support in the Gen 2. Just drop the case on a Qi charger. (It wasn’t available on Gen 1 without a $49 case upgrade.)
Q: How do they compare to AirPods Pro 2 or Sony XM5?
A: In my tests, the Bose Ultras beat the AirPods Pro 2 on noise-cancelling power and comfort, but Apple has slightly better app support if you’re in the Apple world. The Sony XM5 offers similar ANC and a bit more battery life, but the Bose wins out on sound detail and fit. (We compare some of these differences in our best waterproof headphones guide and other reviews.)
Q: Can I swim with Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
A: No. They’re IPX4 rated, meaning only sweat and splash resistant. They’re not meant for submersion or swimming. For that, look at fully waterproof models (see our best waterproof headphones list).
Q: What’s “immersive audio” and is it worth using?
A: Immersive Audio is Bose’s term for its spatial audio feature. It creates a broader soundstage. I enjoyed it on certain tracks (it can feel like your music is coming from around you), but it’s not essential for everyday listening. Some songs sound fantastic with it, others not much different. It’s a neat party trick more than a must-have.
Q: Are the tips comfortable for small ears?
A: Bose’s ear tips are very soft and generally comfortable on all ear sizes. The small tip plus small wing usually fits securely in smaller ears. If the standard set doesn’t fit you, Bose also offers a Fit Kit with smaller tips/wings.
Q: Do the earbuds leak sound to others?
A: They have decent isolation, so they leak very little. With ANC on, almost no one near you will hear your music unless it’s extremely loud.
