Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 Review: Still the ANC Leader

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Last year was a big one for new Bose earbuds, with the audio giant releasing two brand-new styles: the Ultra Open earbuds and the QuietComfort earbuds. So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that this is shaping up to be a year of incremental upgrades, and that’s exactly what we got with the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), which are available starting today at Bose.com. 

While the earbuds didn’t get a major overhaul, they didn’t get a price hike, either. They cost $299 at retail, the same price as their predecessor. There are a handful of tweaks under the hood, but the most significant physical change is the addition of wireless charging to the case. 

In terms of audio quality and noise cancellation, the earbuds meet the standard Bose is known for, but the brand has made substantial improvements in voice calling quality, an area where Bose has lagged behind competitors. 

Design and Construction

The QC Ultra 2s are nearly indistinguishable from the first gen, first released in 2023. That’s not a bad thing, as I’ve found the QC Ultras to be among the most comfortable, yet secure earbuds I’ve tried. Like their predecessor, the Ultra 2s come with three interchangeable stability bands that keep the earbuds in place, plus three eartip sizes. At launch, the earbuds are available in white smoke, deep plum, and black. 

The buds themselves have a chunky, rounded design that’s partway between the stemmed look of AirPods and the pod shape favored by brands like Sony.

Bose added a couple of new features to the case and earbuds. The case now features wireless charging, a feature found on the budget QuietComfort model but oddly absent from the first QC Ultras. The eartips also feature a mesh cover that’s designed to keep earwax away from the drivers. It’s an admittedly unsexy but helpful upgrade. 

The case itself isn’t big, but it isn’t quite as pocket-friendly as AirPods or Technics earbuds. While wireless charging is a nice touch, these earbuds require more precise placement than others to properly charge.   

Controls and Features 

Bose’s intuitive touch controls are unchanged from the last generation. They work well, but if you’re not a fan, Bose now lets you turn off the capacitive controls in the app. Otherwise, the controls are fairly standard. A single tap controls playback, and a double or triple tap skips forward or backward. The volume controls are a standout, with a simple swipe up or down to raise or lower the volume. 

A long press toggles between ANC modes by default, but you can set it to open your voice assistant, cycle through immersive modes, switch Bluetooth devices, or open Spotify. The left and right shortcuts can be set separately. 

Like the last generation, there’s a simple, customizable EQ, with four modes: bass boost, bass reducer, treble boost, and treble reducer, as well as an adjustable three-band EQ. It’s simple and easy to use, but some may prefer greater customization. The battery life hasn’t changed, with up to six hours of battery life with the earbuds and 24 total with the case. 

Sound Quality and ANC

Bose added an ActiveSense feature that automatically adjusts noise-canceling in loud environments, specifically when using Aware mode. The earbuds also continue to use Bose’s CustomTune feature, first introduced with the QuietComfort 2 earbuds. CustomTune emits an orchestral tone that maps the shape of your ear canal, customizing the ANC and audio quality to fit your ear, similar to room-tuning speakers. 

While it’s hard to evaluate the specifics of this technology, the results speak for themselves; these are simply the most effective noise-canceling earbuds I have tested, and the ANC’s wide adjustability is a huge plus. 

As for sound quality, these earbuds have a rich and enjoyable sound profile, and the adjustable (albeit limited) EQ allows users to tinker with the audio. Bose also claims to have tuned the earbuds for a “better bass response and smoothness at higher frequencies,” compared to the last generation. It may not be a huge difference, but the sound profile strikes a balance between engaging and detailed, doing justice to a variety of genres from hip hop to indie rock. 

If there was room for improvement over the last generation, it’s in call quality, which is a category where Bose has historically struggled. Bose claims to have implemented a new noise suppression system that dampens background noise while on calls.

I took recordings using the original Ultra and then Gen 2 earbuds, and the latter undoubtedly improves upon the original, with better clarity in both quiet and loud environments. There’s still some sibilance and a slightly robotic tone, but it’s cleaner and clearer, and unlikely to cause any complaints. 

Verdict

The best noise-canceling earbuds on the market are now ever-so slightly better, with Bose making small improvements in ANC and audio quality compared to the last generation. Notably, Bose also added wireless charging to the case and made meaningful improvements to call quality.

While most users who already have the Ultras probably don’t need to splurge on the second generation, if you’re looking for the best noise-canceling performance in a pair of wireless earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) deliver.