Daily Device Reviews logo Daily Device Reviews
Menu
Home Tablets Smartphones Smartwatches Projectors Televisions Headphones
Review Headphones Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen - Review and opinions

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen
Price in usual range
See on Amazon
Review updated on
81 /100 Overall

Score

Sound profile 76/100
Comfort and fit 73/100
ANC and isolation 93/100
Battery and connectivity 87/100
Customer reviews 79/100

Is it worth it?

If you want over-ear noise-canceling headphones for flights, office focus, and long listening sessions, this Bose pair lands in a very specific sweet spot: strong isolation, light comfort, and spatial audio that gives movies and music more room. The catch is that the same feature set that makes them appealing for travel and daily work also puts pressure on Bluetooth stability and app-dependent controls, so they fit best when comfort and ANC matter more than a perfectly simple setup.

This is the right pick for someone who wants premium wireless headphones that can disappear on the head, quiet a noisy room, and handle calls and laptop use without feeling bulky. Skip them if your priority is the most effortless multi-device behavior or the absolute last word in wired-style simplicity, because the strongest upside here is comfort-plus-noise-canceling, not zero-friction connectivity.

Form factor Over-ear
Connectivity Bluetooth
Driver type Dynamic driver
Battery life Up to 30 hours
Noise cancelling Active noise cancellation
Impedance 32 Ohms

Spatial audio and Cinema Mode

The headline feature here is not just louder sound, but a more forward, room-like presentation that moves music and film audio out of the head and into a wider space.

That matters because it changes how these headphones behave with movies, live recordings, and immersive playlists. The upside is a more cinematic feel; the limitation is that this is a presentation choice, so buyers chasing strictly neutral monitoring will hear the tuning as a style, not a reference target.

Noise cancellation and listening modes

Quiet Mode, Aware Mode, and Immersion Mode give the headphones a clear daily-use range, from blocking office chatter to letting in enough outside sound for transit or announcements.

That flexibility is a real buying advantage for commuters and frequent travelers. The practical caution is that the more immersive modes cost battery life, so the best experience depends on whether you value maximum quiet or maximum runtime.

Comfort, build, and battery behavior

The plush ear cushions, metal headband, and over-ear design are aimed at long wear, and the automatic sleep behavior when the cups are set down helps preserve charge.

That matters because comfort is one of the main reasons to buy this model over a more aggressive-clamping alternative. The trade-off is that the premium materials and folding travel case support portability, but they do not make this a featherweight compact headset.

Use evaluation

On a commute or a long-haul flight, the main payoff is immediate: the closed over-ear fit, strong ANC, and Aware Mode give you a real choice between sealing off the cabin and letting announcements through. The 30-hour battery claim is backed up by the kind of travel use these are built for, and the 23-hour figure with Immersive Audio tells you the spatial mode carries a real battery penalty. That trade-off matters, but for most travelers the bigger story is that these are tuned for quiet, not just wireless convenience.

At a desk with a laptop and phone nearby, the appeal is the combination of Bluetooth multipoint, clear call quality, and a mic system aimed at speech rather than room noise. That makes them a strong office companion for meetings, podcasts, and switching between work and personal devices, especially when the cups stay comfortable for long stretches. The friction point is that the app and device switching can become the weak link if you expect the headset itself to behave like a dumb accessory.

For home listening, the sound signature leans toward a spacious, polished presentation rather than a flat studio monitor style. Spatialized audio and Cinema Mode give movies and live recordings more depth, while CustomTune and the over-ear seal help the music feel fuller without turning the bass into the only thing you notice. If you want maximum analytical detail or a completely open, airy stage, this is not the route; if you want a premium wireless headphone that makes everyday listening feel bigger and calmer, it lands well.

Pros

  • Strong ANC with useful Quiet, Aware, and Immersion modes.
  • Very comfortable over-ear fit for long sessions and travel.
  • Clear call handling and good performance for meetings and video calls.
  • Up to 30 hours of battery life, with USB-C charging and playback while charging.

Cons

  • Bluetooth and multipoint behavior can be inconsistent for some setups.
  • Immersive Audio reduces battery life to 23 hours.
  • App dependence adds friction for buyers who want simple hardware-only control.
  • The premium price makes value depend on how much you care about ANC and comfort.

Community

User reviews

The pattern is straightforward: the strongest praise comes from people who want comfort, strong ANC, and easy all-day wear, while the frustrations cluster around Bluetooth behavior, app dependence, and the occasional fit quirk. The practical lesson is that this model is easy to love for travel and office use, but it rewards buyers who are comfortable living with Bose’s software and connection ecosystem.

KendallTom

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I own the Bose QC 35, Ultra Gen 1, and now the Ultra Gen 2. I have to say that they are all great headphones but the Gen 2 are a cut above. Call quality is crystal clear. Sonically they are excellent. Noise reduction.

JMC

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is my third Bose headphones and have yet to be disappointed. The New QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen) model are truly a work of science and art. The sound quality is unmatched and the comfort.

Rock

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I purchased these primarily for podcast interviews, Zoom sessions with my clients, and international travel, and they've worked very well for all of those purposes. The sound quality is excellent, the battery life is.

Eric

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Aptly named Quiet Comfort. These are very lightweight and super comfortable. The sound quality and noise cancelation exceeds my expectations, and suddenly even the most faint nuisance noises are gone.

See more reviews

Comparison

Attribute Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen Current Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Vintage Maroon Apple AirPods Max 2 Orange Beats Studio Pro
Price $369.00 $479.00 $499.00 $249.95
Battery life Up to 30 hours Up to 30 hours Up to 20 hours with ANC and Spatial Audio enabled Up to 40 hours with ANC off, up to 24 hours with ANC on
Connectivity Bluetooth Bluetooth wireless Bluetooth 5.3 wireless Wireless Bluetooth with USB-C and 3.5 mm wired options
Form factor Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear
Driver type Dynamic driver 40 mm dynamic drivers Apple-designed dynamic driver -
Noise cancelling Active noise cancellation Active noise cancelling Active Noise Cancellation Active noise cancelling with Transparency mode
Impedance 32 Ohms 33 ohms - 32 ohms
Editorial score 81/100 81/100 81/100 82/100

Against Sony WH-1000XM6, this Bose is the calmer comfort-first route. Choose the Bose if all-day wear, softer clamping, and top-tier noise cancellation matter most; choose the Sony route if you care more about a different sound profile or a more feature-heavy ecosystem and are willing to trade some comfort-first tuning.

Against Apple AirPods Max, this Bose is the more travel-friendly choice. It is lighter in feel, folds for easier packing, and gets the stronger noise-isolation story; the AirPods Max route makes more sense if you are already deep in Apple gear and want that ecosystem feel more than Bose’s ANC-and-comfort focus.

Compare with Compare this model This product stays fixed; add a recommended alternative or search another model in the category.

Compare with

Add a second model to activate the direct comparison.

Conclusion

Buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen if your priority is all-day comfort, strong noise cancellation, and a premium wireless headset that makes flights, office work, and long listening sessions feel easier. It is especially compelling for travelers, commuters, and people who live in calls and laptop switching, because the fit is light, the ANC is a real advantage, and the sound presentation is polished rather than fatiguing. The one trade-off that most changes the decision is connectivity friction: if you want the simplest possible Bluetooth behavior or you hate relying on an app for the best experience, this is not the cleanest buy.

Skip it if you care more about frictionless multi-device behavior, hardware-only simplicity, or the most analytical sound over comfort and isolation. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen earns its place by making quiet, comfort, and everyday usability the center of the product, so the right buyer is someone willing to accept some software and Bluetooth inconsistency in exchange for a headphone that disappears on the head and does its best work in noisy real-world settings. If that trade-off sounds acceptable, it is an easy recommendation; if not, the premium price is harder to justify.

See the best price on Amazon Check for today's deals. Free shipping with Prime.

FAQ

Does it work well for flights and office calls?

Yes. The ANC, long battery life, and clear call handling make it a strong fit for travel and meetings.

Can it switch between two devices?

Yes, it supports Bluetooth multipoint, but the experience is best when your phone-and-laptop setup is straightforward.

Editorial team

Daily Device Reviews editorial team

The Daily Device Reviews editorial team reviews product specs, prices, availability, visible customer feedback, and buying signals to keep reviews useful and up to date.