Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds gen 2 review: Premium sound, best-in-class noise cancelling
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2’s ANC is on par with, and often better than, many over-ear headphones. Pictures: Bose.
After wearing the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds every day for the past few weeks, I’ve been impressed by their comfort and sound quality. They build on the first-gen model with refinements across the board, while introducing a few welcome new features.
The Gen 2s carry over much of the design language from the original QuietComfort Ultra.
The charging case has a reassuringly sturdy hinge and clasp, but it’s not the smallest around. You’ll feel it in your pocket more than with some rivals. That said, the larger size does mean it feels durable.
Bose’s build quality is always top-notch, with no rattles or creaks, and an IPX4 water-resistance rating on the buds makes them fine for everyday use, even in light rain.
The combination of soft silicone oval ear tips and stability bands makes for one of the most comfortable fits I’ve experienced in any earbuds, let alone noise-cancelling ones. They seal well without creating uncomfortable pressure in the ear canal, which means I can keep them in for hours without fatigue.
I tested them on long walks, cycling, and while working in the office. They stayed in place without needing constant readjustment. The buds rest naturally in the ear, and because the ANC is so good, comfort isn’t compromised in the pursuit of isolation.
Bose’s Adaptive ANC remains class-leading, silencing everything from background chatter to the low rumble of an engine with impressive efficiency. Just as importantly, their transparency mode sounds natural, letting voices and environmental noise through clearly without sounding artificial or harsh.
ActiveSense, a feature unique to Bose, automatically dampens sudden loud sounds while transparency mode is active. In daily life, that meant things like slamming car doors or clattering dishes were softened without muting the rest of the world, which is something I didn’t realise I’d appreciate until I used it.
The ability to connect to two devices at once is supported, but my experience with it wasn’t flawless. Switching between devices sometimes required manually disconnecting one before the other would take over. Not a dealbreaker, but a minor frustration when I was trying to quickly move from my laptop to my phone. Hopefully, this is improved with software updates.
Controls are simple and intuitive: swipe up or down for volume, tap to play/pause, and hold for mode switching. It’s a refreshing change from earbuds that require complicated tap sequences for basic adjustments.
Through the Bose Music app, you can assign ANC modes for different environments (like “commute” or “office”) and cycle through them with a quick tap on the earbuds themselves.
Out of the box, Bose delivers a clear, balanced signature that works well with everything from podcasts to my favourite classical music. Bass is tight and present, but can be a little overwhelming. I used the EQ to tone it down a couple of clicks in the app. The mids are rich and natural, and the highs are detailed without being sharp.
A key part of the experience is Bose’s CustomTune technology, which calibrates the sound to the shape of your ear canal each time you put the earbuds in. This tailoring means that what you hear is optimised specifically for you; it’s not just a one-size-fits-all tuning. In practice, it meant I consistently got a clean, full-bodied sound that felt like it was dialled in just for my ears.
EQ adjustment is limited to a simple three-band slider in the app, which will suit most users, but those wanting finer control over the sound signature might find it too basic.
Spatial audio is also supported, but it’s not something I enjoy for music; your mileage may vary. That said, it’s a nice bonus when watching films or live recordings.
Finally, while call quality is generally good, especially in noisy environments, it’s not flawless. Strong wind or very busy background noise can still affect clarity, though they outperform many competitors in this area.
Bose rates these at up to six hours per charge with ANC on, and while that’s not quite class-leading, it’s solid. This drops to four hours with immersive audio on. The case provides an additional three full charges and supports both USB-C and wireless charging. A quick 20-minute charge in the case gave me over two hours of listening, which proved handy more than once when I forgot to plug them in overnight.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 combine world-class noise cancellation, superb comfort, and refined, personalised sound in a premium package. If comfort, noise cancellation, and out-of-the-box sound quality are your top priorities, these are some of the best earbuds you can buy right now.
€300 Bose
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