Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are wireless over-ear noise-cancelling headphones from a company that built its name on quiet. They sit at the top of Bose's headphone range and are pitched at people who want to disappear into music, films or work for hours, on a train, in an open-plan office or in a busy home. The second generation brings what Bose calls its best noise cancelling, a longer battery life than the first model, spatialized Immersive Audio and a new Cinema Mode. This page explains what those features are, how the controls work, what to know about wired and gaming use, and who should spend the money.

Noise cancelling and listening modes

The headphones offer adjustable active noise cancelling and echo reduction. Rather than a simple on/off switch, they have listening modes: Quiet, for maximum noise cancelling, Aware, which lets some of the outside world in, and Immersion, which is for spatial audio. In Aware Mode there is a feature called ActiveSense, which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancelling to your surroundings so that the outside noise level stays more constant. Bose gives a helpful example: it can soften a loud blender or coffee grinder without shutting you off from your surroundings. You choose which modes are in your favourites (up to ten) and cycle through them by pressing and holding the multi-function button, and you can set many more modes in the Bose app. If you are trying to decide between closed and open designs, our open-back versus closed-back guide explains why closed, noise-cancelling headphones suit noisy places.

Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode

Bose's spatialized Immersive Audio is meant to make music and video seem to come from around you rather than from inside your head. The Bose app lets you choose between Still, where the sound stays fixed in front of you, and Motion, where it follows your head movement, or turn it off. The 2nd generation adds Cinema Mode, which Bose says makes dialogue hit harder in video content. Immersive Audio uses extra battery: Bose lists up to 30 hours of playback, or 23 hours with Immersive Audio on. As with any spatial audio, it is a matter of taste: many people love it for films and some music, others prefer a plain stereo image, which is why it can be turned off or mapped to a shortcut. For a wider look at how drivers and tuning shape the sense of space, read our news article on headset drivers and soundstage.

Controls, sensors and the Bose app

There are three inputs on the right earcup: a Bluetooth and power button at the bottom, a multi-function button at the back and a touch-sensitive volume strip along the back edge. The multi-function button handles play, pause and skip, answering and declining calls and switching modes. You swipe the volume strip to change the volume, and pressing and holding it triggers a shortcut that you can set in the Bose app to cycle through the Immersive Audio settings, use Spotify Tap, call your phone's voice assistant or read out the remaining battery. On-head and off-head detection wakes the headphones when you put them on, pauses playback when you take them off and controls auto-off. According to Bose, they disconnect after ten minutes off the head and go to sleep after thirty minutes. The app provides step-by-step setup, a customisable equaliser and shortcut settings, and it delivers updates. You can use the headphones without the app, but you need it to get the full feature set.

Battery, charging and connections

Battery life is listed at up to 30 hours, and a full charge takes about three hours over USB-C. You can charge and wear them at the same time, although charging may take longer when they are in use. Bluetooth range is given as 30 feet, and the headphones support the standard Bluetooth audio, hands-free, remote control and low energy profiles. Bose does not list the individual codecs on the page we checked, other than mentioning that users of Snapdragon Sound sources can use a gaming mode that uses the aptX Adaptive codec for lower latency. For wired listening, the headphones support USB audio over their USB-C port, which Bose describes as digital and lossless at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, and the box includes a 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable as well. Wired USB-C audio may be the best option for gaming on a PC, and it means the headphones can work with a laptop at a desk. For general advice on the trade-offs, our headset buying guide covers wired, wireless, calls and gaming.

Fit, materials and what is in the box

These are around-ear (circumaural) headphones with an adjustable headband and removable cushions covered in protein leather. Bose lists plastic, aluminium and protein leather as the main materials. The headphones themselves weigh 0.583 lb, about 264 g, and measure about 1.77 x 6.30 x 8.07 inches; the case adds to the total, which Bose lists as 1.061 lb for the full package. The box holds a carry case, the 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable, a 39-inch USB-C to USB-C cable and a safety sheet; a power adapter is not included. Note that the headphones are not waterproof and have no IP rating, so keep them away from rain and spills. They have a built-in microphone for calls, and Bose promotes clear phone calls, though a headphone microphone is not a substitute for a dedicated desk microphone.

Living with them day to day

A few habits get the most from headphones like these. Run the app's set-up first, then decide which two or three listening modes you really use and put only those in your favourites, so that cycling is quick. If you work at a desk, try wired USB-C audio for video calls and games and keep Bluetooth for your phone. Because on-head detection pauses the music when you lift an earcup, you can hear a colleague briefly without touching any button. Keep the cushions clean with a dry or slightly damp cloth, store the headphones in their case to protect the headband, and charge them before a long journey rather than during it.

Price, warranty and colours

The list price on the Bose US page we checked was 449 USD. Bose offers a one-year limited warranty, and optional BoseCare protection plans were priced at 59.95 USD for an extended warranty on that page, with an accident protection plan also available at extra cost. The page also showed an exclusive Cherry Chocolate colour and mentions a collaboration edition with Thom Browne, so colours and editions vary. Prices and offers change, so check the current listing.

Who should buy it

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) suit commuters, frequent travellers, open-plan office workers and anyone who works from home in a noisy household. They are strong for long, focused listening sessions and for watching films at a desk with Cinema Mode. They are less suited to people who want a lightweight gaming headset with a boom microphone, to those who need a water-resistant model for workouts, or to buyers on a tight budget. To see how they compare, browse the headsets category, and look at the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, another premium noise-cancelling pair known for long battery life, and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, a gaming-focused alternative with a base station.