Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Review

Bose’s highly rated QuietComfort Ultra Headphones were first introduced in 2023, and now, two years after their launch, the brand has released a second-generation model. But rather than a dramatic leap forward, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are more of a careful refinement of what already worked the first time around. Instead of reinventing the wheel with major design tweaks and lots of new features, these revised headphones focus on a few subtle yet welcome improvements.

This will be disappointing to enthusiasts looking for a reason to upgrade from their first-generation pair, but it’s clear these refreshed cans are aimed more at new customers. In that sense, they succeed as a more tempting buy. It’s the same playbook Bose used for its recent QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), which introduced small niceties rather than major departures.

After years of testing premium headphones from Apple, Sony, Sonos, and others, it’s clear that Bose is still at the top of its game with this latest product, even if it isn’t overly exciting on the surface. The sound remains compelling, while active noise cancellation (ANC) is nearly unmatched.

A refresh of an already great product

The Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) aren’t overly different from their predecessor, but that doesn’t mean they’re identical. When it comes to physical design, the thick metal arms attached to the ear cups are now shiny, rather than having a matte finish. This doesn’t make a huge difference, but the new style is definitely sleeker and gives the headphones a more premium look, which is appropriate given their $449 price tag.

This subtle change in finish is enough to make them feel fresh and stand out from what came before. I tested the black colorway, but my favorite new style is the desert gold color scheme. There are also white, driftwood sand, and midnight violet models.

As for other physical differences, technically, the new version weighs 0.58 pounds, just a tad heavier than the previous 0.56 pounds. It’s not noticeable unless you’re holding both, and even then, the difference is negligible. The new pair felt the same on my head, even after hours, and the squishy ear cups are as comfy as ever.

Beneath the surface, the second-generation Ultra Headphones now feature USB-C audio compatibility with support for lossless audio — something that the first-gen model lacked. The headphones’ on-head detection is also faster and more reliable, adaptive noise cancellation has been improved, and there’s a new Cinema mode specifically geared toward watching movies and shows.

Additionally, battery life has been upgraded from 24 to 30 hours with ANC on. That’s a solid number, but it isn’t exceptional or out of the ordinary for 2025. I tried to drain the headphones’ battery life down as much as possible over a few-day period. Although I didn’t use these for a full 30 hours, the extrapolated use matches Bose’s estimate. Perhaps even more useful than the added battery life, however, is that you can now use the headphones while they’re charging over USB-C. It seems crazy that the first-gen model couldn’t do this before.

Although these are all nice enhancements, as a whole, the collection of upgrades feels a bit light for a second-gen revision, and arguably, some of these features should have been present in the first-gen model to begin with. However, since the original QC Ultra Headphones set the bar so high in other areas, it’s understandable that this new edition sticks closely to what already worked.

The improved on-head detection is my favorite upgraded feature

One improvement that has altered the way I actually use the new headphones is their upgraded head detection. In addition to being faster at pausing music, the Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) now disconnect immediately from a Bluetooth device and power down when you take them off and lay them flat on a surface with their ear cups facing either up or down. Then, whenever you put them back on, they’ll automatically power back up and reconnect in seconds with no need to fiddle with any buttons.

Meanwhile, if you set the headphones down without the ear cups lying flat, they’ll pause but remain connected to your Bluetooth device for 10 minutes, allowing you to instantly resume playback when you put them back on.

I love this new auto-off and on functionality. Turning off Bluetooth headphones to preserve battery can be a pain since it’s often unclear whether a power button requires a press or a press-and-hold gesture. In my use, the new head detection has worked flawlessly, so there’s no guesswork involved, and you no longer have to rely on the power button during daily listening.

Music still sounds great, and so does the new Cinema mode

Bose doesn’t indicate any change in audio quality for the new headphones compared to the first-gen model. Even when I was directly comparing these with the previous cans, I couldn’t hear anything immediately different. Thankfully, that’s not a bad thing, as the first-gen QC Ultra Headphones sounded great to begin with. Streaming songs wirelessly still sounds full and dynamic. The bass is punchy and deep, while the midrange is clear, and vocals are engaging. These aren’t the absolute best-sounding wireless headphones, but they’re a solid all-around choice.

Although the headphone drivers and tuning remain the same, the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) do introduce a few new audio features. Notably, the headphones are now compatible with lossless audio over a wired USB-C connection, a feature not supported by the first-generation QC Ultra. Wireless Bluetooth playback will always introduce some level of compression, even when you’re listening to high-quality music files. But with a wired USB-C connection, the Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) can now play lossless tracks via services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify without any added compression.

I connected the headphones to my iPhone over a cable and turned on lossless for both Apple Music and Spotify. Although the difference was subtle, the songs did indeed sound richer, like the audio equivalent of looking at a higher-resolution photograph taken with a better camera. However, be aware that streaming lossless audio to your phone consumes a lot more data than lower-quality playback. Spotify estimates it uses 1GB of data per hour, compared to 0.07GB at 160kbps or 0.14GB at 320kbps.

A new Cinema mode has also been introduced to optimize the use of Bose’s spatial audio technology, creating a 3D surround sound effect for movies and TV shows. This technology is still used when you activate the headphones’ Immersion mode, a carryover feature from the first-generation QC Ultras. However, Cinema mode takes this process one step further by enhancing vocal clarity for on-screen actors without compromising a wide soundstage.

I watched “Blade Runner 2049,” among other movies, in Cinema mode and was highly impressed. Everything, from the music to the sound effects, is heightened. It was instantly noticeable flipping back and forth between Immersion and Cinema modes. For one thing, Cinema mode is louder and more dramatic. It feels closer to sitting in a theater, and I prefer it for watching movies because of the attention paid to dialogue. It’s not a must-have feature, but it’s a cool new addition.

ANC gets minor tweaks and is as impressive as ever

ANC performance largely remains the same on the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), which is not a bad thing, as the first-gen model still outperforms many top rivals from other brands. For all intents and purposes, these remain the gold standard for noise-canceling headphones.

The Ultra Headphones outperform the Apple AirPods Max, Nothing Headphone (1), and Sonos Ace in ANC. In all cases, Bose’s ANC is capable of silencing or significantly dampening a wider range of frequencies. When pitted against the QC Ultra (2nd Gen), only the Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones are a legitimate competitor at blocking noise.

But while noise cancellation strength is more or less unchanged, the second-gen Ultra Headphones do offer improved ActiveSense technology. This feature can be used when you have the headphones’ Aware mode on to let in outside noise so you can hear your surroundings. ActiveSense blocks sudden and loud noises that happen in your environment, so they don’t sound too loud. Bose has adjusted the algorithm to smooth out how this process works, and it now sounds more natural overall.

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)?

Although they’re only a minor revision over the first-gen model, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are among the best headphones available. They feature strong, deep bass as well as extreme clarity and presence. ANC performance is nearly unmatched. Comfort is lush and top-notch because the headphones remain lightweight and have squishy ear cups.

While this second-generation pair isn’t worth upgrading to from the previous model, it’s a stellar product for first-time buyers. The better on-head detection (and auto-connection) is among my favorite features. I also think the shinier aesthetic better matches the asking price. Luxury headphones should have a touch of elegance.

As for the $449 retail price, it’s a tough sell for casual listeners, but it’s about on par with what similar flagship headphones from brands like Sony cost, and only $20 more than Bose’s older first-gen model currently sells for. If top-notch ANC performance isn’t a priority, you can get better value from cheaper headphones, but if you’re a frequent traveler who craves peace and quiet, the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are worth the investment.