Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Matthew Lopes, Nicholas Lim, and John Peroramas from Rtings highlight the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as a strong contender in the truly wireless earbuds market, especially excelling in active noise cancellation (ANC) and comfort. They praise the earbuds’ customizable fit with multiple stabilizers and ear tips, making them ideal for sports, travel, and office use. The review emphasizes Bose’s proprietary CustomTune technology, which personalizes sound based on ear canal shape, delivering a warm sound signature with good accuracy and minimal distortion. However, the reviewers note some drawbacks, including a relatively short 6.5-hour battery life and occasional microphone struggles in very loud environments. While the earbuds perform well in most scenarios, they are less suited for wireless gaming due to latency issues. The review also points out that software improvements are gradually reaching the original generation, potentially narrowing the value gap. Overall, the earbuds are recommended for users prioritizing comfort and noise cancellation, with some trade-offs in battery and gaming performance.

Christian Thomas from SoundGuys highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as a cautious but solid update to Bose’s flagship ANC earbuds. While the design and core features remain largely unchanged from the original, the earbuds deliver strong noise cancellation—among the best tested—and reliable usability, especially for larger ears. The inclusion of wireless charging and support for aptX Adaptive codecs on compatible Android devices are notable enhancements. However, the review expresses frustration with the limited and unintuitive EQ controls, which fail to adequately address the earbuds’ bass- and treble-heavy sound signature that may not suit all listeners. Battery life is slightly below average but acceptable, and the charging case remains bulky. The mic performance is mixed, with some noise artifacts during calls. Overall, the review conveys a moderately positive but measured tone, suggesting these earbuds are a worthwhile choice for those prioritizing ANC and Android compatibility, though the sound tuning and minor annoyances may deter some audiophiles.

Christian de Looper from PCMag highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as the best noise-cancelling earphones currently available, earning them an Editors' Choice award. He praises their exceptional noise cancellation, which outperforms competitors like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and Sony’s WF-1000XM5, effectively silencing a wide range of ambient sounds. The earbuds deliver warm, rich audio with a strong bass presence and clear highs, though the sound signature leans toward a V-shaped curve rather than a neutral profile. While the touch controls are described as fussy and the battery life only adequate, these drawbacks are minor compared to the earbuds’ overall performance. The review also notes the earbuds’ relatively large size and somewhat bulky charging case, as well as a limited EQ in the app. Unique insights include the earbuds’ spatial audio implementation and detailed real-world noise-cancelling tests, making them a top pick for users prioritizing silence and sound quality.

Becky Scarrott from TechRadar highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as the current pinnacle of noise cancellation in earbuds, delivering a powerful, immersive audio experience that outperforms rivals in key areas like ANC, spatial audio, and call quality. She praises the earbuds’ vibrant, expansive soundstage and effective CustomTune technology, which tailors audio to individual ear anatomy without user intervention. The review conveys genuine enthusiasm for Bose’s incremental but meaningful improvements, including wireless charging, multi-point connectivity, and customizable ANC “Modes.” However, Scarrott also notes some drawbacks: the earbuds remain relatively large and conspicuous, lack LDAC support, and offer limited EQ customization. Battery life is adequate but not class-leading, and the design changes are subtle rather than revolutionary. Overall, she warmly recommends the Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 for those prioritizing best-in-class noise cancellation and dynamic sound, while acknowledging that users with smaller ears or those seeking more advanced personalization might consider alternatives.

Parker Hall from WIRED highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as the reigning champions of noise cancellation, praising their exceptional ability to block out a wide range of sounds better than any competitor. He appreciates the subtle but meaningful upgrades over the previous generation, such as wireless charging, customizable touch controls, and advanced immersive audio features powered by machine learning. Hall emphasizes the earbuds’ consistent, balanced sound quality across various listening scenarios, noting their ability to reveal fine musical details without overcompression. While the design remains largely unchanged, he finds this acceptable given the comfort and performance of the original model. The review also lauds the earbuds’ excellent microphone performance and practical everyday usability, from blocking out household noise to enabling clear calls. Though Sony’s WF-1000XM5 offers slightly better sound, Hall considers the Bose buds superior for noise reduction and overall daily use, making them the top choice for business travelers and noise-canceling enthusiasts alike.

John Higgins from The Verge highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as a top-tier choice for noise-canceling performance, particularly excelling at blocking low-frequency sounds like airplane engines and loud conversations. The review conveys a cautiously positive tone, praising Bose’s continued ANC leadership and improvements in call quality, though noting some compression artifacts outdoors. While the sound signature is generally enjoyable, with a slightly heavy bass and bright treble, the limited EQ options and immersive audio feature received mixed reactions. The earbuds’ bulky, unchanged design and average six-hour battery life are clear drawbacks, impacting comfort and handling. Wireless charging for the case is a welcome upgrade. Overall, the review positions these earbuds as an excellent option for frequent travelers and non-Apple users seeking superior noise cancellation, despite lacking major innovation beyond the first generation. The sentiment is appreciative but measured, balancing strong ANC praise with design and battery life criticisms.

Dan Seifert from Trusted Reviews highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as the current pinnacle of noise-cancelling earbuds, praising their class-leading ANC that outperforms even strong competitors like the Technics AZ100. The review expresses genuine enthusiasm for improved call quality, comfortable fit, and excellent Bluetooth performance, noting subtle but meaningful audio refinements that yield clearer mids and highs with a smoother, more natural sound signature. While the earbuds maintain a familiar design with minor tweaks such as an ear-tip guard, the reviewer appreciates the stability bands and overall comfort for extended wear. Criticisms focus on battery life, which lags behind rivals, and occasional touch control misfires. The Immersive Audio feature is seen as interesting but not essential. Overall, the review conveys a very positive, confident tone, emphasizing that despite incremental upgrades, these earbuds represent Bose’s best effort yet and remain the top choice for noise-cancelling performance in 2025.

James Pero from Gizmodo highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as exceptional noise-canceling earbuds that excel in delivering top-tier ANC performance, especially in challenging environments like the NYC subway and busy coffee shops. He praises their ability to effectively block out ambient noise even without music playing, making them ideal for travel or noisy commutes. The review appreciates the earbuds’ sensitive yet customizable touch controls and the useful transparency mode for quick conversations. While the sound quality is solid and bass-forward, it doesn’t quite match the clarity or dynamic range of some high-end competitors, and the battery life is average for the price point. The earbuds’ chunky design may divide opinions, but the reviewer finds it stylish and well-balanced. Overall, Pero emphasizes that Bose’s focus on noise cancellation pays off, making these earbuds a compelling choice for users prioritizing quiet over audiophile-level sound.

What Hi-Fi? highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as a refined evolution of Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra line, particularly emphasizing the brand’s unique Immersive Audio technology. This spatial audio system aims to simulate the experience of listening to stereo speakers by lifting sound out of the listener’s head, and it works with any track or platform. While the earbuds improve on their predecessors in many ways, the review expresses measured reservations about Immersive Audio itself. Notably, the feature significantly reduces battery life—cutting it by about 25% on headphones—and its effectiveness varies depending on the track, delivering impressive spaciousness on some songs but sounding overly processed on others. This nuanced perspective balances appreciation for Bose’s innovation with practical concerns about battery impact and inconsistent audio quality, offering a thoughtful, moderately positive view rather than unqualified enthusiasm.

Mike Andronico from CNN Underscored highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) as delivering the best active noise cancellation (ANC) he has ever experienced in earbuds, rivaling even top over-ear models. He praises their superb noise suppression in chaotic environments, excellent sound quality with customizable EQ, and useful features like wireless charging and multipoint connectivity. The earbuds’ Immersive Audio mode adds a pleasing spatial effect, and call quality is solid with effective wind noise reduction. However, Andronico expresses reservations about their bulky design and fit, which felt tight yet not fully secure despite included ear tip options. Battery life is adequate but not class-leading, and the $300 price tag feels steep compared to competitors offering longer battery life or lower cost. While the earbuds excel at noise cancellation and sound, their comfort and value trade-offs temper his enthusiasm, making them a compelling but somewhat niche choice for those prioritizing ANC above all else.

Amazon users consistently praise the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) for delivering exceptional sound quality and industry-leading noise cancellation. Reviewers highlight how the earbuds reveal previously unnoticed musical details, offering an immersive listening experience that satisfies even audiophiles. Many applaud the advanced ANC technology for effectively silencing persistent low-frequency noises, such as traffic and construction sounds, while still allowing important ambient sounds like conversations and alarms to come through clearly. Users appreciate the earbuds’ snug and secure fit, which enhances both comfort and noise isolation during extended wear, including workouts and sleep. The intuitive touch controls and the Bose app’s multipoint connectivity—enabling seamless switching between two devices—receive frequent commendations for convenience and ease of use. Several reviewers note the charging case’s compact design, wireless charging capability, and informative battery status alerts as thoughtful, user-friendly features. Battery life opinions vary: some users report solid all-day performance with multiple charges from the case, while others find the runtime shorter than expected. Connectivity experiences also differ, with many enjoying stable Bluetooth pairing and others encountering occasional dropouts or compatibility quirks. A few customers mention functionality issues emerging after prolonged use, such as one earbud ceasing to work, but these appear less common. Overall, Amazon reviewers emphasize that Bose has refined the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds into a premium product that excels in sound fidelity, noise cancellation, and comfort, making them a worthwhile investment for those seeking top-tier wireless earbuds.

Users on Target praise the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) for delivering exceptional sound quality, with many highlighting the immersive surround sound and powerful noise cancellation that effectively blocks out ambient noise. Reviewers emphasize the earbuds’ customizable fit, noting the multiple sizes of ear tips and stability bands that provide a secure and comfortable experience even during workouts or extended wear. The Bose app earns frequent mention for enhancing usability by allowing personalized sound settings, programmable controls, and easy device management. Several users appreciate the innovative features like ActiveSense, which adapts sound based on movement, and the intuitive touch controls, including volume adjustment via swipes. Call clarity impresses many, with background noise suppression making conversations crisp and clear. Battery life consistently meets or exceeds expectations, supported by a charging case that offers multiple recharges. Some users find the earbuds slightly bulky compared to competitors and mention a learning curve with the touch controls, but most agree these minor issues do not detract from the overall premium experience. A few reviewers report occasional connectivity quirks or durability concerns, yet the majority recommend these earbuds as a top-tier choice for anyone seeking comfort, advanced noise cancellation, and rich, customizable audio on Target.