Oct 17, 2025TechUSEngadget

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) review: Impactful upgrades to a familiar formula

Close-up of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones on a table

Bose quietly revolutionized premium audio this year by taking a different approach with its QuietComfort Ultra lineup. Instead of flashy redesigns, the company unveiled thoughtful second-generation updates to its flagship headphones and earbuds, delivering meaningful improvements to an already beloved formula.

What makes these upgrades significant? Bose focused on three key areas where users notice real differences:

  1. Noise Cancellation Refined - The new ANC technology creates near-silent environments, filtering out everything from subway rumble to office chatter with surgical precision
  2. Audio Quality Elevated - Richer mids and crisper highs reveal details in music and podcasts you never knew existed
  3. Battery Boost - Extended playtime means fewer charges between commutes and cross-country flights

Unlike the typical "new model, new look" strategy, Bose preserved what made the original QuietComfort Ultra series special - that signature comfort and intuitive controls listeners have come to expect. The result? A product that feels instantly familiar while delivering tangible performance upgrades.

For frequent flyers, remote workers, or anyone who values uninterrupted audio immersion, these refinements translate directly to daily quality of life. The second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones prove that sometimes, the biggest innovations come not from reinvention, but from perfecting what already works.

For extensive testing details and technical comparisons, see the full review at Engadget