98
TechRadarT2★ Editors' ChoiceJul 25, 2025
“If you're a music lover who wants zealous audio quality, great noise cancellation and excellent mics for call-handling, you've found your set of earbuds”
By Becky Scarrott · Rated 5/5Full review
Headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Bose · From $299
Release date Sep 10, 2025
92
Critical Gold
Based on 19 Critic Reviews
17 with a published score, 2 scored from text · How it works
Latest review Jun 8, 2026
14 Rave5 Positive
Critics' Take
Critics call these the best noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy, with active noise cancellation that most reviewers say tops every rival. The second generation adds wireless charging, better call quality and smoother adaptive noise control at the same $299 price as the original. Reviewers describe the update as modest, and nearly all of them knock the six-hour battery life.
What critics loved
- Class-leading noise cancellation
- Clearer calls with AI noise suppression
- Wireless charging case added
- Punchy, balanced sound with a spatial Immersive Audio mode
Common gripes
- Battery life still tops out at 6 hours (4 with Immersive Audio)
- Only a small step up from the first generation
- Earbuds are large and conspicuous
- Limited three-band EQ
- Sound is less detailed than the Technics EAH-AZ100
Critic Scorecard
19 reviewsSort:
Weighted by outlet tier:T1100%T275%T340%T420%
98
T3T3Jun 8, 2026
“While the 2nd Gen version of Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds don't add a huge amount over the original, that can't detract from what are the best active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds on the market.”
By Mike Lowe · Rated 5/5Full review
98
HotHardwareT3Sep 16, 2025
“Bose's QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd Gen) are the total package, delivering fantastic sound and first-rate ANC in a comfortable design.”
By Paul Lilly · Rated 4.5/5Full review
97
WiredT1Sep 8, 2025
“With slight, useful changes like wireless charging and better processing, these noise-canceling buds remain at the top of the pile.”
By Parker Hall · Rated 9/10Full review
97
Trusted ReviewsT2Sep 17, 2025
“With improved call quality and better audio, and the small tweaks Bose has made have resulted in another great wireless earbud”
By Kob Monney · Rated 5/5Full review
96
Android CentralT2Sep 23, 2025
“With the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, Bose took a category leader in the wireless space and made it even better.”
By Brady Snyder · Rated 4.5/5Full review
Show 13 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
96
What Hi-Fi?T3Jul 22, 2025
“Their outstanding noise-cancelling capabilities, excellent design and a punchy, entertaining sound make for a powerful combination”
By Harry McKerrell · Rated 5/5Full review
96
Expert ReviewsT3★ Editors' ChoiceJul 16, 2025
“As someone who places great value on escaping the world around him using ANC, however, these are my new go-to take-everywhere earbuds.”
Carries the outlet's Best Buy award.
By Andy White · Rated 5/5Full review
96
StuffT3Jul 13, 2025
“They’re pricey and aren’t brilliant on battery, but commuters craving the sound of silence owe their ears a pair of these.”
By Tom Morgan-Freelander · Rated 5/5Full review
96
Pocket TacticsT4Sep 25, 2025
“However, price aside, these are some of the best buds on the market.”
By Callum Self · Rated 9/10Full review
95
PCMagT2★ Editors' ChoiceAug 27, 2025
“The second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds produce warm and bright audio, charge wirelessly, and are unmatched in their ability to silence your surroundings, making them easy to recommend.”
By Christian de Looper · Rated 4.5/5Full review
95
ZDNETT2Oct 16, 2025
“If you’re looking for a pair of earbuds that fit well, sound great, deliver excellent ANC, and complete the feature set with an exceptional spatial audio experience, the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2 are an easy recommendation.”
Date is the page's original_publish_date; the page was republished/updated 2026-03-19.
By Prakhar Khanna · Rated 4.5/5Full review
93
Tom's GuideT2Sep 1, 2025
“Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds were already good, but the Gen 2 bring some key internal upgrades that make them even better.”
By Tammy Rogers · Rated 4.5/5Full review
88
EngadgetT1Aug 28, 2025
“ANC and call performance are both enhanced, and though it's late to the party, the addition of built-in wireless charging is a welcome change.”
Score estimated from the text; the fetched page does not show a numeric score.
By Billy Steele · Unrated, scored from textFull review
84
GizmodoT2Aug 23, 2025
“Once again, Bose's ANC is top-notch in the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.”
By James Pero · Rated 4/5Full review
84
Digital TrendsT2★ Editors' ChoiceAug 29, 2025
“Meaningful upgrades over the originals make this sequel a noise-canceling force to be reckoned with.”
No overall score is shown; category scores are Design 9/10, Noise-canceling 10/10, Sound 9/10, Battery life 7/10.
By Becky Roberts · Unrated, scored from textFull review
82
MashableT2Sep 10, 2025
“As a premium option, you'd be hard-pressed to find earbuds with a better combination of comfort and noise cancellation than the Bose QC Ultra earbuds (2nd gen).”
By Bethany Allard · Rated 4.1/5Full review
78
SoundGuysT3Feb 13, 2026
“The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen.) may be a boring update, but adding minor upgrades and keeping the same sticker price could be a good strategy for Bose's halo earbuds.”
By Christian Thomas · Rated 7.7/10Full review
76
TechGearLabT3Nov 25, 2025
“These earbuds have impressive noise cancellation, managing to eek out a little better blocking power than the prior version.”
Staff review · Rated 78/100Full review
98
T3T3Jun 8, 2026
“While the 2nd Gen version of Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds don't add a huge amount over the original, that can't detract from what are the best active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds on the market.”
By Mike Lowe · Rated 5/5Full review
78
SoundGuysT3Feb 13, 2026
“The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen.) may be a boring update, but adding minor upgrades and keeping the same sticker price could be a good strategy for Bose's halo earbuds.”
By Christian Thomas · Rated 7.7/10Full review
76
TechGearLabT3Nov 25, 2025
“These earbuds have impressive noise cancellation, managing to eek out a little better blocking power than the prior version.”
Staff review · Rated 78/100Full review
95
ZDNETT2Oct 16, 2025
“If you’re looking for a pair of earbuds that fit well, sound great, deliver excellent ANC, and complete the feature set with an exceptional spatial audio experience, the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2 are an easy recommendation.”
Date is the page's original_publish_date; the page was republished/updated 2026-03-19.
By Prakhar Khanna · Rated 4.5/5Full review
96
Pocket TacticsT4Sep 25, 2025
“However, price aside, these are some of the best buds on the market.”
By Callum Self · Rated 9/10Full review
96
Android CentralT2Sep 23, 2025
“With the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, Bose took a category leader in the wireless space and made it even better.”
By Brady Snyder · Rated 4.5/5Full review
Show 13 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
97
Trusted ReviewsT2Sep 17, 2025
“With improved call quality and better audio, and the small tweaks Bose has made have resulted in another great wireless earbud”
By Kob Monney · Rated 5/5Full review
98
HotHardwareT3Sep 16, 2025
“Bose's QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd Gen) are the total package, delivering fantastic sound and first-rate ANC in a comfortable design.”
By Paul Lilly · Rated 4.5/5Full review
82
MashableT2Sep 10, 2025
“As a premium option, you'd be hard-pressed to find earbuds with a better combination of comfort and noise cancellation than the Bose QC Ultra earbuds (2nd gen).”
By Bethany Allard · Rated 4.1/5Full review
97
WiredT1Sep 8, 2025
“With slight, useful changes like wireless charging and better processing, these noise-canceling buds remain at the top of the pile.”
By Parker Hall · Rated 9/10Full review
93
Tom's GuideT2Sep 1, 2025
“Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds were already good, but the Gen 2 bring some key internal upgrades that make them even better.”
By Tammy Rogers · Rated 4.5/5Full review
84
Digital TrendsT2★ Editors' ChoiceAug 29, 2025
“Meaningful upgrades over the originals make this sequel a noise-canceling force to be reckoned with.”
No overall score is shown; category scores are Design 9/10, Noise-canceling 10/10, Sound 9/10, Battery life 7/10.
By Becky Roberts · Unrated, scored from textFull review
88
EngadgetT1Aug 28, 2025
“ANC and call performance are both enhanced, and though it's late to the party, the addition of built-in wireless charging is a welcome change.”
Score estimated from the text; the fetched page does not show a numeric score.
By Billy Steele · Unrated, scored from textFull review
95
PCMagT2★ Editors' ChoiceAug 27, 2025
“The second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds produce warm and bright audio, charge wirelessly, and are unmatched in their ability to silence your surroundings, making them easy to recommend.”
By Christian de Looper · Rated 4.5/5Full review
84
GizmodoT2Aug 23, 2025
“Once again, Bose's ANC is top-notch in the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.”
By James Pero · Rated 4/5Full review
98
TechRadarT2★ Editors' ChoiceJul 25, 2025
“If you're a music lover who wants zealous audio quality, great noise cancellation and excellent mics for call-handling, you've found your set of earbuds”
By Becky Scarrott · Rated 5/5Full review
96
What Hi-Fi?T3Jul 22, 2025
“Their outstanding noise-cancelling capabilities, excellent design and a punchy, entertaining sound make for a powerful combination”
By Harry McKerrell · Rated 5/5Full review
96
Expert ReviewsT3★ Editors' ChoiceJul 16, 2025
“As someone who places great value on escaping the world around him using ANC, however, these are my new go-to take-everywhere earbuds.”
Carries the outlet's Best Buy award.
By Andy White · Rated 5/5Full review
96
StuffT3Jul 13, 2025
“They’re pricey and aren’t brilliant on battery, but commuters craving the sound of silence owe their ears a pair of these.”
By Tom Morgan-Freelander · Rated 5/5Full review
Quick Facts
- Noise cancelling
- Adaptive ANC with ActiveSense; Quiet, Aware and Immersion modes
- Battery (earbuds)
- Up to 6 hours (4 hours with Immersive Audio)
- Charging case
- Three extra charges, wireless charging built in, USB-C
- Bluetooth
- 5.3 with multipoint
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- Weight
- 0.016 lb (about 7 g) per bud
- Calls
- SpeechClarity AI noise suppression, eight microphones
- Price
- $299