Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)

Bose's 2025 flagship — refined ANC, spatial audio (Bose Immersive), and the comfortable plush fit Bose has owned for two decades. Sound signature is warmer and more 'consumer-friendly' than Sony XM5/XM6 (more bass, less treble emphasis). Pick this over Sony if you prioritize all-day comfort or call clarity over LDAC.

Quick Answer

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) worth buying in 2026?: If you prioritize all-day wearability and top-tier ANC for travel, these are nearly unbeatable, especially with the new USB-C lossless support. However, the aggressive default V-shaped EQ requires app tweaking, and the touch-strip volume controls are prone to accidental, ear-blas

+Pros

Class-leading comfort with a lightweight build, wide headband, and plush ear cups
Excellent adaptive Active Noise Cancellation that effectively targets acute noises
Addition of USB-C lossless audio playback acting as a built-in DAC
Exceptional mid-range and sub-bass sound quality once properly EQ'd

−Cons

Capacitive volume touch strip is finicky, lacks tactile feedback, and is prone to accidental swipes
Shiny metallic yoke design is a major fingerprint and dust magnet
Bose app lacks advanced features and only offers an outdated 3-band EQ
Overloaded multi-function button makes switching between ANC modes tedious

In-depth Review

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Review — The undisputed king of comfort adds highly requested features like USB-C lossless audio, but stumbles on basic physical controls and app functionality

Specifications

driver type	Dynamic
impedance	Not specified
sensitivity	Not specified
freq response	Not specified
conn type	USB-C, 3.5mm (passive)
form factor	closed-back over-ear
wireless	Bluetooth 5.3 (aptX Adaptive)
weight	250g
battery	24 hrs (ANC on, Immersive off)
anc	true

Why This Headphone

Bose's 2025 flagship — refined ANC, spatial audio (Bose Immersive), and the comfortable plush fit Bose has owned for two decades. Sound signature is warmer and more "consumer-friendly" than Sony XM5/XM6 (more bass, less treble emphasis). Pick this over Sony if you prioritize all-day comfort or call clarity over LDAC support.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Driver Type	Dynamic
Conn Type	USB-C, 3.5mm (passive)
Form Factor	closed-back over-ear
Wireless	Bluetooth 5.3 (aptX Adaptive)
Weight	250g
Battery	24 hrs (ANC on, Immersive off)
ANC	true

Who It's For

Travelers and commuters who want the most comfortable premium ANC headphone available. iPhone users get spatial audio parity with Apple Music. Not recommended for studio work or anyone who values neutral reference tuning — Bose's house sound is intentionally consumer-warm.

Community Signal

Selection draws from r/audiophile, r/headphones, and r/HeadphoneAdvice consensus plus YouTube reviewer consensus from channels including Z Reviews, DMS, and Resolve.

What Real Users Say

“Comfort is the Bose moat — XM5 still gives me ear pain on long flights, QC Ultra never does.”
— u/frequent_flyer_98 in r/headphones

Last updated: May 2, 2026 · By Jordan Kim