I recently got my QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) after having Gen 1s for a while. I primarily use them around the house from my Windows PC for work (on the go from my iPhone/MacBook I tend to use AirPods for the portability). ANC One thing I'd really like to list as a big pro is the ANC hissing is gone. I'd say "like to" because it comes back as soon as audio plays, and takes a few seconds afterward to quiet back down. I think I'll get used to this... and it is nice when you have them on for long periods with nothing playing... but I'm not ready to declare the ANC hiss problem fully solved yet either. Overall though, the ANC seems better for this type of "work from home" use case, albeit not perfected. The ANC is adjustable, and you can turn it all the way off, but I'm not sure I'd bother with these headphones anyways if that's your use case. If you have a particular reason to care though, it is there and adjusts fine. USB C On the audio side there is also another think I'd like to list as a big pro: the USB C audio. God bless it's finally here (and the headset doesn't just assume it should turn off when you plug it in to charge even if you had wired analog audio playing when you did like on the Gen 1s...). On the downside, there is something odd about it where I have to set the volume of the headset in Windows to 6/100 in USB C mode to be as loud as 20/100 in Bluetooth mode. In both modes swiping the volume on the headphones changes the volume in Windows, and both are digital connections, so I'm not sure why there is a difference (or why they are so fucking loud in USB C mode that I have to lose all granularity in my Windows volume. Microphone For another downside, they finally listened that USB C should carry audio... but they didn't bother making the headphones work as a microphone in this situation. This is really lazy to me, and means I have to have a charging USB C cable separate from the USB C cable I'd use for audio (gaming latency/audio quality after work) because plugging in the USB C cable connected to the computer during work would not only charge the headphones, but drop the microphone completely. Windows added support of Super Wideband Bluetooth LE audio recently, but these don't support LE. That means if you connect to Windows with a normal Bluetooth adapter you lose a ton of audio quality when the microphone is active. This just goes to show how big of a shitshow Bluetooth still is in this use case, and why USB C still not having the microphone sent back is such an annoyance. Fit Overall, I find this a bit more snug and comfy than the Gen 1s. This may come down to personal preference though. I don't think the average person will really care one way or the other. Overall Overall, I needed another headset in the household anyways. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered. It is better than the previous generation in many ways, but often in "monkey's paw" type fashion. I'd still recommend them - QC Ultras are among the best in noise cancelling regardless of the version, but, for my use case of just wanting good noise cancelling on work for home, I'd still give them a B (the same I gave the gen 1), albeit maybe a B+ now. Answer from Hopeful_Direction747 on reddit.com
Bose
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Shop Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Bose
This is particularly useful for USB-C source devices such as computers or mobile devices when gaming or listening to lossless audio files. Over a USB-C connection using USB audio, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) can receive audio signals at 16-bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz from compatible ...
RTINGS
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Review - RTINGS.com
October 30, 2025 - The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the 2025 follow-up to the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless from 2023. Rather than reinve...
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WTF Did Bose Just Do? QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 vs Gen 1! - YouTube
What are the controls on QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?
The left and right earbud surfaces are the same, but the controls vary depending on whether you are listening to audio or on a phone call.When listening to audio:Swipe up or down for volume controlTap once to play or pause contentTap twice in quick succession to skip forwardTap three times in quick succession to skip backPress and hold the earbud surface to access a favorite listening mode, and release when the desired mode is announced. The default shortcut function on both buds is to cycle through three listening modes:Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling)Aware Mode (full audio transparency to
bose.com
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) | Noise Cancelling, ...
What are the differences between QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) and their predecessor, QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) offer all the same features as their predecessor, QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, plus:Improved call quality through AI-based background noise suppressionWireless chargingImproved ActiveSense (adaptive noise cancellation) technologyCase battery level reporting in the Bose appOption to disable touch controls via the Bose app
bose.com
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) | Noise Cancelling, ...
How is the noise cancellation of QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) achieved?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) utilize both passive and active noise reduction technologies. Passive noise reduction is similar to when you wear earplugs; there is a physical blockage preventing some of the sound from entering your ear. This is achieved through the earbud design with materials such as silicone eartips, and the acoustic seal created by having a proper fit. For active noise cancellation, your earbuds use sophisticated proprietary electronics with microphones both inside and outside the earbuds. The electronics system senses the sound in almost any environment and then
bose.com
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) | Noise Cancelling, ...
Amazon
amazon.com › Bose-QuietComfort-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling › dp › B0FDKR293G
Amazon.com: Bose New QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling with Mic, Up to 30 Hours of Play time, Black : Electronics
Awaken your sound with QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). Obsessively engineered with Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones, plus spatialized audio to expand sound, every beat hits harder and every melody takes up more space. Bose Immersive Audio takes what you’re hearing ...
SoundGuys
soundguys.com › home › earbuds & headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra headphones (2nd gen) vs quietcomfort ultra headphones: should you upgrade?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: Should you upgrade? - SoundGuys
October 19, 2025 - Both versions of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra generally follow our SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve, but with some clear differences. They boost the bass more than our curve suggests, which gives music plenty of punch but can sound boomy at times. The 2nd Gen sticks closer to the curve in the mids and treble, so vocals and instruments sound a bit more natural.
Mark Ellis Reviews
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review - Mark Ellis Reviews
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review
We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies. 90% 90% The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Generation earbuds improve upon their predecessors in some minor ways like multi-point connectivity whilst retaining the core components of industry-leading sound quality ... The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Generation earbuds improve upon their predecessors in some minor ways like multi-point connectivity whilst retaining the core components of industry-leading sound quality and noise cancelling.
Best Buy
bestbuy.com › best buy › all headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) True Wireless Noise Cancelling In Ear Earbuds Black 896637-0010 - Best Buy
September 23, 2025 - Bose · Model: 896637-0010 · SKU: 6628900 · 2 Videos · 3D · Customer Images · Noise Cancelling (Active) Yes · Sound Mode · Stereo · Connection Type · Wireless · Wireless Connectivity · Bluetooth · True Wireless · Yes · Maximum Wireless Range · 30 feet · See All Specifications ·
Reddit
reddit.com › r/bose › for those who have the quietcomfort ultra gen 2 headphones how are you liking them?
r/bose on Reddit: For Those who have the Quietcomfort Ultra Gen 2 Headphones how are you liking them?
October 2, 2025 -
I live in the US and haven’t received them early like other reviewers have. I was just curious for those who have them.
Top answer 1 of 25
7
I recently got my QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) after having Gen 1s for a while. I primarily use them around the house from my Windows PC for work (on the go from my iPhone/MacBook I tend to use AirPods for the portability). ANC One thing I'd really like to list as a big pro is the ANC hissing is gone. I'd say "like to" because it comes back as soon as audio plays, and takes a few seconds afterward to quiet back down. I think I'll get used to this... and it is nice when you have them on for long periods with nothing playing... but I'm not ready to declare the ANC hiss problem fully solved yet either. Overall though, the ANC seems better for this type of "work from home" use case, albeit not perfected. The ANC is adjustable, and you can turn it all the way off, but I'm not sure I'd bother with these headphones anyways if that's your use case. If you have a particular reason to care though, it is there and adjusts fine. USB C On the audio side there is also another think I'd like to list as a big pro: the USB C audio. God bless it's finally here (and the headset doesn't just assume it should turn off when you plug it in to charge even if you had wired analog audio playing when you did like on the Gen 1s...). On the downside, there is something odd about it where I have to set the volume of the headset in Windows to 6/100 in USB C mode to be as loud as 20/100 in Bluetooth mode. In both modes swiping the volume on the headphones changes the volume in Windows, and both are digital connections, so I'm not sure why there is a difference (or why they are so fucking loud in USB C mode that I have to lose all granularity in my Windows volume. Microphone For another downside, they finally listened that USB C should carry audio... but they didn't bother making the headphones work as a microphone in this situation. This is really lazy to me, and means I have to have a charging USB C cable separate from the USB C cable I'd use for audio (gaming latency/audio quality after work) because plugging in the USB C cable connected to the computer during work would not only charge the headphones, but drop the microphone completely. Windows added support of Super Wideband Bluetooth LE audio recently, but these don't support LE. That means if you connect to Windows with a normal Bluetooth adapter you lose a ton of audio quality when the microphone is active. This just goes to show how big of a shitshow Bluetooth still is in this use case, and why USB C still not having the microphone sent back is such an annoyance. Fit Overall, I find this a bit more snug and comfy than the Gen 1s. This may come down to personal preference though. I don't think the average person will really care one way or the other. Overall Overall, I needed another headset in the household anyways. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered. It is better than the previous generation in many ways, but often in "monkey's paw" type fashion. I'd still recommend them - QC Ultras are among the best in noise cancelling regardless of the version, but, for my use case of just wanting good noise cancelling on work for home, I'd still give them a B (the same I gave the gen 1), albeit maybe a B+ now.
2 of 25
5
Got them last week. Loving it so far! I returned my recently purchased Gen1s and got these instead. Impressed with how fast it powers on when I put it on.
WIRED
wired.com › review › bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-2
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 Review: Major Fun | WIRED
October 23, 2025 - The QuietComfort Ultra 2 improve upon the original, though this is a minor update with very similar noise-canceling and audio performance. Frankly, a more accurate name would be the Ultra Gen 1.2 or 1.3, but I suppose that’s not as catchy.
Tom's Guide
tomsguide.com › audio › headphones › earbuds
I spent 24 hours with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 — here's what I like and don't | Tom's Guide
July 7, 2025 - Bose has released a brand new version of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds called the generation 2. There are some great updates here — but are they enough to differentiate between the old model?
RecordingNow
recordingnow.com › blog › bose-quietcomfort-ultra-2-review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Review: The BEST Yet!
October 10, 2025 - The design of the QC Ultra 2 is unchanged from the 1st gen, and for good reason. Simply put, it doesn’t get more comfortable than the QC Ultra headphones, and I’ve tested over 30+ of them at this point. The QC Ultra has the recipe for success: lightweight, plush cushioning, and minimal clamping force. There’s only a handful of headphones that have received a perfect Comfort score, but the QC Ultra may be at the very top above all of them. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen was released in October 2025 and has the typical modern wireless ANC headphone features:
Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra gen 2 initial thoughts (driftwood sand)
r/headphones on Reddit: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 Initial Thoughts (Driftwood Sand)
September 21, 2025 -
After six years, I’ve just upgraded from the XM3s after trying out the XM4,5,6 in store and borrowing a friend’s Ultra Gen 1.
The driftwood sand colour is beautiful, isn’t nearly as pink as I thought it would be based on the photos.
Comfort: I’d say these are the most comfortable I’ve ever worn, slightly beating out the Ultra Gen 1. Noticeably weaker clamping force than all the Sonys. The comfort was night and day between this and the Sony XM6, and this is the biggest reason I went with the Ultra Gen 2.
Sound Quality: didn’t sound perfect out of the box on all songs, I’m no audiophile and am still playing around with the EQ. Sounded great on vocal tracks however EDM and bass heavy pop sounded a bit muddy for my taste. Some tracks sound wonderful and some still need a bit of tweaking. For now I think the sound isn’t clearly better than the Ultra Gen 1 or the XM6. But also not clearly worse. Need more time to test this category. Lossless audio over USC is one of the main reasons I bought these over the XM6 alongside comfort so will be looking forward to testing that.
Looks: Love this colour, case and overall design. The shiny bands look really good in person at least on this sand colour. Feels alright, doesn’t attract as many fingerprints as expected.
ANC: not in depth testing but my initial thoughts were that the ANC is significantly better than my old XM3 which isn’t surprising. Seems to be slightly better than the Ultra Gen 1 and on par with XM6.
Cons: Personally really hoped the Bose app would have 5 band EQ instead of just 3. The controls and buttons are lacking compared to Sony XM6.
Overall, happy with spending $699 AUD on these for my birthday after 6-7 years on the XM3. Let’s hope we get some good reviews on sound quality and ANC from actual audiophiles soon.
Top answer 1 of 5
4
Why do you think they edge out the Gen 1? They appear identical? I’m still somewhat disappointed that my QC45’s are more comfortable than my Gen 1 Ultra’s. But they both outclass every other manufacturer of ANC headphones when it comes to comfort.
2 of 5
3
Do they still have a tremendous ANC noise floor/hiss? I'm surprised Bose didn't advertise this release at all, your post is the first I'm hearing of it.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/bose › bose quiet comfort ultra headphones gen 1 vs gen 2 quick take
r/bose on Reddit: Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones Gen 1 vs Gen 2 quick take
September 13, 2025 -
Told myself I wouldn't get the Gen 2, but could not resist at least checking them out. Still quite unsure whether or not to keep and replace my Gen 1. My very quick initial impressions:
Gen 2 feel slightly softer and with even lower clamping force already straight out of the box (even though I had no complaints on Gen 1). They really are super comfortable (still).
Gen 2 has noticeably less hiss/white noise during ANC mode. There is some hiss during the first few seconds, but then for me it goes down to an (almost?) imperceptible level.
ANC I just tested around the house so far and struggled to find any clear differences. They might be there, sure, but at least not immediately apparent.
With Gen 2 you can now turn ANC on/off and set ANC strength from 1-10
Sound quality I could not discern any noticeable differences (disregarding the cinematic mode)
Microphones/call quality I did not test yet
Gen 2 sand color is gorgeous, but I am quite partial to the darker sandstone tone of Gen 1
They are really very similar headphones (well, obviously), this is nowhere near the XM5 -> XM6
So absent any call testing (where I am hoping they will have improved), imo the most noticeable upgrades are on ANC customization and the hiss reduction, otherwise not a WOW!-impact upgrade.
EDIT:
Also, I have not been able to reproduce the thumping/popping sound with stronger movements on Gen 2, but I really wouldn't want to give any guarantees it is fixed. Just did some very brief tests indoors.
Top answer 1 of 5
52
Hate the high gloss of gen2. It’s distracting and prone to showing every hand print, micro-scratch and mar that accumulates on it. Much prefer a matte finish. IMHO, Gen1 looks much better due to this alone.
2 of 5
17
With the Gen 2, you can finally turn off ANC fully, is that true? If so I'm gonna get them
Best Buy
bestbuy.com › best buy › all headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Black 890101-0100 - Best Buy
November 21, 2025 - 2 Videos · 3D · Customer Images · Bose · Model: 890101-0100 · SKU: 6642778 · Noise Cancelling (Active) Yes · Sound Mode · Stereo · Connection Type · Wireless, Wired · Wireless Connectivity · Bluetooth · True Wireless · No · Maximum Wireless Range ·
What Hi-Fi?
whathifi.com › headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review: the best Bose ANC headphones to date | What Hi-Fi?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are, as a result, among the world’s most comprehensively featured noise-cancelling headphones. Recognising that performance cannot stand still for a moment in this cut-throat market, Bose has also dutifully elevated the Ultra’s already strong ... Bose fixes the original Ultra’s flaws while furthering their strengths, but is that enough?
TechRadar
techradar.com › audio › headphones
I tested them, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the absolute best active noise cancelling cans for the money
I tested them, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the absolute best active noise cancelling cans for…
The original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones from 2023 are still a competitive product, so for this second generation Bose has wisely left a lot unchanged. Even more wisely, the changes it has made turn out to be judicious and useful, and serve to make the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) ... The king of ANC is back, better than ever
Amazon
amazon.com › Bose-New-QuietComfort-Ultra-Earbuds › dp › B0F7M3HPBD
Amazon.com: Bose New QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging, Up to 6 Hours Battery, IPX4 Rating, Black : Electronics
Amazon.com: Bose New QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging, Up to 6 Hours Battery, IPX4 Rating, Black : Electronics