Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Review

You're mostly paying for the Bose name here. Core performance metrics like sound and ANC land in the low 40s percentile, which is average at best. For $299, you can get better-performing earbuds from competitors like Sony.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds land at $299, which is premium territory. They score a 93rd percentile for social proof, meaning people are talking about them a lot, but the core performance metrics like sound and ANC sit in the low 40s percentile-wise. That's a bit of a head-scratcher for the price.

Our data shows these are best for a budget listener, scoring 46.7 out of 100 there, but they're not great for music (26.9/100) and they're downright bad for gaming at 12.8/100. So, you're getting a well-known brand name with decent battery life (60th percentile), but the actual audio and noise-canceling performance is just middle-of-the-pack.

Let's talk numbers. The sound quality and active noise canceling both rank in the 41st percentile. That means over half the earbuds in our database perform better in these key areas. The microphone is even lower at the 38th percentile, so call quality isn't a strong suit. Build quality and comfort also hover around that 41st-42nd percentile mark, which is fine but not impressive.

The bright spot is the 60th percentile battery life, which translates to up to 24 hours with the charging case. That's solid. But when you're paying $299, you'd expect the core audio performance to be in the top quartile, not barely above average. The spatial audio 'Immersive' mode is a feature, but it doesn't seem to push the raw performance scores up.

At $299, the value proposition is tough. You're paying a premium for the Bose name and its 93rd percentile social buzz, but you're getting mid-pack performance where it counts. The sound and ANC in the low 40s percentile is what we'd expect from earbuds costing $100 less. If brand cachet and specific Bose features like CustomTune are worth the extra cash to you, maybe. But purely on a price-per-performance ratio, these are hard to justify.

Stacked against the competition, the Bose Ultras have a problem. The Sony WF-1000XM5 often retails for a similar price but consistently scores higher in our sound and ANC benchmarks. The Nothing Ear (a) offers a compelling value alternative with surprisingly good sound for much less money. Even the previous-gen Bose QuietComfort Earbuds might be a smarter buy on sale, as you'd get similar core performance for a lower price. The Technics EAH-AZ100 targets a similar reference-class audience but often with more critical acclaim for audio fidelity. For $299, you have options that simply perform better.

Gamers should run the other way—these scored a pitiful 12.8 out of 100 for gaming. Audiophiles seeking the best sound for their money should also skip, as the 41st percentile sound ranking is underwhelming. And if you're on a tight budget but want strong performance, the data shows these are not a value pick, despite their high social proof score.

We can't recommend these as a data-driven best buy. The numbers don't lie: middling sound, middling ANC, and subpar connectivity for a top-tier price. If you're a die-hard Bose fan who loves their specific fit and feature set, and you find them on a steep sale, then consider it. But for most people looking for the best true wireless experience, your money is better spent elsewhere. The high social proof score shows they're popular, but popularity doesn't always equal performance.