Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Review

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen are premium true wireless earbuds priced at $299. They excel with personalized sound via CustomTune and a unique spatial audio Immersion mode, making them great for travel and music. However, their noise canceling and sound quality scores are good but not class-leading, and they are not suitable for gaming.

If you're looking for premium true wireless earbuds with a focus on travel and everyday listening, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen are a top contender. They're priced at $299, which puts them firmly in the high-end category, competing directly with Sony's flagship models. The big story here is Bose's CustomTune tech, which personalizes the sound profile to your ears, and the Immersion mode that blends spatial audio with noise canceling. You're getting multiple modes, including a transparent Aware mode and the adaptive ActiveSense noise canceling that adjusts to your environment. They're IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance, and they promise up to 24 hours of playback with the charging case. So, are they worth the premium? Let's dig in.

In our testing, the performance scores tell a clear story. These earbuds are built for music and travel, scoring in the 26.9 and 46.7 percentiles respectively in those areas. That's solid, but not class-leading. Their noise canceling and sound quality both land in the 41st percentile, which means they're good, but you can find stronger performers in pure ANC from competitors like Sony. The battery life sits at the 60th percentile, so you'll get a full day's use, but again, it's not breaking records. Where they really shine is in social proof, hitting the 93rd percentile. People love the Bose brand and experience, even if the raw specs aren't always the highest. For gaming, they're a hard pass, scoring a dismal 12.8 out of 100. Stick to music and podcasts.

At $299, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are asking a lot. You're paying for the Bose brand, the CustomTune personalization, and that unique Immersive audio mode. If those are must-haves for you, the price might be justified. But if you're just looking for the best noise canceling or the purest sound quality for your money, there are better values out there. The Sony WF-1000XM5 often goes on sale around the same price and typically beats these in raw ANC and sound performance scores. For budget buyers, the Nothing Ear (a) or Anker Soundcore models offer a huge chunk of the functionality for half the price or less.

The direct competitor is the Sony WF-1000XM5. In our data, the Sony tends to edge out the Bose in pure noise cancellation and sound fidelity, though the Bose fights back with its personalized audio and spatial Immersion mode. It's a classic battle: Sony for technical prowess, Bose for a unique, tailored experience. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another high-end option that audiophiles love for its reference-class sound, but it lacks some of Bose's smart features. On the budget side, the Nothing Ear (a) and Anker Soundcore P31i offer shockingly good performance for the price, but you'll miss out on the premium materials, CustomTune, and that Bose app ecosystem. And don't forget the previous-gen Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, which are often heavily discounted now and still offer fantastic ANC.

Skip these if you're a competitive gamer, as the latency and performance for gaming are poor. Also, if you're on a tight budget and just want great sound and ANC, the $299 price tag is hard to justify when excellent options like the Nothing Ear (a) exist for much less. Audiophiles seeking the absolute highest-fidelity, neutral sound might prefer the Technics EAH-AZ100 or even wired options. And if you already own the previous-generation Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, the upgrade here is incremental, not revolutionary.

So, should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen? If you're a Bose loyalist who values a personalized, immersive audio experience over having the absolute highest benchmark scores, then yes. The CustomTune and Immersion mode are genuinely cool features that set them apart. But if you're a spec hunter who wants the strongest possible noise canceling and the best sound quality for $300, you should probably look at the Sony WF-1000XM5 first. These Bose earbuds are excellent for travelers and everyday listeners who appreciate the Bose 'vibe,' but they're not the best all-around performers in the category. Buy them for the experience, not the spec sheet.