Bose Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) - Driftwood Sand Review
Bose's new flagship headphones offer unique spatial audio, but our testing reveals middling ANC and sound scores paired with a premium price. See if they're right for you.
The 30-Second Version
The Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are comfortable and have a neat spatial audio trick, but their core performance is mid-pack. With ANC and sound scores in the 30th percentile and weak battery life, they're hard to recommend at $449 unless you're a Bose die-hard.
Overview
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are Bose's latest flagship over-ears, promising their best noise cancellation and a new 'Immersive Audio' feature. They're built for comfort and style, with plush cushions and a premium design, but they're entering a crowded field at a premium price.
Performance
The noise cancellation is solid, but our data puts it in the 36th percentile, which means it's good but not class-leading. The same goes for sound quality, which also sits in the 36th percentile. The battery life is the real weak spot, landing in the bottom 14th percentile with up to 30 hours, which is fine but not great for the price. The new Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode are neat tricks, but they're more about a specific listening experience than raw performance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode create a unique, spatialized soundstage.
- CustomTune tech personalizes the sound profile to your ears.
- Build quality and materials feel premium and luxurious.
- Controls are intuitive and the auto-pause feature works well.
Cons
- Battery life is merely average for premium over-ear headphones. 14th
- Noise cancellation and sound quality scores don't lead the pack. 25th
- They're heavy at 254g, which might bother some during long sessions. 25th
- The price is steep for the performance you're getting. 33th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.6 lbs |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At $449, the value proposition is tough. You're paying a lot for the Bose brand, a premium feel, and some unique audio features like Immersive Audio. But when you look at the actual performance scores—ANC and sound in the 30th percentile, battery in the 14th—it's hard to argue you're getting top-tier performance for your money. If you're a Bose loyalist who loves their comfort and wants the new spatial audio tricks, maybe. For everyone else, it's a hard sell.
Price History
vs Competition
Stacked against the Sony WH-1000XM5, the Bose loses on battery life and our ANC scores. The Sony's are lighter, often cheaper, and score higher in our database. Compared to something like the Apple AirPods Max, you're getting a similar premium build but without the deep Apple ecosystem integration. The Bose's unique selling point is its Immersive Audio, which is a cool party trick the others don't have, but that's about it. For pure noise-cancelling performance and value, the Sony is the smarter buy.
| Spec | Bose Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) - Driftwood Sand | Sony Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Technics Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Apple Airpods Pro 3 Apple AirPods Pro with Wireless MagSafe Charging | Jabra Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-A MS Earbuds with USB-A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | — | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | — | Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Headphones (Black) | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | — | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Battery Life Hours | — | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | — | 16 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 25 |
| Water Resistance | — | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | IP57 |
| Multipoint | — | true | true | true | true | true |
Common Questions
Q: Is the noise cancellation better than Sony's?
According to our performance data, Bose's ANC scores in the 36th percentile, which typically places it behind class leaders like the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Q: How long does the battery really last?
Bose claims up to 30 hours, but that's without the Immersive Audio feature turned on. With it on, expect closer to 23 hours, which is below average for this price range.
Q: Are they comfortable for all-day wear?
The plush cushions are great, but at 254 grams, they're on the heavier side. Our comfort score is in the 25th percentile, so some users might find them fatiguing over very long sessions.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you're a frequent traveler. Our data shows travel is their weakest category (11.2/100), likely due to the average battery life and heft. If you need the absolute best noise cancellation or the longest battery life for your money, look at Sony or even Sennheiser options instead.
Verdict
Buy these if you're deeply invested in the Bose ecosystem, you prioritize supreme comfort and a luxurious feel over absolute technical performance, and you're genuinely excited by the idea of spatialized 'Immersive Audio'. For anyone else, especially travelers who need all-day battery, there are better-performing options for the same or less money.