Bose’s Latest QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Are a Huge Improvement

Bose has just announced the next generation of its popular QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The best part of this new version is how much it has improved on the last generation, which means that upgrading may be a smart option.

One of the biggest new features is the ability to use USB-C for lossless digital audio. This is a massive upgrade over the last generation, which we did like in our review despite the issues the headphones have. The first-gen headphones were good for travel and listening to playlists on the go, but they weren’t the best for critical listening or lossless audio. With this new feature, you can now get clear, high-fidelity sound that preserves the full detail of the original recording. This also gives you access to new ways to use the headphones, like low-latency audio for gaming on a desktop or mobile device.

The 2nd-gen model also comes with “Cinema Mode.” This new feature spatializes sound and balances it to deliver a movie-like experience. It widens the soundstage and places it in front of you, making dialogue clearer and crisper. While it’s great for movies, it also works for podcasts and audiobooks, making it feel like someone is speaking directly to you. To be fair, the original Immersive Audio feature in the first-gen headphones was also impressive, but it hit the battery pretty hard.

One thing that really stood out to me was that the Gen 2 headphones have a deeper bass at louder volumes and highs that sound more natural. The crispness was an issue in the first generation, so it’s good to see there was an improvement.

Bose also added a new algorithm that improves the ActiveSense experience in Aware Mode. This makes changes in noise cancellation levels smoother than before. The original headphones had a similar feature that worked well, but this improvement should be a welcome one.

The battery life has been extended to 30 hours of playback, which is up from the 24 hours seen in the last model. That’s with Immersive Audio turned off; with it on, you get 23 hours of play time, and with ANC turned off, you get a massive 45 hours of use. The headphones also have improved on-head detection, which automatically turns on and pairs to saved devices as soon as you put them on. This means you don’t even need a power button anymore.

The original headphones had a similar feature that would do a quick personalization and survey of your ears when you put them on, so it’s cool to see them improve on that. When you take the new headphones off, they’ll go into a low-power standby mode that can last for months.

The design has also gotten a refresh, with polished metal yokes for a more modern look. They still retain the classic foldable design for easy portability. Overall, it looks like Bose has done a great job of taking an already great pair of headphones and making them even better. They’ve addressed some of the minor issues from the first generation while adding some major improvements that are going to make a huge difference, especially for people who want to listen to high-fidelity audio.

These new headphones are available for preorder now at a price of $449 on Bose’s online store. They come in a few different colors; the basics are Black and White Smoke, but Bose has the new limited-edition options of Driftwood Sand and Midnight Violet. The headphones are out for preorder now, but will be released on October 2, 2025.