Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review: ANC First

If you're searching for a Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review, you probably want to know whether these Bose earbuds suit travel, commuting and noisy offices. These earbuds sit in the mid-range part of the market. Bose builds them around adaptive noise cancellation, a customisable fit and a feature set aimed at people who spend a lot of time on planes, trains and video calls.

This review is based on Bose's published specifications and on what independent expert reviews report. It is not hands-on testing. It covers who the earbuds suit, where they are strong, and where reviewers say they fall short.

What the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are

These are true wireless earbuds with a clear priority: block out the world, then make the audio rich and the fit secure. Around that core, Bose adds modern conveniences such as multipoint pairing, a wireless charging case and AI-assisted call clarity.

The expert response has been strong. Across five expert reviews they average 9/10. TechRadar and What Hi-Fi? both give them 5/5, Stereo Guide scores them 93/100, SoundGuys gives 7.7/10 and TechGearLab 78/100. The spread is worth noting. Normalised to a 10-point scale, the scores range from 7.7/10 (SoundGuys) to 10/10 (TechRadar and What Hi-Fi?), and reviewers also point out trade-offs, which we cover below.

Design, fit and build

Fit is one of the most consistently praised aspects. Bose supplies nine fit combinations of eartips and stability bands, so you can adjust both how the bud seals in your ear canal and how it is held in place. A good seal matters for every earbud, but especially for one sold on noise cancellation, because a poor seal lets sound leak in. Reviewers describe the fit as comfortable and secure, which matters for long flights and for commuters who move around.

Each bud weighs 7.7 g. The case is 2.61" H x 2.35" W x 1.06" D and weighs 0.132 lb (0.06 kg). The earbuds come in Black and White Smoke, with a limited-edition Deep Plum.

The water resistance rating is IPX4, and it applies to the earbuds only, not the case. That is enough to be reassuring if you're caught in the rain or sweating during a workout, but reviewers flag it as a limit. These are not designed for heavy water exposure, so treat them as splash-resistant rather than waterproof.

Bose also lets you disable the touch controls in its app.

Noise cancellation: the main attraction

Noise cancellation is where reviewers are most enthusiastic. The adaptive system offers Quiet and Aware modes. Quiet is for maximum isolation, such as on a flight or a train, while Aware lets the outside world in when you need to hear announcements or traffic. A common line of praise is that the cancellation is class-leading.

In practice, the combination of a customisable seal and strong active cancellation is what makes these earbuds compelling for noisy environments. If your daily life involves engines, crowds or open-plan offices, this is the headline feature to weigh.

Sound quality and CustomTune

Reviewers describe the sound as rich and punchy. A big part of that is CustomTune, which calibrates the sound to the shape of your ears. The idea is that different ears shape sound differently, so a per-user adjustment can make the output more consistent.

There is also Bose Immersive Audio, with a Cinema Mode aimed at video. It adds a more spatial feel, but it comes at a cost to battery, as covered below.

On the wireless side, the earbuds support SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive, including low latency. That gives a sensible spread of codec options for different devices. Low-latency support is relevant if you watch video and want less delay between picture and sound.

The main criticism on the audio side is limited EQ options. If you like to shape the sound precisely, reviewers say the tuning controls are restrictive. CustomTune does some of the work automatically, but it is not a substitute for a full equaliser.

Calls and microphones

Each earbud has four microphones, and Bose adds AI-based background noise suppression for clearer calls. Reviewers specifically praise call clarity, which makes the earbuds a reasonable fit for people who spend a lot of time on voice and video calls while commuting or working from shared spaces.

Battery life and charging

Battery is the most obvious weakness. You get 6 hours from the earbuds on a charge, falling to 4 hours with Immersive Audio on. With the case, the total is 24 hours (earbuds plus three extra charges from the case). That is perfectly workable for a commute or a typical day, but it is a limit for very long journeys without access to the case, and reviewers list it as a criticism.

Charging is flexible. You can use USB-C or wireless charging for the case. The earbuds take 2 hours to charge and the case 3 hours. For quick top-ups, 20 minutes gives up to 2 hours of use, which helps if you forget to charge them before heading out.

Connectivity

The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 with a range of up to 30 feet (9 m). Bluetooth multipoint lets them stay connected to two devices at once, for example a laptop and a phone, so you can move between a video call and music without re-pairing. For anyone who switches between devices through the day, this is one of the most practical features on the list.

What experts like and what they criticise

The praise is consistent. Reviewers highlight:

• the noise cancellation, with its Quiet and Aware modes
• a comfortable, secure fit thanks to the range of eartips and stability bands
• rich, punchy sound, helped by CustomTune
• clear calls
• the wireless charging case and multipoint support

The criticisms are just as consistent:

• battery life per charge is modest, and shorter with Immersive Audio
• reviewers see only small upgrades over the 1st Gen
• EQ options are limited
• the IPX4 rating covers the earbuds only

The point about the 1st Gen matters mainly for existing owners. If you already have the previous model, reviewers suggest there is little reason to rush, because the improvements are modest rather than transformative.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if you are a commuter or frequent traveler who wants strong noise cancellation, a secure fit and everyday convenience. Multipoint, wireless charging and good call quality make it easy to live with, especially if you move between a phone and a laptop.

Skip it if long battery life per charge is your priority, or if you want detailed control over the sound. Anyone who wants to use the earbuds in heavy rain or other serious water exposure should also look elsewhere. And if you already own the 1st Gen, the reported gains are small.

How it fits in its category

In the noise-cancelling earbud category, the key questions are how well the earbuds block noise, how well they fit and how long they last. This model scores well on the first two and is less impressive on the third. If you want to see how it sits against other options, our guide to the best wireless earbuds covers ANC, battery and sound value across the category. If you are weighing it against another flagship, you can also read our Sony WF-1000XM6 review.

Verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are a polished, travel-focused pair of earbuds whose appeal rests on noise cancellation, fit and convenience. Expert scores are high, averaging 9/10, and the praise is consistent. The compromises are real but clear: modest battery life, limited EQ and an earbuds-only IPX4 rating. If those don't bother you, they are an easy pair to recommend to commuters and travelers.

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