bose quietcomfort ultra earbuds (2nd gen): Features, Review & Comparison

For the listener who values two things almost above all else – excellent noise cancellation and pleasant, engrossing audio – the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) is intended. In 2025, Bose announced the second generation of its flagship wireless earbuds, which, while largely keeping the spirit of its predecessors, have refined active noise cancellation and microphone pickup of your voice, alongside adding wire-free charging.

While an entirely new design of the earbuds might have been easy, Bose has decided to step into this slowly. The earbuds provide quality sound and remain fairly familiar to first-gen owners, while adding a couple of much-needed functionality upgrades for anyone looking to own their first Bose flagship earbuds:

What Are Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are top-of-the-line true wireless earbuds with ANC, Bluetooth connectivity, adjustable EQ, built-in microphones, and Bose’s own CustomTune feature. In other words, they are earbuds designed to create a personal listening bubble for you to get away from the noise of the rest of the world.

Instead of simply turning up the volume over other noises, these earbuds measure the sound around and use circuitry to cancel unwanted sounds out. Their CustomTune feature remains from Bose’s last generation, providing audio that is adjusted to fit your individual ear.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) at a Glance

Bose lists three sizes of eartips and three sizes of stability bands in the box, giving users several ways to achieve a secure fit.

Design and Comfort

Comfort is one of the top reasons these earbuds are worth investigating further.
Combining plastics, silicone, and metals, the earbuds come with a fit kit that gives various sizes of eartips and stabilizer bands.

This fact can mean more than it sounds, because when you buy high-quality earbuds you will undoubtedly have better sound, but if the earbuds begin to feel uncomfortable after some time, then these benefits become greatly reduced.
These stability bands ensure that the earbuds remain securely situated in place during your usual motion.

Whether walking or commuting to work, using the stability bands to help correctly seat and secure your earbuds can make each experience vastly more secure.
The buds have an IPX4 rating, meaning they can withstand splashes and sweat; however, do not immerse your earbuds in water.

Noise Cancellation: The Main Attraction

The most striking feature of the QuietComfort Ultra series is arguably the noise cancellation. The very nature of active noise cancellation is to use a microphone to analyze the environment and to electronically counteract unwanted noise. The second-generation Ultra Earbuds build on Bose’s already competent approach to adaptive ANC.

Bose claims the new model will come with upgraded adaptive ANC and further voice clarity, with increased isolation of your voice compared to the previous generation.

• The ANC in practice would really suit someone often burdened by:

• Airplane and train noise
• Busy streets
• Office conversations
• Air conditioners and fans
• Cafés and other public spaces
• General low-frequency background noise

Independent testing also continues to place the second-generation model among the stronger ANC earbuds available, although the differences between today’s premium models can depend heavily on the environment and fit.

Sound Quality and Immersive Audio

Bose has not presented the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds simply as noise-masking technology. The sound is part of the story.
Designed to sound detailed and energetic across a range of genres, bass-heavy tracks sound punchy rather than like they can only be associated with electronic or hip-hop music.
One other significant innovation is Immersive Audio.
Immersive Audio aims for a wider presentation which can give compatible music and other content the effect of expanding out around the listener, rather than solely emanating from inside their head. It works well for movies and certain types of music but drains the battery.
Bose rates the battery life as up to 6 hours with Immersive Audio off, and 4 hours with it switched on.

Battery Life and Charging

Another area to keep in reasonable expectation is battery. The buds can last up to 6 hours of playback under Bose’s terms; however, with Immersive Audio, that figure falls to 4. The buds come with a charging case for even longer life, offering up to an additional 18 hours as stated by Bose.

The major step up from the previous model is wireless charging, which Bose highlights as one of the standout new features of the 2nd gen pair.

There’s also quick charge, with Bose claiming a 20-minute top-up will deliver 2 hours of playback.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs. the First Generation

The two generations are more alike than different. That is important for anyone who already owns the original model.

The second generation is therefore best understood as a refinement rather than a revolution. Independent testing similarly describes the changes as relatively modest, with the original generation remaining relevant, particularly when discounted.

Who Should Buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?

These earbuds are best suited for people who want the ‘ultimate’ listening experience and prioritize silence.
This makes them a lot more appealing to travelers. The ANC system is extremely useful for those long-haul flights as you’re no longer fighting the ambient noise.
Office workers, students and those who regularly find themselves listening in noisy environments may well find these attractive.
The fit system will be very useful for people who have always had problems with earbuds fitting loosely. As Bose offers numerous eartips and stability bands, there’s lots more scope for making them truly yours in terms of fit.

Who Might Want Something Else?

They aren’t necessarily automatically right for every person. Someone seeking exceptional battery life might think six hours of listening time isn’t remarkable compared to other offerings. iPhone users who are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem might be more likely to consider AirPods because of their native integration.

Upgrading to the second generation of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds if you already own the first-gen can also feel a bit less obvious, though the second generation offers some noticeable improvements without totally overhauling the experience.

Some software upgrades are likely to land on first-generation buds now too, according to independent tests, which does make the rush to upgrade less compelling.

Key Pros and Cons

Final Verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) offer polished luxury for those keen to silence the outside world and focus solely on their music, podcasts or films in total comfort. They deliver what the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is really all about, with no single specification standing out above the rest.

Instead, it’s how each feature perfectly complements the others – brilliant noise cancellation, customizable fit, entertaining audio, the unique ability of CustomTune, and all packaged up with simple wireless charging that makes this product truly what it is.

The second-generation Bose doesn’t revolutionize Bose’s top-tier earbuds.

It refines their highly successful predecessor, but I see the wisdom in smoothing out some minor flaws on a generally successful product, and for everyday use, nuance and quality can often trump more radical change.

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