Summary
When it comes to audio, we already know that Bose is one of the best. But somehow, each new release gets even better, and that’s true with the all-new Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Earbuds. These new in-ear buds deliver the same great experience with more noise-blocking technology, wireless charging right out of the box, and better voice pickup during phone calls.
It’s been nearly two years since Bose released its first QC Ultra buds, which checked every box for premium earbuds with a comfortable design, excellent noise cancellation, and great sound quality.In our review, we said they are “seriously the best for noise cancellation.” Now, Bose is once again upping the bar with a 2nd generation model.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Release Date, Features, and Price
The new and improved Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen Earbuds retain everything you loved about the originals and make thoughtful improvements throughout, all without a price increase. They’re still $299, and you’ll be able to get a pair later this summer in three colorways: Black, White Smoke, or limited-edition Deep Plum Purple.
So, how did Bose manage to improve what many already consider the best ANC earbuds? For starters, every day ANC should be even better. Then, its Immersive Audio (in-house spatial audio technology) received an upgrade, and the active noise cancellation uses AI to handle loud spikes while smoothing out the cancellation. Bose added a proprietary AI algorithm to its ANC goodies that helps improve ActiveSense and Aware mode. Basically, changes in noise cancellation are smoother than ever without the jitter, blocking out loud noises while letting you hear the world around you.
Bose also specifically mentioned its “voice pickup,” which uses eight microphones, dynamic mixing, adaptive filters, and an upgraded noise suppression system to ensure every phone call is loud, crisp, and clear—at both ends of the call. We had no call quality complaints on the originals, so it’ll be interesting to see how much better these sound.
The new Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen earbuds still offer around 6 hours of battery life on a single charge, or 4 hours with Immersive Audio enabled. The USB-C charging case gives you three full charges, and just 20 minutes in the case will get you two hours of additional listening. Better yet, the QC Ultra 2nd Gen earbuds case now supports wireless charging, although Bose didn’t clarify the wattage or speeds.
Finally, these new earbuds are still wildly comfortable yet feature a new ear tip wax buildup guard to make cleaning them easier than ever. That’s something everyone can appreciate. I was hoping for better touch controls, but no such luck.
Other specs include everything we loved about the originals: Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint connectivity, AptX, IPX4 resistance, Google Fast Pair, and endless customization and EQ controls in theBose companion app. The all-new Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Earbuds will be available later this summer for $299.
