AUDIO · REVIEW ROUNDUP
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): what the reviews say
By S. Dahani and the RealDigitalTech editorial team
Bose's second-gen QC Ultra Earbuds cost $299 in the US. Reviewers call the noise cancelling the best in class and the sound punchy, but battery and comfort draw criticism.
© Bose
Quick Take
Key figures
Launch details
Bose released the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in 2025 at $299 in the US and £299 in the UK. What Hi-Fi? notes there was no price increase over the first model. The design is close to the original, with changes focused on tuning, noise cancelling and calls, plus wireless charging as standard. They support aptX Adaptive and multipoint connection to two devices, according to TechRadar. They sit at the top of Bose's earbud range.
What reviewers agree on
- Noise cancelling: all three outlets rate it as exceptional; What Hi-Fi? says Bose remains "in a class of one" for blocking noise.
- Sound: What Hi-Fi? and TechGearLab both describe full, rich bass with good detail.
- Calls: TechRadar credits four mics per bud, and What Hi-Fi? and TechGearLab found voices clear in noisy places.
- Battery: around 6 hours with noise cancelling, which TechRadar calls not exceptional for the class.
- Small update: changes over the first generation are mainly in tuning and software, not new hardware.
Where opinions differ
| Topic | Favourable view | Reserved view |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | What Hi-Fi? finds the fit secure and comfortable thanks to the stability bands. | TechGearLab finds them bulky and uncomfortable after 5–6 hours. |
| Features | TechRadar likes the Immersive Audio mode with head tracking. | What Hi-Fi? warns that Immersive Audio cuts battery life to 4 hours. |
| Customisation | The app lets you turn off the touch controls, notes TechRadar. | TechRadar regrets the basic three-band EQ, no LDAC and no hearing test. |
| Value | TechRadar gives it 5/5 for value. | TechGearLab sees only minor gains over the first generation. |
Scores: 5 stars from What Hi-Fi?; 5/5 for sound and design from TechRadar; 78/100 from TechGearLab.
Reviewer consensus
average of 3 published review scores
Broad agreement- What Hi-Fi?105 stars
- TechRadar105/5
- TechGearLab7.878/100
Scores published by the outlets cited in this article, converted to a 10-point scale. RealDigitalTech did not test this product itself.
Verdict
These are the earbuds to buy if blocking noise is your top priority. If you need longer battery life, TechRadar points to the Technics EAH-AZ100 for better stamina, and What Hi-Fi? cites the Sony WF-1000XM5 as a strong rival. Over-ear fans can read our Bose QuietComfort Headphones 2 analysis.
This article analyses reviews published by other outlets, in our own words. RealDigitalTech did not test these earbuds itself.
Sources
How this article was made: our editorial team selected and read the reviews listed above, compared their results and wrote this synthesis, with AI tools assisting the research and drafting. Every figure was checked against the sources, and the article was approved by the publication director. Our AI Disclosure · Our methodology · Report an error: editorial@realdigitaltech.com