Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2 review: an ANC step backwards

As a huge fan of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones – easily the best headphones for travel – I was excited to receive the second-generation version of these headphones for review.

But, as with so many sequels – well, mainly in the movies – the promise is often enormous, yet the delivery can fail to match expectation, leaving that 'what gives?' feeling.

I never expected that to be the case with the QC Ultra Headphones 2, though, because Bose has tweaked and refined this new version. Yet, somehow – and I've A-B tested the old against the new, side by side – Bose has taken a noise-cancelling (ANC) step backwards.

It's rare that I come to write a review with such sentiment, as companies as esteemed as Bose have been accelerating forward at pace. Yet, for me, the 2025 QC Ultra Headphones can't quite match the original for their critical ANC sell. They're still among the best headphones, though, given they sound great – but is that enough?

Price & What's New?

When the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones launched, they were priced at £449.95 / $429.95 / AU$659. That price has since dropped, further adding to their appeal.

The second-gen model has held that price point for its on-sale datee, despite adding new features, so there's no jump in price – even two years after the originals' launch. It's not as though they're cheap, though.

So what does the 2nd Gen QC Ultra Headphones model add to the party? I've written a feature summarising, but here are the highlights in a quick-glance list:

• Improved battery performance, up to 23 hours with Immersive Audio
• Adjusted sound profile and ANC, with more bass at higher volume
• New colour options: Driftwood Sand, Midnight Violet
• USB-C audio for High-Res Audio wired listening
• New 'Cinema Mode' added

Design

When I first received my Bose QC Ultra Headphones 2, I'd been using the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 for many months – which are now my favourite headphones of the year.

In this particular White Smoke finish – which is an off-white all over, but with a garish ultra-shiny silver effect on the plastics – the Bose looks a long way from premium. I was actually quite surprised – as I'd buy the classic black version over this any day.

But what's particularly great about the Bose is that such materials prove very lightweight – so for a pair of travel headphones they're ideal. Feather-light at 250g, delicate in fit – there's no 'pinch' of the ears or head here – it's a proven design that I also appreciated in the original model.

Being able to fold the QC Ultra Headphones 2 is another great design feature, as they stow nicely into the included carry case. There's a 2.5mm-to-3.5mm cable in there, too, and a USB-C-to-C that's 99cm long to take advantage of that new wired listening experience.

In terms of design, there's no physical difference between the first- and second-gen QC Ultra Headphones. I've been directly comparing the two for this review, given the number of months I'd previously used the original model and how familiar I became with those.

The familiar design continues with physical controls, but they're fairly minimal – in a good way. There are individual Bluetooth and ANC Mode buttons on the right earcup, plus a small touch-control strip for controlling a function (set within the app); the left earcup houses no physical buttons, but is where you'll find the 2.5mm and USB-C ports for listening (and charging, in case of the latter).

Overall, then, the Bose QC Ultra Headphones 2 win for their lightweight folding design and long-wear comfort factor. But the plasticky finish, particularly in the Smoke White version, I find at odds with its high asking price.

Sound Quality

Having adored the original QC Ultra Headphones' sound qualities, I was interested to see how the second-gen model would differ. It's subtle – save for the ANC differences, which I'll come to later – but, in many environments, these headphones sound super.

Bose goes for an energetic soundstage, with the QC Ultra 2 hitting the big bass, the sharp highs, and everything in between with enthusiasm. It's clean, but certainly not neutral – the kind of positive, warm sound that many will enjoy.

There's a lot going on in terms of processing that's interesting, as within the Bose app (iOS and Android), the sound mode can be selected and adjusted – with inclusions for Aware (passthrough), Cinema (to enhance voice), and Immersive Audio (spatial audio processing).

It's the last of those which adds a three-dimensional effect, widening the soundstage, but also responding to your head's motion, as if within a field of audio. You can change it to be static should you find this disorientating, but I find the effect is delivered more effectively than some other brands' crude spatial processing.

Overall, though, Bose's big bass, bright audio, and big volume all add up to a sound experience that many will love. The active noise-cancelling helps add to this effect, too, for a more engaged listening experience – it's just not full frequency effective as much as its predecessor.

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)

Let me preface this by saying Bose's active noise-cancelling (ANC) has widely been regarded as world-leading in blocking out external sounds. It's been at the forefront in QC models for years. So why the change in the 2nd Gen QC Ultra Headphones?

I have a suspicion that the brand has been looking to the wider market. The likes of Bowers & Wilkins' PX7 S3, for example, deliver a much-improved ANC experience compared to that brand's previous model. But it's ANC that's less 'full shutdown' than what Bose is known for.

I first noticed the QC Ultra Headphones 2 not delivering ANC as I'd expected when on a plane from Germany to the UK. The flight service handed out a packet of crisps to all passengers as the in-flight snack and, despite not having anyone sat next to me (it wasn't fully booked), I could hear the rustling of the packets. A given higher frequency range just cuts through, even with ANC activated.

"It must be my mistake," I assumed, looking into the app and checking that Immersion Mode with ANC set to full 10/10 was on. It was. I checked the headphones for a software update upon landing, just to be sure, but there was nothing new. I could only assume, therefore, that Bose's 'enhanced' ANC for the 2nd Gen model is actually less effective at blocking out all external sound and frequency ranges than before.

A few days later, I went to the gym, as another typical test of any headphones. The music blaring out on the club's speakers – which isn't ever a distraction with the original QC Ultra Headphones, which I use frequently there – was cutting through at a given higher-end frequency. It was jarring.

Now, I get that not everyone wants that "locked in" or "vacuum-like" experience when it comes to ANC. But it's what Bose has done so, so well for so many years that it feels amiss for it to be any different here. I can only hope a forthcoming software update will fix it.

To be absolutely sure, I've performed A-B testing in my home office. Having set various musical loops running on my equipment, to ensure I'm hearing precisely the same parts on repeat, I listened with the original QC Ultra Headphones and the 2nd Gen model. In every instance the original was better at omitting sound across all frequencies.

I wondered if the Smoke White finish introduced any alternative materials that would adjust the fit or seal, but I've thoroughly compared the two headphones and they're identical in terms of design – save for the white and silver, of course – compared to my black-finish original.

Bose QC Ultra Headphones 2 review: Verdict

Bose has an established history in delivering top-notch travel headphones – and the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2 are no different.

Highly accomplished in terms of portable design, comfort, and battery longevity, they're a lightweight fit with a heavyweight sound that many will love.

However, the updated active noise-cancelling (ANC) here, while good, just isn't as good as the first generation – some higher frequency sounds aren't omitted, despite Immersion Mode's full-whack ANC being applied.

From that perspective, while the 2nd Gen QC Ultra Headphones bring additions such as wired High-Res Audio listening, from a purely ANC perspective the original version therefore remains the obvious choice.

Also consider

Seems obvious, really, but you can buy the original QC Ultra Headphones for a cut of the price, but still benefit from the same design – just minus the battery boost and wired high-res listening via USB-C.

As a direct Bose 2nd Gen competitor, however, it's the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 that deliver a far more premium design and finish – with ANC that, while still not as strong as what Bose offers, is the brand's best to date. They're not out-and-out travel headphones, mind, which Bose just does better.

Otherwise, Sony's WH-1000XM6 are highly commendable, especially for travel, thanks to top ANC and a folding design. These might be the de facto choice for 2025, really.