Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

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QuietComfort 35 II compared with QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

	BoseQuietComfort 35 II	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2017	September 2025
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	–	Yes
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	–	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	–	Yes
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	High, Low and Off settings in the Bose Connect app or via the Action button; defaults to High on power-up; no dedicated transparency mode described in the maker's guide	Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling) and Aware Mode with ActiveSense, now smoother at damping sudden noise spikes; noise cancelling adjustable or fully off in the Bose app; CustomTune tailors sound and noise cancelling to your ears; wind block in custom modes
Audio features
Audio features	No custom equaliser in Bose Connect (SoundGuys); SBC and AAC codecs confirmed by SoundGuys	Bose Immersive Audio (Still keeps the virtual speakers in place as you turn your head; Motion lets them follow) and Cinema Mode; up to seven custom modes; adjustable EQ in the Bose app; lossless USB-C audio at 16-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices, which Bose says adapts to lossless audio and low latency; Gaming Mode
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 20 hours	Up to 30 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 20 hours wirelessly or 40 hours using the supplied audio cable; headphones do not play while charging; analogue listening remains possible with a depleted battery	Up to 23 hours with Immersive Audio on; up to 45 hours with noise cancelling and Immersive Audio off; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL; low-power standby when laid flat or put in the case; can be used while charging
Fast charging
Fast charging	Full charge in up to two hours (current owner's guide); What Hi-Fi reports 15 minutes provides 2.5 hours of wireless listening	15 minutes gives up to 3 hours with noise cancelling on and Immersive Audio off (Bose's test footnote gives 2.5 hours); full charge in up to 3 hours
Design
Weight
Weight	–	264 g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	4.1	5.4
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	Power/Bluetooth slider, volume buttons and multi-function button on the right earcup; left Action button can control noise cancellation; multi-function button accesses the phone's voice control	On the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power button, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls and modes) and a capacitive volume strip (swipe for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to Immersive Audio settings, Spotify Tap or the voice assistant); on-head detection pauses and resumes audio, answers calls and wakes the headphones
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone system for calls and voice assistants; maker's launch announcement describes voice pickup but does not publish a microphone count	Four microphones for calls, two on each ear cup
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Around-ear cushions; headband folds and earcups rotate for the supplied carry case	Around-ear (circumaural) with an adjustable headband; removable protein leather cushions; plastic and aluminium build with polished metal yokes; folds for the carry case
Dimensions
Dimensions	SoundGuys reports 235.3 g and 180 × 170 × 81 mm; What Hi-Fi's table gives 240 g; no current maker headphone weight was verified, so the main weight field is left out	–
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	No IP rating verified in the maker documents used; owner's guide says not to use near water	–
Works with
Works with	Bose Connect app for iOS and Android; two active Bluetooth devices, one audio stream at a time, with eight stored pairings; NFC pairing; SimpleSync with compatible Bose speakers and soundbars; Bluetooth 4.1 confirmed by TechRadar; Google Assistant is not available on iOS according to Bose's current article; current maker product page also lists Amazon Alexa, subject to country and language availability	Bose app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair; Spotify Tap; SimpleSync with a Bose Smart Soundbar or Bose Smart Speaker
Colours
Colours	Black and Silver at launch	Black, White Smoke, Driftwood Sand and Midnight Violet at launch; Bose UK now also sells Cherry Chocolate, Desert Gold and Olive Green
In the box
In the box	Headphones, carry case, USB charging cable and analogue audio cable; micro-USB charging connector; 2.5 mm headphone to 3.5 mm device audio cable (TechRadar)	Headphones, carry case, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable, USB-C to USB-C cable (99 cm), safety sheet