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

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

	BoseQuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Overview
Released
Released	August 2026	October 2023
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	Yes	No
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	QuietControl noise cancellation with a six-microphone system; adaptive feedforward control compensates for gaps in the ear cup seal (glasses, hair, hats); Quiet, Aware, Immersion and Cinema modes plus custom modes; Aware mode with ActiveSense softens sudden noise spikes; noise cancelling adjustable or fully off in the Bose app; wind block in custom modes	Eight microphones for feedback and adaptive feed-forward noise reduction; Quiet, Aware and Immersion modes plus custom modes; Aware Mode with ActiveSense briefly applies noise cancelling during very loud sounds; noise cancelling adjustable in the Bose app; Wind Block setting; CustomTune calibrates sound and noise cancelling to your ears each time you put them on
Audio features
Audio features	Bose TrueSpatial Technology with Immersive Audio (Still keeps the virtual speakers in place as you turn your head; Motion lets them follow) and Cinema Mode; SoundDesign signal processing; three-band EQ in the Bose app; two-way USB-C audio with lossless input up to 24-bit/48 kHz and voice output up to 24-bit/16 kHz	Bose Immersive Audio (Still keeps the sound in place as you turn your head; Motion lets it follow) using an onboard IMU; three-band EQ (bass, mid-range, treble) in the Bose app; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 24 hours	Up to 24 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, 18 hours with Immersive Audio on; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL; can be used over Bluetooth or USB audio while charging; the USB-C to 3.5 mm cable works only with the headphones powered on, so with a flat battery Bose says to listen over USB-C while charging	Up to 24 hours with Immersive Audio off, 18 hours with it on; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet Mode; the headphones don't charge while switched on
Fast charging
Fast charging	15 minutes gives up to 2.5 hours of playback; full charge in up to 3 hours (slower while in use)	15 minutes gives up to 2.5 hours with Immersive Audio off, 2 hours with it on (owner's guide; Bose UK's FAQ says 3 hours); full charge in up to 3 hours
Design
Weight
Weight	230 g (better)	254 g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.4	5.3
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	Physical buttons; on the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power slider, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls) and volume buttons; on the left ear cup, an Action button for modes and a shortcut to the voice assistant, Spotify or Immersive Audio settings	On the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power button, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls, modes) and a capacitive volume strip (swipe for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to Immersive Audio settings, Spotify Tap, the voice assistant or battery level); on-head detection pauses and resumes audio and wakes or sleeps the headphones
Microphones
Microphones	Six microphones, used for noise cancelling and calls, with updated background noise filtering for calls	Eight microphones in total; four are used for calls (two on each ear cup), in a beamforming array
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Around-ear (circumaural) with a redesigned adjustable headband with smooth sliders; oval ear cups with removable protein leather cushions; plastic headband and yokes; folds for the carry case	Around-ear (circumaural) with an adjustable headband; removable protein leather cushions; plastic, aluminium and protein leather; fold flat for the carry case
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	No water resistance rating published	No water resistance rating published
Works with
Works with	Bose app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair; USB-C audio for calls and video conferencing on computers	Bose app (launched with Bose Music) for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices since a July 2024 update; Google Fast Pair; Spotify Tap; SimpleSync with Bose smart soundbars and speakers; 2.5 mm analogue input needs the headphones powered on; no USB audio
Colours
Colours	Black, White Smoke; limited-edition Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint and Rosewood Mauve; Bose UK also lists Sky Pink	Black and White Smoke at launch; What Hi-Fi lists later Lunar Blue and Diamond 60th Edition finishes
In the box
In the box	Headphones, carry case, USB-C to USB-C cable (1 m), USB-C to 3.5 mm cable, safety sheet	Headphones, carry case, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable, USB-C (A to C) cable (50.8 cm), safety sheet