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

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

	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Overview
Released
Released	June 2025	October 2023
Sound
Type
Type	In-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, AAC and aptX Adaptive	SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	–	No
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling) and Aware Mode with an updated ActiveSense that smooths sudden noise spikes; noise cancelling adjustable in the Bose app; CustomTune tailors sound and noise cancelling to your ears	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 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; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices, which Bose says adapts to lossless audio and low latency	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 6 hours	Up to 24 hours
With the case
With the case	Up to 24 hours	–
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	Yes	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 4 hours per charge with Immersive Audio on; the case holds three full charges, for 24 hours in total with Immersive Audio off; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet Mode	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
Charging case
Charging case	USB-C (5 V, 1 A) and wireless charging; 680 mAh output capacity; the case charges in up to 3 hours and the earbuds in up to 2 hours	–
Fast charging
Fast charging	20 minutes in the case gives up to 2 hours of playback	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 (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	7.3 g (better)	254 g
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	IPX4	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.3	5.3
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	–	Yes
Controls
Controls	Touch surface on each earbud (tap to play, pause or answer calls; double-tap to skip forwards; triple-tap to skip back; swipe up or down for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to modes, Immersive Audio settings, Spotify Tap or the voice assistant); touch controls can be turned off in the app; in-ear detection pauses audio when an earbud is taken out	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	Eight microphones in total; AI-based SpeechClarity noise suppression 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	Silicone eartips in S, M and L (M fitted) with a guard against earwax build-up; stability bands in sizes 1, 2 and 3 (size 1 fitted)	Around-ear (circumaural) with an adjustable headband; removable protein leather cushions; plastic, aluminium and protein leather; fold flat for the carry case
Case weight
Case weight	59.9 g (Bose lists 0.132 lb)	–
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	IPX4 for the earbuds only	No water resistance rating published
Works with
Works with	Bose app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair on Android; Spotify Tap	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 and Deep Plum at launch; Bose UK now also sells Midnight Violet and Desert Gold	Black and White Smoke at launch; What Hi-Fi lists later Lunar Blue and Diamond 60th Edition finishes
In the box
In the box	Earbuds, wireless charging case, eartips (S, M, L), stability bands (1, 2, 3), 30 cm USB-C (A to C) 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