Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) review: Still a noise-canceling powerhouse

Bose announced its latest earbuds in June, but the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) ($299) won’t arrive until early September. Today, though, they’re available for preorder, and I’ve spent the last few weeks testing all the new features. This model is an overhaul of the noise-canceling earbuds the company debuted in 2023 alongside its take on spatial audio. Among the upgrades, Bose has improved the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance, enhanced call quality and added wireless charging to the case. Two years later, the QuietComfort Ultra is still the best option for those primarily concerned with blocking distractions, and Bose’s tweaks make its best earbuds even better.

• Stronger ANC filters out more distractions
• Enhanced call quality

• Battery life isn’t improved
• Bulky design is unchanged

What’s new on the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)?

The new QC Ultra Earbuds are at ...