The orignal Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are aptly named, offering plush comfort, good sound, and the best noise canceling we’d ever tested upon their release. They stood as the unequivocal noise-canceling masters until Sony rivaled their dominance with the WH-1000XM6, which brings new tech like a crazy-fast chipset to inch past the Ultra in some scenarios.
The QuietComfort Ultra 2 improve upon the original, though this is a minor update with very similar noise-canceling and audio performance. Frankly, a more accurate name would be the Ultra Gen 1.2 or 1.3, but I suppose that’s not as catchy.
There are some slick new touches, including some new app controls, convenience features like the ability to lay the headphones flat to sleep them, and lossless audio support over USB-C. The upgrades come at a relatively low cost—especially since Bose jacked up the price of its previous best headphones from $430 to $450 post-launch (they’re now back to $430). I wouldn’t trade up if you own the original, but if you’re torn between which to get, the newer version have some good reasons for the minor splurge.
Same Digs, New Floss
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
The Ultra 2nd Gen's look and feel are virtually identical to the original. That means sleek lines along the chassis, minimalist controls, and cushy pads cloaked in plush protein leather that feel inviting and luxurious.