Jada Jones/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Battery life and power management are crucial yet overlooked strengths, but they've always been Bose's weaknesses. Its 2019 flagship headphones, the NC700, delivered about 20 hours of battery life, and its 2023 QuietComfort Ultra headphones maxed out at 24 hours.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2)
Bose's latest QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) borrow one of the AirPods Max's best power management features -- but execute it better. Although the new headphones' expanded 30-hour battery capacity is great, their efficiency is more valuable.
Aside from Bose's undeniable strength in producing best-in-class noise cancellation and comfort, the novel low-power feature may be the most significant and useful improvement Bose has implemented in its latest flagship headphones. Here's why.
Intuitive auto-standby for the win
Jada Jones/ZDNET
Most premium headphones feature gyroscopes or motion detection systems that enable their wear detection capabilities. Wear detection pauses audio content when the headphones detect that you've removed them from your head, and resumes content when you put them back on.
Apple's AirPods Max and Bose's QC Ultra 2 perform this feature best by pausing content when you remove the headphones and disconnecting them from your phone's Bluetooth. This allows you to switch audio from the headphones to your phone without pressing a button. Both headphones enter a low-power mode when idle for a specified period.
... continue reading