Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review (2025)

Externally, Gen 2 looks almost identical to the first Ultra Earbuds: chunky, stemless buds with short nozzles and silicone bands (stability fins) that lock into your concha. The plastics feel robust, tolerances are tight, and the IPX4 rating will handle sweat and light rain, though they're not 'beat-them-up' sports buds. The big build change is the case: the Gen-2 case finally adds standard wireless charging and can be used interchangeably with Gen 1 buds, which tells you just how similar the hardware remains. There's also a new earwax guard on the nozzle, which is exactly the kind of boring but important detail that keeps these alive long-term.

Comfort impressions are a bit mixed but mostly positive. Gen 2 uses the same shape and stabilizer band system as Gen 1, and many reviewers find them comfortable and secure enough for multi-session wear and workouts. The shallow fit and three stability band sizes make it easier to avoid deep-in-ear pressure than some competitors. However, the chunky profile and fit can lead to some discomfort around the 4–5 hour mark for certain ear shapes. If Bose's style worked for you before, these will be fine; if you hated that style, Gen 2 doesn't fix it.

This is still Bose, so the low-end is generous — but Gen 2's bass is better controlled and less bloated than the worst of older QC buds and is easier to tame with EQ. You get solid sub-bass extension, strong mid-bass punch, and that familiar enveloping sense of warmth that makes a lot of mainstream music feel comfy and full. The sound is rich and well-rounded, and while it's not ruler-flat, it's satisfying and doesn't smear as badly as some older Bose tunings. If you knock bass down a few dB in the app, it actually lands in a respectable 'slightly warm' zone that many non-audiophile listeners will prefer.

Mids are smoother and more intelligible than you might expect from Bose earbuds with this much bass. Vocals are clear and sit in a comfortable position, though they still lean a touch behind the low-end and lower treble, which keeps them from feeling truly mid-forward or analytical. The overall impression is 'easygoing and pleasant' rather than 'studio monitor honest.' Acoustic instruments and speech come through naturally enough for most listeners, but if you're coming from neutral references like the HDB 630, you'll hear some thickening and smoothing.

Treble on Gen 2 follows Bose's usual playbook: safe and smoothed off at the very top rather than aggressive. Highs are detailed enough for mainstream listening but clearly tuned to avoid harshness, which means some air and sparkle are sacrificed. On the plus side, you can listen for hours without fatigue, and poorly mastered tracks rarely sound piercing. On the downside, hi-hat texture, room ambience, and very fine detail won't impress demanding ears. EQ can coax a bit more presence, but you can't fully turn these into treble monsters.

For sealed, ANC true wireless buds, the stage is about average: not claustrophobic, but still very in-the-head compared with open or semi-open designs. Spatial Audio with head tracking and Cinema Mode can create a more enveloping bubble for movies and some music, which reviewers generally find fun and reasonably convincing, especially for TV/film. Imaging is competent; stereo placement is stable and straightforward. This is not where they try to beat audiophile IEMs, but it's good enough for their job as ANC, go-anywhere buds.

This is where the 2nd Gen earbuds really pull ahead. ANC is still arguably the strongest ANC in earbud form, blocking low-frequency rumble and wideband noise with an AI-driven Adaptive ANC layer. Transparency is improved with better filtering of sudden loud sounds. Battery life is extended to around 30 hours in some tests, and the case supports wireless charging as standard. Multipoint pairing is finally built-in, and connectivity is robust over Bluetooth 5.3/5.4 with LE Audio support. AI-based noise reduction noticeably improves call clarity, particularly in wind, and the Bose Music app provides intuitive control over ANC, EQ, and touch settings.

At $299 list, these sit at the top of the true-wireless price stack alongside AirPods Pro 3, Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and Bose's own competitors; sales down to ~$249 make them much easier to justify. You're paying for some of the strongest earbud ANC on the market, a very forgiving sound, and a big refinement jump over Gen 1. If you care primarily about sound quality per dollar, there are leaner, more neutral options. If you care about shutting out the world, comfort, and a nice sound that never really offends, the value is solid — especially on sale.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen feel like Bose finally finishing what they started: the same comfy, easygoing buds as before, but with stronger ANC behavior, better calls, wireless charging, longer total battery life, and a slightly more balanced take on the classic Bose sound. They're still warm, still smoothed-over, and still not the last word in detail — but as a way to drown out the world with a pleasant, forgiving tuning in your ears, they're one of the best in-ear options on the market right now.