Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd gen headphones bring better battery life, Cinema mode, and USB-C lossless audio

Bose has announced a successor to its 2023 premium pair of headphones, the QuietComfort Ultra. The new QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen a.k.a. QuietComfort Ultra 2 come with a slightly refreshed design and some welcome additions and improvements.

With respect to design, the QuietComfort Ultra 2 don't look very different from their predecessors, but on closer look, there are some changes. First, the Bose logo on the earcups is now inlaid and not printed. Bose has also opted for a shiny, polished finish for the aluminum yokes. While they will pick up fingerprints, they do look good and give the headphones a more premium look when smudge-free.

The earcups are still made of plastic, while the adjustable headband and removable ear cushions are covered in protein leather, a.k.a synthetic leather. The QuietComfort Ultra 2 are still relatively light, weighing 250 grams like the original, and Bose will offer them in Black, Midnight Violet, Driftwood Sand, and White.

In terms of features, the QuietComfort Ultra 2 headphones feature improved ActiveSense technology for enhanced noise cancellation. They also have better on-head detection now, as they will automatically turn on and pair to your device when you wear them. And when you remove them or fold them, they will enter a low-power standby mode. Like the first generation, they have a Quiet Mode for full noise cancellation and an Aware Mode for when you need to hear your surroundings.

Bose says the headphones now have spatial audio for both audio and video playback, and the new cinema mode provides spatial and balanced surround sound and dialogue when watching a video or listening to an audiobook or podcast. Bose also says the bass has been improved when listening at higher volumes, and they now feature Bluetooth 5.4.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 also now support lossless audio over USB-C while still retaining an audio jack. Bose even ships the headphones with a USB-C to USB-C cable alongside a 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable and a hard case. Last but not least is the battery life, which has gone up from a total of 24 hours (18 hours with Immersive Audio) on the previous generation to 30 hours (23 hours with Immersive Audio). However, charging still takes 3 hours, but a quick 15-minute charge will provide 2.5 hours of use.

Bose is taking pre-orders for the QuietComfort Ultra 2 ahead of their release in October. They are available to pre-order in all four colors on Bose's website for $449/£449.95, the same price as the Sony WH-1000XM6. You can also pre-order them from Amazon in Driftwood Sand and Black.