Review · Earbuds ANC
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
The QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are for people who want the most noise cancelling they can fit in an ear: PCMag and SoundGuys both put their ANC at the top of the earbud class and call the fit comfortable. You pay for it with a price that was holding at list, only IPX4 protection, and battery that drops when Immersive Audio is on. On an iPhone, AirPods Pro 3 come close on ANC for a lot less.
Our take
The short version
Bose's second-generation QC Ultra Earbuds are the noise-cancelling specialists of the earbud world. PCMag and SoundGuys both put their ANC at the top of the class and call the fit comfortable, and stability bands help it stay put. If your commute is loud or you fly a lot, that's the reason to pay up.
And you do pay up. List is $299, and they were around $299 on Amazon in early October 2026, with no discount. Battery is rated at 6 hours, but only 4 with Immersive Audio (Bose's spatial mode) turned on, plus 24 hours from the case, which charges wirelessly. IPX4 is fine for sweat but short of the IP57 on AirPods Pro 3 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro.
The rest is strong: multipoint, Bluetooth 5.3, and aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound for compatible Android phones (iPhones don't support aptX). The honest comparisons are AirPods Pro 3 on iPhone, whose ANC SoundGuys also measured among the best of any earbud, at ~$179, and the Sony WF-1000XM6 (~$258) on Android, SoundGuys' best earbuds overall.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Top-of-class earbud ANC, per PCMag and SoundGuys
- Comfortable fit, with stability bands
- Multipoint and aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound
- Wireless charging case
Trade-offs
- Pricey, and holding at list
- IPX4 only
- Immersive Audio cuts battery from 6 h to 4 h
- aptX perks need a compatible Android phone
Who it's for
Buy it if…
- Frequent flyers who want maximum ANC in an earbud
- Commuters on loud trains and buses
- Snapdragon Sound Android owners who want aptX Adaptive
Skip it if…
- iPhone owners on a budget: AirPods Pro 3 have ANC SoundGuys ranks among the best, for less
- Gym-goers: the Powerbeats Pro 2 are the workout pick
- Galaxy owners: the Buds4 Pro get Samsung-only features
Spec sheet
QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) specs
| Battery | 6 h (4 h with Immersive Audio); 24 h with the case |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Yes |
| Weight | ~7.3 g per bud |
| Drivers | Not specified |
| Codecs | aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
| Wired / USB-C audio | No (true wireless) |
| Microphones | Not specified |
| App / EQ | Not specified |
| Also notable | Wireless charging case; CustomTune; stability bands for fit |
From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it.
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QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) on video
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Cross-shop
Alternatives to consider
Sony WF-1000XM6
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$258
- Feb 2026
- Android
SoundGuys' best earbuds overall, and the pick for Android owners who want LDAC and EQ.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds overall
- Pro: SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 support
- Pro: Multipoint plus 4 mics per bud for calls
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Highest list price of the earbuds we cover
- Trade-off: No aptX
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 5 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$179
- Sep 2025
- iPhone
The default earbuds for iPhone owners, with ANC SoundGuys ranks among the best of any earbud.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds for iPhone
- Pro: ANC that SoundGuys measured among the best of any earbud
- Pro: Heart-rate sensing plus Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No user EQ
- Trade-off: Built around the iPhone; MacRumors steers Android owners to the Sony
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Apple AirPods Pro 3Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$244.50
- Mar 2026
- Samsung Galaxy
The earbuds Galaxy owners should buy, and the ones everyone else should skip.
Pros
- Pro: Top choice for Galaxy owners, per reviewers and SoundGuys
- Pro: 24-bit/96 kHz Samsung Seamless Codec on Galaxy devices
- Pro: IP57 and a light 5.1 g per bud
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: ANC is weaker than Sony and Bose on voices
- Trade-off: Average battery: 6 h with ANC
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Related guides and comparisons
Sources
Manufacturer specs
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) product page (opens in a new tab) — Battery, IP rating, weight, Bluetooth, codecs, multipoint, case, and fit features
Review consensus
- PCMag — QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review: top-of-class ANC, comfortable fit; price, IPX4, battery
- SoundGuys — QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review: top-of-class ANC, comfortable fit; price, IPX4, battery
Published reviews and manufacturer specs, researched October 5, 2026. We didn't test these headphones ourselves; judgments credited to an outlet are that outlet's.
Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.