Review · Over-ear ANC
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Bose's QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are as close to a tie with the Sony WH-1000XM6 as it gets: SoundGuys ranks them a close runner-up. In black they were selling at list, more than the Sony, so check the cheaper colors before you buy. Pick them if you have a Snapdragon Sound Android phone that can use aptX Adaptive, or if a color sale brings them under the Sony's price.
Our take
The short version
Bose's second-generation QC Ultra Headphones are the other half of the two-way race at the top of over-ear noise cancelling. SoundGuys' noise-cancelling guide (Apr 2026) names the Sony WH-1000XM6 best for most people and puts this Bose right behind it as a close runner-up. Our travel score is a 5, tied with the Sony.
The price is the complication. List is $449, and the black version was around $449 on Amazon in early October 2026, well above the Sony at ~$378. Color changes the math: the same day, Desert Gold was ~$369 and White Smoke ~$399.99. If you don't care about black, Desert Gold undercuts the Sony.
The spec sheet leans toward Android. aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound only pays off on compatible Android phones, since iPhones don't support aptX. Everyone gets Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, lossless audio over USB-C, a 2.5 mm-to-3.5 mm cable in the box, Immersive Audio for spatial listening, and removable cushions, which matter on headphones you plan to keep for years. Battery is rated at 30 hours, the same as the Sony, and a 15-minute charge gets you roughly 2.5 to 3 hours.
Pros and cons
What we like
- SoundGuys' close runner-up to the Sony WH-1000XM6
- aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound and lossless USB-C audio
- Multipoint and Bluetooth 5.4
- Immersive Audio spatial mode and CustomTune
- Removable cushions, and cheaper colors when they're on sale
Trade-offs
- Black was selling at full list price, above the Sony
- SoundGuys ranks it just behind the Sony
- aptX perks need a compatible Android phone; iPhones don't support aptX
- 30 h battery is far short of the Momentum 5's claimed 57 h
Who it's for
Buy it if…
- Android owners with Snapdragon Sound phones that can use aptX Adaptive
- Shoppers happy with Desert Gold or White Smoke at a lower price
- Travelers who want spatial audio for movies on the plane
Skip it if…
- Value buyers set on black: the Sony WH-1000XM6 was cheaper and ranks higher
- Sonos soundbar owners: the Ace Ultra adds TV Audio Swap
- Earbud fans: the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) top the class on ANC per PCMag and SoundGuys
Spec sheet
QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) specs
| Battery | 30 h; 15 min charge = ~2.5–3 h |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Yes |
| Weight | 0.583 lb (~264 g) |
| Drivers | Not specified |
| Codecs | aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water resistance | Not specified |
| Wired / USB-C audio | Lossless USB-C audio; 2.5 mm-to-3.5 mm cable included |
| Microphones | Not specified |
| App / EQ | Not specified |
| Also notable | CustomTune; Immersive Audio (spatial); removable cushions |
From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it.
Watch
QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) on video
Video by SoundGuys on YouTube. Their views are their own.
Cross-shop
Alternatives to consider
Sony WH-1000XM6
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$378
- May 2025
- Any phone
The safest over-ear noise canceller: the big reviewers' default pick, now well under list.
Pros
- Pro: Wirecutter's top pick and SoundGuys' best for most people
- Pro: 12 mics and multipoint make it a strong office-call headset
- Pro: LDAC and LC3 support plus a 10-band EQ
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: 30 h with ANC trails the Momentum 5 (57 h) and Space One (40 h)
- Trade-off: SoundGuys saw stronger noise cancelling from the AirPods Max 2
- 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 Max 2
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$429
- Mar 2026
- iPhone
The quietest over-ears in SoundGuys' testing, for iPhone owners who can live with 386 g.
Pros
- Pro: Strongest ANC in SoundGuys' noise-cancelling testing
- Pro: H2 in each ear cup; Apple claims up to 1.5x better ANC than the original
- Pro: Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Live Translation
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Heavy at 386.2 g, with a firm clamp
- Trade-off: 20 h battery, no power-off control, and no user EQ
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Music
- 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 Max 2Sonos Ace Ultra
- Over-ear ANC
- ~$449
- Sep 2026
- Any phone
A big step up from the original Ace, and the obvious buy if a Sonos soundbar runs your TV.
Pros
- Pro: TV Audio Swap from Sonos soundbars
- Pro: Reviewers call it a big upgrade over the original Ace
- Pro: 35 h with ANC; a 3-minute charge gives 3 h
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Heavy at 322 g
- Trade-off: Pricey, with no launch discount yet
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Related guides and comparisons
Sources
Manufacturer specs
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) product page (opens in a new tab) — Spec table: battery, charging, weight, Bluetooth, codecs, wired audio, and features
- Bose support: QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) specifications — Specifications article
Review consensus
- SoundGuys — Best noise-cancelling headphones, Apr 2026: close runner-up to the WH-1000XM6
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.