Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) review 2026
The strongest low-frequency cancelling we measured, the most comfortable headband, and Immersive Audio that works without a special track
Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Worth It?
Best noise cancelling for flights. If the job is a long-haul flight, the QC Ultra is the pair: it took the most rumble out and it was the pair our testers forgot they were wearing. Sony sounds a little better and handles calls better, which is why they are a point apart.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Pros & Cons
- Deepest cut of aircraft rumble in the test
- Lightest clamp and softest cushions — best after two hours
- Immersive Audio spatialises any source
- Second generation adds USB-C audio and longer battery
- $449 list
- Slightly less detailed than Sony or Sennheiser on music
- App and multipoint were fiddly on Android
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones at a Glance
Rubric v1: Noise cancelling 30 · Sound quality 25 · Comfort & build 15 · Battery & features 15 · Value 15. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.
Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones specifications
Why it scored 8.6
If the job is a long-haul flight, the QC Ultra is the pair: it took the most rumble out and it was the pair our testers forgot they were wearing. Sony sounds a little better and handles calls better, which is why they are a point apart.
Where it loses
Sound detail; app.
Still the right pick for
Frequent flyers and anyone who finds other headphones tight.
Changelog: Sep 11 — rank 2 → 3; Sep 11 — rank 3 → 4; Sep 11 — rank 4 → 5 · all changes