Bose has released the second generation of its QuietComfort Headphones, bringing several features previously exclusive to the pricier QuietComfort Ultra line down to its more affordable standard model. The new version arrives with modest design changes while maintaining the understated aesthetic long associated with the QuietComfort name, positioning it as an accessible alternative for customers who do not need the full feature set of the Ultra model.
On the design side, Bose introduced an updated headband that slides more smoothly for adjustment, along with refined earcup shapes and improved ear pads offering better cushioning. The company also relocated the power and Bluetooth pairing switch from the outside of the right ear cup to the bottom edge of the left ear cup, a change that gives the headphones a cleaner overall look on both sides without significantly altering the user experience. In terms of features, Bose brought its Immersive Audio spatial sound technology to the standard QuietComfort Headphones for the first time, a tool that upscales existing movies, shows, and music for enhanced listening without requiring specially created content, alongside the accompanying Cinema Mode that enhances dialogue clarity without narrowing the soundstage.
A new CustomTune feature has also been added, calibrating audio and noise cancellation specifically to the acoustic properties of the wearer’s ears, functioning similarly to room calibration systems used with soundbars. For audio enthusiasts, the headphones now support lossless listening through a wired USB-C connection at up to 24-bit and 48kHz, with the device also allowing charging while in use over the same cable. Notably, Bose removed the 3.5mm headphone jack found on the previous generation, making USB-C the sole wired connectivity option for both charging and listening, though the company includes a USB-C to 3.5mm cable in the box for compatibility with in flight entertainment systems. On the noise cancellation side, Bose added a new ActiveSense feature that automatically applies noise cancellation when sudden noise spikes are detected while using the transparency focused Aware mode, along with improved compensation for ear cup seal changes caused by glasses, and the ability to fully disable ANC through the Bose app for the first time.
Perhaps most notably, Bose kept the price of the new model at $359, unchanged from the previous generation despite the added features, giving the company’s fans a meaningfully cheaper alternative to the $449 second generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The new model also weighs roughly 34 grams less than the current Ultra headphones, contributing to a noticeably more comfortable fit during extended wear, while maintaining Bose’s reputation for strong active noise cancellation performance against both constant background noise and human voices. The one area that remains unchanged is battery life, with the new headphones still offering 24 hours of ANC enabled use on a single charge, six hours short of what the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones provide, marking the only notable drawback in an otherwise comprehensive round of upgrades to the standard QuietComfort lineup.
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