Bose has finally given its most popular headphones a proper refresh. The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) were unveiled today, and rather than reinventing the wheel, Bose has borrowed liberally from its pricier QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — trimming the top-tier tech down to a friendlier price point.
The headline upgrade is noise cancellation. A new six-microphone array now does the heavy lifting, using adaptive feedforward processing to better compensate for gaps in the earcup seal — the kind that glasses, hair or an imperfect fit tend to introduce. A revamped Aware mode is designed to soften sudden noise spikes rather than letting them stab through. As on the Ultra models, you can switch ANC off entirely, dial it in manually via the Bose app, or build custom modes and cycle between them using a button on the left earcup.
Spatial audio makes the jump too. Bose’s TrueSpatial technology — previously reserved for the Ultra line — arrives here with three immersive modes:
- Still — for stationary listening
- Motion — head-tracked audio on the move
- Cinema — a wider, film-friendly soundstage
Wired listeners get a treat as well. The 2nd Gen model supports lossless playback up to 24-bit/48kHz over USB-C, and Bose includes both a USB-C to USB-C and a 3.5mm to USB-C cable in the box. On the sound-processing side, the brand promises its familiar SoundDesign DSP, though it’s staying tight-lipped on exactly what — if anything — has changed sonically versus the outgoing pair.
Battery life holds steady at up to 24 hours, dropping to 18 hours with immersive modes engaged — identical to the 2023 original, and well short of the Ultra’s 45-hour stamina. The saving grace is a 15-minute fast charge that yields up to 2.5 hours of playback, and you can top up while wearing them.
Connectivity covers Bluetooth 5.4, AAC and SBC codecs, Bluetooth Multipoint for two simultaneous devices, and Google Fast Pair for Android users.
The design has been reworked with a new headband, tweaked clamping force for a more secure fit, and oval earcups wrapped in plusher cushioning. Alongside the standard Black and White Smoke, three limited-edition finishes launch at debut: Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint and Rosewood Mauve.
Pricing lands at US$359 / £299.95 / €349 — comfortably below the Ultra, and putting the QuietComfort directly up against the five-star Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless. Preorders opened on 8th August, with shipping from 13th August.
