Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Bose's 2026 refresh keeps the best-in-class all-day comfort and adds smarter Immersive Audio, a Cinema mode, and AI call noise suppression — the headphone to wear through back-to-back meeting days.
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What we like
- Most comfortable over-ear headphones you can buy for long wear
- AI background-noise suppression makes you sound clean on calls
- 30-hour battery (23 with Immersive Audio) covers a full work week
- Bluetooth multipoint pairs laptop and phone at once
Could be better
- ANC and audio tuning still trail the Sony WH-1000XM6
- Immersive Audio drains battery and isn't useful for work
- $449 is a premium over the outgoing model
Full Review
The QuietComfort Ultra has always been the comfort champion, and the 2nd Gen doesn’t mess with that. What Bose changed is the software: better Immersive Audio, a new Cinema mode, and AI noise suppression that finally makes the mic worth talking about. For a desk where the headphones go on at 9am and come off at 5pm, that combination matters more than another decibel of ANC.
Comfort That Wins the Long Day
This is the headline. The earcups use a softer, lighter clamp than almost anything else in the category, and the headband spreads pressure so evenly you forget you’re wearing them. After three or four hours of calls, glasses-wearers and big-head folks alike stay comfortable — the exact stretch where most ANC headphones start pinching. If your day is built around back-to-back meetings, nothing else is this easy to wear.
Calls Got Genuinely Better
The new AI background-noise suppression is the real upgrade for remote work. It strips out keyboard clatter, HVAC hum, and room echo so your voice lands clean on the other end, even in a busy house. Paired with Bluetooth multipoint — laptop and phone connected at once — you answer a Teams call and a phone call without re-pairing. This is the feature that justifies the refresh for a home office.
Sound, ANC, and the Sony Question
Audio is warm and easy to listen to all day, and CustomTune adapts the sound to your ears. But here’s the honest comparison: the Sony WH-1000XM6 still edges Bose on raw noise cancellation and audio mastering. If you want the quietest possible bubble and the most precise tuning for critical listening, the Sony is the better pick. The new Cinema mode and Immersive Audio are fun for movies but irrelevant to work, and Immersive drops battery to 23 hours.
Who Should Buy This
Buy the QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) if your workday is calls — long ones, lots of them — and comfort plus a clean mic matter more than squeezing out the last bit of ANC. If you instead prioritize deep silence and audiophile tuning over all-day wear, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the headphone to get. For most remote workers living in their headset, Bose is the safer call.
