Name: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Brand: Bose

A single tight tip is not the only way to keep an earbud in place. Bose uses a tip for the ear canal and a separate stability band that rests against the outer ear. Being able to change them independently is a practical reason to choose this pair for a long journey, particularly if larger tips on other earbuds become uncomfortable.

Fit & Noise Cancellation

Separate stability bands
Quiet and Aware modes
IPX4 earbuds

RTINGS tested the Deep Plum version and found the bands helped it stay put without pressing the tips deep into the ears. Its isolation test showed good suppression of cabin rumble as well as higher-pitched noise. The reviewer also heard a warm, bass-emphasized balance. A secure fit does more here than prevent a dropped earbud: it helps the seal stay consistent as you move. ¹

Battery Life

Up to 6 hours with Immersive Audio off
Up to 4 hours with it on

RTINGS measured 6.5 hours in its continuous playback test. Bose separately rates up to six hours with Immersive Audio off and four with it on. Those conditions matter on a long trip. The case can supply additional charges, but it cannot recharge an earbud while you are wearing it. ¹

Sound & Listening Modes

Immersive Audio
Aware mode with ActiveSense

Bose offers Immersive Audio as a separate listening choice. Its most concrete cost on a trip is battery life: the manufacturer rates less time with that feature switched on. Aware mode serves another purpose, letting you hear the room. ActiveSense can temper sudden loud sounds in that mode. For a station announcement, try Aware before removing a tip and losing the fit you just established.

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3
Two-device multipoint
AAC and aptX Adaptive

A work laptop and personal phone can share the earbuds over multipoint. The higher-bandwidth aptX Adaptive path depends on a compatible Snapdragon Sound source. An iPhone can still use the earbuds and Bose app, but buying them specifically for that codec would miss the capabilities the two products actually share. The phone matters less for the basic choice between a quiet ride and hearing the next announcement.

Charging Case

USB-C or wireless charging
Up to three additional full charges

Bose built wireless charging into this generation’s case. It can stay on a charging pad overnight without an accessory cover. Away from home, Bose rates 20 minutes in the case for up to two hours of listening with Immersive Audio off. That works between flights but cannot extend an uninterrupted meeting, so pick the listening mode and battery figure for the longest stretch you expect to wear the buds.

Alternatives

Owners of the first QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds already have a similar shape and strong noise reduction. Built-in case wireless charging and revised voice processing are more concrete reasons to upgrade than expecting a radically different fit.

Verdict

Buy the second-generation Ultra if the stability system makes long journeys comfortable and cabin noise is the sound you most want to reduce. For an existing owner, the case and call improvements need to solve a real inconvenience.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

Pros

Cons