Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra remain a top pick if you prioritize class-leading noise cancellation and exceptionally light, all-day comfort for travel and commuting. However, their short 24-hour battery life, bass-heavy tuning, fussy touch and button controls, and merely okay build make them less compelling for sound quality purists or buyers seeking maximum durability and value versus newer rivals.
Pros
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Clamping force comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 5.0Reviewers consistently describe the clamping force as very well judged, keeping the headphones secure without pinching and allowing them to stay comfortable and stable over multi-hour listening sessions.
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Comfort during long use ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.9Ultra plush pads, a softly cushioned headband and very low weight deliver class leading comfort for flights, editing sessions and long travel days, with this review again highlighting how exceptionally comfortable they feel over extended wears.
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Weight comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.9Long-term testing emphasizes how light the QuietComfort Ultra feel on the head, which, combined with their soft padding, makes them easy to wear all day with minimal sense of weight or fatigue.
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aptX ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.8
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Ear cup padding quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.8Soft, well-cushioned earcups contribute heavily to the Bose's reputation for all-day comfort, though some users note the foam can develop a small divot if squeezed tightly inside the carry case.
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Active noise cancellation effectiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.7Among the strongest ANC performers in its class, the QuietComfort Ultra continues to deliver eerily complete silence on planes and in everyday use, with dense pads and powerful algorithms creating a blank canvas for music even after months of use, though the always-on cancellation also ties into battery trade-offs.
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Bluetooth connectivity stability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
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Bluetooth pairing speed ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
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Charging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
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Noise isolation (passive) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
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Transparency mode quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.3
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Treble clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3High frequencies are widely praised as detailed and crisp, with cymbals and piano notes cutting through cleanly, making treble one of the sonic strengths of the QuietComfort Ultra even if the overall balance leans warm and bassy.
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Portability/foldability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.2
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Midrange clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.1Despite the heavy bass, reviewers note that midrange reproduction for guitars and vocals remains clear and full-bodied, giving both acoustic and heavier tracks a satisfying sense of presence.
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Carry case quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.1The zippered hard case remains protective and compact, holding the cups securely with a handy cable pocket, but extended use reveals that the snug contoured interior can press on one ear cushion and leave a small divot if the headphones are not positioned carefully.
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Design and Aesthetics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
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Frequency response accuracy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
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Included accessories ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
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Microphone quality for calls ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.9
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Instrument separation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.8
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Soundstage width ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.8
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Sound quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.8Warm, smooth tuning with app EQ still delivers an immersive, slightly close-in presentation and generally enjoyable sound, but extended comparisons highlight an overabundant, somewhat uncontrolled bass wall and confirm that detail and resolution trail more balanced competitors from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins.
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Noise cancellation adjustability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.7Multiple ANC modes including Quiet, Aware and customizable presets with ten levels of cancellation still give the QuietComfort Ultra fine-grained control over isolation, but reviewers note there is no true off switch, so the algorithms always run and cannot be disabled to save battery or leave music completely untouched.
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Equalizer customization ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.7
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App ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.5
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Microphone noise reduction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.5
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USB-C ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.5
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Voice assistant integration ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.5
Cons
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Bass performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.3Listeners describe the bass as very big and somewhat uncontrolled, forming a wall of low-end that will please bass fans but can easily overwhelm finer details when compared directly with more neutral, tightly controlled rivals.
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Battery ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.3Real-world use continues to find the roughly 24-hour battery life only adequate next to 30 to 60-hour competitors, with some owners being caught short on long days and unable to fully turn off ANC, while features like immersive audio reduce runtime further despite otherwise strong performance.
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Price value ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.1The QuietComfort Ultra still offer strong value for travelers who prioritize best-in-class ANC and exceptional comfort, yet newer models that sound more balanced and feel more robust at similar prices make the overall price-to-performance proposition feel more mixed than at launch.
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Touch control responsiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.0The capacitive volume slider offers convenient swipe control on paper, but in practice some users experience large accidental jumps to very loud or very quiet levels, making the touch implementation a recurring source of frustration.
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Wired connection sound quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.0
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Button control usability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 2.9A single multi-function button controls playback and ANC modes through various presses and holds, and over time several reviewers find this all-in-one approach fussy and unintuitive compared with simpler, more separated control layouts.
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Build quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 2.8The QuietComfort Ultra's plastics and metal accents feel broadly comparable to Sony's XM5 and not poorly made, but long-term owners report rattling when shaken, thin-feeling pleather and concern that build quality and durability lag behind better-built rivals at similar prices.
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Spatial audio ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 2.5The Immersive Audio spatial mode is available but tends to make music sound thinner rather than more expansive for some listeners, and its reduced 18-hour battery life compared to standard listening means many users rarely use it.
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Water/sweat resistance rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 1.8
