Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

Pros

• Comfort during long use ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.8
  Comfort is a recurring standout: reviewers describe an ultra-plush, lightweight fit that is easy to wear for many hours (including long flights and full workdays), often noting glasses-friendliness and an all-day feel that rivals or beats many competitors.
• Active noise cancellation effectiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.8
  ANC is repeatedly characterized as best-in-class or near the top of the category, excelling on flights and in busy cities with dramatic reductions in engine hum and chatter; a few reviewers flag occasional processing oddities during extremely loud peak noises and note it may not isolate human voices as effectively as the newest AI-focused competitors in certain scenarios.
• Weight comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.7
  Multiple reviews emphasize how light the QC Ultra feel for a flagship over-ear (roughly mid-250g range), which helps them disappear on the head and supports long travel days without weight fatigue.
• Portability/foldability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.6
  Portability is a strong suit thanks to the lightweight build and foldable design that folds flat and packs down neatly; several reviews emphasize the travel friendliness, especially compared to bulkier or non-folding competitors.
• Replaceable earpads ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.6
  At least one hands-on review highlights that the earpads are removable and replaceable, which helps maintenance and long-term ownership, though compression in the case can still leave temporary foam marks if stored tightly.
• Clamping force comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.5
  Clamping force is generally regarded as well judged, providing a secure seal without pinching, with some noting it feels slightly firmer than certain Sony rivals while still staying comfortable for multi-hour sessions.
• Noise isolation (passive) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
  Dense, well-sealing ear pads and the closed-back design deliver strong passive isolation that significantly reduces engine and transit noise even before the ANC system engages.
• Transparency mode quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.5
  Aware mode is consistently described as very natural and low-hiss, often to the point that it can feel like you are not wearing headphones, though most reviewers still recommend avoiding it in the loudest environments such as very noisy trains or subways.
• Instrument separation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.4
  Multiple reviews describe strong separation and layering that helps instruments and vocals occupy distinct space, creating a convincing three-dimensional image, though some note slight compression compared with the absolute top performers and occasional channel-matching quirks that can blur spatial cues.
• Carry case quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.4
  The hard case is repeatedly praised for being compact, protective and travel-ready with storage for cables, and some reviewers call it among the best in class for balancing padding and size; however, multiple long-term notes warn the contoured fit can press on an ear cushion if stored carelessly, leaving a small foam divot.
• Multipoint connectivity reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.4
  Multipoint is supported and is commonly reported to work well for switching between two devices (for example phone and laptop), sometimes requiring enabling in the app; overall reliability is described as good, with the usual caveat that computer Bluetooth behavior can vary by model and OS.
• Sensors ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.4
  Wear sensors and head detection are highlighted for auto pause and resume, and several reviews also mention sleep or auto-off behaviors that help conserve battery when the headphones are not actively in use.
• Sound quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.3
  Across reviews, the QC Ultra are described as exciting, rich and immersive with a generally bass-forward signature that many find highly enjoyable, while more critical listeners say they are not the most neutral or resolving for the price and can sound thick unless you EQ or rely on the ear-calibration tuning.
• Midrange clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.3
  Midrange is commonly described as clear and full-bodied for vocals and guitars, holding presence even with elevated bass, though a few notes suggest vocals can feel slightly veiled or less developed when the low end dominates the mix.
• Included accessories ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.3
  Included accessories commonly noted are a protective hard carry case, a wired analog audio cable (2.5mm to 3.5mm) and a USB charging cable, covering typical travel needs without requiring immediate add-ons.
• Charging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.3
  USB-C charging is broadly well received, with recurring claims of quick top-ups (around a couple hours of playback from ~15 minutes) and a full charge in roughly 2–3 hours, plus at least one review noting you can keep listening while charging.
• Soundstage width ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
  Stereo playback is often described as spacious enough but still somewhat intimate or close-in compared with the airiest competitors, while lab-style reviews rate the stage as expansive and cinematic with strong width and depth; Immersive Audio can widen the presentation but may add processing artifacts depending on the track.
• Treble clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.2
  Treble is widely praised as clean, crisp and detailed without harshness, adding sparkle and definition, though some listeners note it can sit a bit behind the lows and mids rather than sounding forward or bright.
• Ear cup padding quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.2
  Earpads are frequently described as soft and luxurious, heavily contributing to long-wear comfort, but more than one long-term reviewer notes the foam can develop a divot when stored tightly in the carry case and some users with larger ears find the openings only just sufficient.
• Bluetooth connectivity stability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.1
  Connectivity is generally portrayed as stable and hassle-free with typical Bluetooth range and reliable everyday performance across phones and laptops, though some reviewers note computers can be more finicky depending on the device and Bluetooth implementation.
• Software/setup simplicity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.1
  Setup is generally described as straightforward with fast pairing and simple app onboarding, and some reviewers note you can use core features without living in the app; quirks include occasional manual pairing steps for computers and needing to enable certain options like multipoint in the app.
• Sidetone adjustment quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.1
  A Self Voice sidetone feature is mentioned as a helpful option for calls, letting you hear your own voice more naturally and offering the ability to disable it if you prefer a more isolated feel.
• Codec support ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.1
  Reviews describe Bluetooth 5.3 with standard SBC and AAC plus Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound support that can enable aptX Adaptive or aptX Lossless on compatible Android hardware; LDAC is not positioned as a core feature here, analog wired listening is available via the included cable, and next-gen features like LE Audio are described as ready or promised depending on firmware and source.
• Noise cancellation adjustability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.1
  Noise control is highly adjustable via Quiet, Aware and user-defined modes with multi-step levels and options like wind reduction or Immersive Audio, but a common complaint is the lack of a true off switch, meaning you are always choosing between some level of ANC and some level of passthrough rather than fully disabling processing.
• aptX ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.0
  aptX support (including lossless via Snapdragon Sound) is repeatedly highlighted as a major differentiator for certain Android users, but multiple reviewers warn it is not universally available in practice because it depends on handset support and can default to AAC on some mainstream phones even when you expect aptX to work.
• Bass performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.0
  Bass is consistently emphasized and punchy, with several outlets calling it deep yet controlled and tight even at higher volumes, while at least one long-term reviewer describes it as a big, fairly uncontrolled wall of bass; the app EQ can rein it in, but the stock low-end is clearly tuned for impact.
• Touch control responsiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.0
  The touch volume strip is often praised as easy to find and responsive, but it is also one of the most polarizing elements: some users report accidental large jumps to very loud or very quiet levels, while others say the placement and implementation worked reliably for them.
• Button control usability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.0
  Controls center on a power/pairing button, a multifunction button for media and mode switching, and a touch strip for volume and shortcuts; several reviewers find the layout intuitive and reliable, while others dislike the all-in-one button approach for playback plus ANC modes and find it fussy or unintuitive over time.
• App ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 3.9
  The Bose Music app is routinely described as simple and user-friendly, mainly used for EQ, mode creation, Immersive Audio settings, multipoint toggles and shortcut mapping; it is not considered deeply advanced versus some rivals, and at least one review notes you can handle firmware updates via Bose tools without relying solely on the app.
• Microphone quality for calls ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.8
  Call quality feedback is mixed: some reviewers describe voice calling as excellent and clear even in noisy environments, while others rate it below average with grainy or slightly robotic voice tone and occasional cutouts, making it acceptable for occasional calls but not the best option for frequent meetings.
• Microphone noise reduction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.8
  Noise reduction for calls generally helps push your voice forward and suppress some ambient sounds, but several tests still report audible background elements like announcements or surrounding voices and occasional digital processing artifacts.
• Build quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 3.7
• Android compatibility ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.7
  Android support is strongest for Snapdragon Sound-capable phones where higher-quality aptX options (including lossless) may be unlocked, but real-world compatibility is described as inconsistent because some popular Android models may not enable aptX, causing the headphones to fall back to AAC instead.
• Design and Aesthetics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.6
  Aesthetics lean understated and low-key with matte finishes and subdued colorways, prioritizing comfort and travel practicality over flash; some reviewers explicitly wish for more design flair, and at least one notes the black finish can show smudges more easily than lighter options.