Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Pros

• Active noise cancellation effectiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.9
  Near-universal consensus that ANC is class-leading and among the best available for travel/commuting, often described as silencing engines and subway rumble; a few note faint hiss/noise floor when idle and occasional clipping on sudden loud impacts.
• Bluetooth connectivity stability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.8
  Multiple reviewers report stable Bluetooth performance with no dropouts across Android and iOS during testing; stability appears strong even when moving between devices and environments.
• aptX ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.7
  Reviews consistently mention aptX Adaptive (and sometimes aptX Lossless), offering higher-quality streaming for compatible Android phones; iOS users will rely on AAC instead.
• Codec support ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.7
  Codec support is strong for premium buds—SBC and AAC plus the aptX Adaptive family are commonly cited, with some sources noting aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound; this makes them especially attractive for Android users who care about Bluetooth audio quality.
• Soundstage width ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.7
  Frequently called wide, open, and roomy for earbuds, helping music feel spacious; immersive/spatial modes can further widen the presentation depending on content.
• Android compatibility ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.6
  Android support is strong, with aptX Adaptive and features like Google Fast Pair and Snapdragon Sound cited; some advanced codec features require specific Qualcomm hardware, so not every Android phone gets the full benefit.
• Multi-platform compatibility ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.6
  Works well across Android, iOS, tablets, and laptops, with most reviewers reporting stable behavior; Apple users may miss deeper ecosystem integration compared to AirPods, but core features remain strong.
• Sound quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.5
  Across most reviews, sound is described as outstanding and engaging, with a fun, bass-forward tuning and clear detail; a minority finds the stock sound too V-shaped (too much bass/treble) and notes EQ limits make full correction hard.
• Ear tip size options ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.5
  Multiple ear tip sizes and stability fins/wings are included, helping achieve a strong seal across many ear shapes; fit can still be challenging for very small ears due to the large housings.
• Instrument separation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.5
  Strong separation and layering are repeatedly noted, with complex tracks staying intelligible; consistency is best with good seal and default tuning.
• Weight comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
  Despite their size, reviewers generally don’t find them heavy in-ear and report good balance; only minimal complaints about bulk rather than weight.
• Voice assistant integration ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
  Voice assistants (e.g., Google Assistant) can be triggered via customizable shortcuts, enabling hands-free control; functionality depends on device and app settings but is broadly supported.
• Comfort during long use ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.5
  Most reviewers find them comfortable enough for hours with a secure seal and little pressure; the main comfort caveat is the large, chunky shells that may not suit the smallest ears.
• Charging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.5
  Gen 2 adds wireless charging to the case alongside USB-C, and several reviews appreciate the convenience; fast-charge support is mentioned by some, and app reporting of case battery is a useful upgrade.
• Stability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.5
  Stability is widely praised thanks to the stabilizers and seal, making them suitable for commuting and light workouts; not as locked-in as dedicated sport buds but secure for most users.
• Bass performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.4
  Deep, punchy sub-bass is a standout and often praised for impact without mud; one reviewer finds it overly aggressive/boomy out of the box but can be partially tamed in the app.
• Noise isolation (passive) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.4
  The included tips and stability bands create a solid seal that improves both isolation and ANC; fit is crucial, especially for smaller ears where the large shells may be harder to seal.
• Noise cancellation adjustability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.3
  Bose app provides multiple modes and fine-grained ANC/transparency level control (including custom modes and ActiveSense handling of spikes); some reviewers wish automatic behavior were smarter so manual adjustments aren’t needed.
• Midrange clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.3
  Generally warm and clear with vocals and instruments coming through well, though several sources describe a mild midrange dip; one measurement-driven review reports recessed mids that can make some vocals sound off.
• USB-C ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.3
  USB-C charging is standard on the case and generally works as expected, with at least one outlet highlighting fast-charge behavior; cable type/length included in the box can be a minor nitpick.
• Multipoint connectivity reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.2
  Multipoint support is a meaningful quality-of-life feature and generally works reliably once enabled/managed in the app; device switching can require app/shortcut use rather than being fully seamless.
• Microphone noise reduction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.2
  Bose SpeechClarity and AI suppression are praised for isolating voice from loud appliances/traffic; however, at least one test suggests wind and nearby noise can still leak through, so performance may vary by app and environment.
• Microphone quality for calls ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.2
  Call voice pickup is often rated clear and improved over Gen 1, with several reviewers calling it excellent; a couple report occasional dropouts or processing artifacts in challenging wind/echo conditions.
• Treble clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.2
  Most reviewers hear bright, crisp highs with good extension and little sibilance; one critic reports treble peaks that cause discomfort and are hard to fully fix with the basic EQ.
• Build quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.1
  Earbuds are generally described as premium and well-built, with IPX4 protection and thoughtful details like wax guards; the case gets more mixed feedback, feeling less premium and bulky.
• Spatial audio ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.1
  Immersive/spatial audio with head tracking (Still/Motion) is a notable feature and often described as relatively natural; some listeners prefer standard stereo, and immersive modes reduce battery life.
• App ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.0
  The Bose app is generally seen as polished and feature-rich (modes, firmware, fit/seal tests, device management, case battery display, and control toggles); the main criticisms are navigation complexity for custom modes and limited EQ tools.
• Transparency mode quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.0
  Aware/transparent mode is generally good to excellent for quick conversations, with loud-sound spike smoothing; some reviewers still find it merely average and note background hiss, with AirPods remaining the most natural.
• Water/sweat resistance rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.0
  IPX4 is repeatedly noted as sufficient for sweat and light rain during workouts/commutes; the charging case typically lacks water resistance, so care is needed in wet conditions.
• Included accessories ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0
  Most reviews note a solid accessory kit with multiple ear tips and stability bands plus a charging cable; a common request is a longer cable or USB-C-to-USB-C instead of USB-A-to-USB-C.
• Touch control responsiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.0
  Touch controls are described as very responsive and sensitive, with swipes and taps working well after a learning curve; some find them too easy to trigger accidentally when adjusting fit, but the app can disable touch.
• Design and Aesthetics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 3.9
  Design is divisive: chunky earbuds with wide stems and a busy look, but many find them sleek and distinctive with multiple color options; overall emphasis is on function over minimalism.
• Battery ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 3.8
  Battery life is widely reported as average for the class: roughly 6 hours with ANC (often closer to 5–5.5 hours in testing) and about 24 hours with the case; immersive/spatial modes reduce runtime further, and some competitors last longer. One outlier review appears to cover the over-ear QC Ultra 2 headphones and cites much longer runtime.
• Software/setup simplicity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.7
  Setup and daily use are generally straightforward, but deeper customization (creating modes, understanding EQ bands, managing multipoint) can feel unintuitive; still manageable once learned.