If you want better Value for money
Choose Sony WF-C510 Earbuds. It scores 4.7 vs 3.4 for Value for money, with a 3.9 overall score.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review
Bottom Line
Choose these if you want class-leading ANC, rich sound, secure comfort, and improved calls in premium earbuds. Skip them if you need longer battery life, a smaller fit/case, stronger EQ tools, or a cheap Gen 1 upgrade.
Best for
Best for travelers, commuters, office workers, and runners who value elite ANC, rich bass-forward sound, secure fit, and improved call clarity. They also suit buyers who want premium Bose earbuds without owning the first generation.
Not for
Not for people with very small ears, users who need class-leading battery life, detailed EQ control, or the smallest case. First-generation owners may find the improvements too incremental unless wireless charging and call upgrades matter.
Verdict
Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds earn their praise by pairing exceptional noise cancellation with rich, energetic sound and a secure, comfortable fit. Reviewers repeatedly describe the ANC as the class benchmark, especially for flights, commutes, offices, and gyms, while many also praise the bass-forward audio, separation, and improved call noise reduction. The tradeoff is that this is not a major reinvention: battery life is average, the case is bulky, the EQ is too basic for a premium model, and the large buds may not suit smaller ears. For owners of the first generation, the upgrade case is weaker than the first-time buyer case.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
50 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.09 (18%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.428 (56%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.410 (20%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.43 (6%)
Pros
-
Reviewers strongly agree that ANC is the standout feature: it removes airplane, subway, traffic, keyboard, cafe, and other ambient noise better than most or all earbuds they tested, with only minor caveats about hiss or sudden spikes.
-
Sound quality is broadly strong, with rich, detailed, bass-forward playback praised by most reviewers, though a few disliked the stock tuning.
-
Comfort is a major strength for many reviewers over long sessions, flights, runs, and daily use, though very small ears may struggle.
-
Bass is generally rich, punchy, and deep, but some reviewers think Bose overboosts the low end or gives it too much emphasis for neutral listening.
-
Stability is mostly excellent, especially for running and workouts, but one reviewer still disliked the running feel and movement.
-
Charging is a notable upgrade thanks to wireless charging and case improvements, although one running-focused review found quick charging slower than ideal.
Cons
-
EQ customization is the clearest software weakness: many reviewers criticize the basic three-band EQ as too limited for premium earbuds.
-
Preset EQ profiles are poorly regarded because they are basic and do not adequately fix the tuning complaints.
-
Measurement-focused reviews say the frequency response is heavily shaped, with overemphasized bass and treble and recessed mids.
-
Several runners or active users noticed footstep thud or earbud movement noise, especially during runs or with sweaty ears.
-
Sensor behavior is a weak spot in the few comments available, with reviewers criticizing early CustomTune firing and suggesting in-ear detection be disabled.
-
The included cable drew a minor complaint because PCMag wanted a longer USB-C-to-USB-C cable.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Earbuds, this product is above average in aptX, Sound leakage, Active noise cancellation, near average in Sound quality, Comfort during long use, below average in Preset EQ profile quality, Equalizer customization, Frequency response accuracy.
Comparison summary
49 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher16 (33%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts18 (37%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower15 (31%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preset EQ profile quality | 1.8 | 3.8 | -2.1 |
| Equalizer customization | 2.1 | 3.8 | -1.7 |
| aptX | 4.0 | 2.4 | +1.6 |
| Frequency response accuracy | 2.3 | 3.9 | -1.6 |
| Sound leakage | 4.4 | 3.0 | +1.4 |
| Active noise cancellation | 4.9 | 3.9 | +1.0 |
| Battery | 3.0 | 4.1 | -1.0 |
| Ear tip size options | 2.5 | 3.7 | -1.2 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Preset EQ profile quality
Choose Sony WF-C710N Earbuds. It scores 4.3 vs 1.8 for Preset EQ profile quality, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Frequency response accuracy
Choose Edifier NeoBuds Planar Earbuds. It scores 4.4 vs 2.3 for Frequency response accuracy, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Equalizer customization
Choose Denon Perl Pro True Wireless Earbuds. It scores 4.3 vs 2.1 for Equalizer customization, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Worse: sound reduction WIRED says Sony may sound slightly better, but Bose bests it on noise reduction.
- Worse: low-end response Business Insider says Bose offers a more expansive low end than Sony WF-1000XM5 under default settings.
- Better: natural sound and codec support PCMag says Sony's WF-1000XM5 sound more natural and support more hi-res codecs, while Bose wins ANC.
- Better: battery life Business Insider says Technics EAH-AZ100 can last longer with ANC than Bose.
- Better: dynamic range and clarity Gizmodo says the Bose kept pace with premium buds but lacked the Technics' dynamic range and clarity.
- Similar: bass reproduction PCMag says the Bose can match the Technics EAH-AZ100 on one bass test track.
AirPods Pro 2
- Better: transparency mode Mark Ellis says Bose's passthrough is not as good as AirPods Pro 2.
- Worse: sound and ANC Run Testers says Bose beats AirPods Pro 2 on sound and ANC but AirPods are smaller and cheaper.
- Worse: default bass response Business Insider says Bose delivers beefier low frequencies than AirPods Pro 2 by default.
FAQ
How good is the noise cancellation?
Reviewers strongly describe it as class-leading, with excellent performance against airplane rumble, subway noise, traffic, keyboards, cafes, and other steady ambient sounds.
Do they sound better than typical premium earbuds?
Most reviewers praise the sound as rich, detailed, and energetic, especially for bass and separation. A few measurement-focused reviews say the stock tuning overemphasizes bass and treble.
Are they comfortable for long sessions?
Most reviewers found them comfortable for hours, flights, workouts, and long runs. The main caveat is size, because smaller ears may find the chunky buds less comfortable.
Is battery life a weakness?
Yes, relative to the premium category. Reviewers generally describe about six hours with ANC as decent or average, with immersive audio reducing runtime further.
Are the microphones good for calls?
Call quality is much improved in several reviews, especially when Bose SpeechClarity suppresses background noise. A few tests still found voice processing or wind/noise handling only okay.
Should first-generation owners upgrade?
Most upgrade-focused reviewers say probably not unless wireless charging, improved call handling, and reduced ANC noise floor are important. The core sound, fit, and ANC remain very similar.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 3.7
Article Reviews
androidcentral.com
- Review score
- 4.4
hothardware.com
- Review score
- 4.2
gizmodo.com
- Review score
- 4.0
Top Earbuds to Consider
Best for detailed, natural wired sound, three connector options, and standout value around $99. Skip it if you need wireless features, stronger bass, softer treble, or a compact fit for...
Pros: Sound quality, Midrange clarity
Cons: Software/setup simplicity, Portability/foldability
Choose the JBL Tour Pro 3 if you want feature-packed earbuds with strong sound, ANC, LDAC and a genuinely useful smart case. Skip them if you have smaller ears, want...
Pros: Codec support, Dongle
Cons: Sound leakage, Find My
Choose these for excellent sound, deep app control, strong codec support, and a premium true-wireless package. Skip them if call quality, best-in-class ANC, iPhone integration, or a compact case matters...
Pros: Maximum volume clarity, Stability
Cons: Spatial audio, Microphone noise reduction
Choose the Technics EAH-AZ100 if sound quality, bass, ANC, battery life, and multipoint matter most. Skip them if you need flawless calls, Bose-level ANC, the most natural transparency, or a...
Pros: Volume output, Maximum volume clarity
Cons: aptX, Auracast support