Call clarity during rush hour shouldn’t sound like you’re speaking through a fish tank, yet most earbuds turn your voice into garbled static. The new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) tackle this exact frustration with AI-powered noise suppression that isolates your voice even when sirens are wailing outside your window.
Smarter Silence Gets an Upgrade
AI technology borrowed from hearing aids delivers crystal-clear calls in chaos.
Bose leveraged its hearing-aid technology to create intelligent noise suppression that works whether you’re using one earbud or both. The updated ActiveSense adaptive noise cancellation smooths out those jarring transitions when a garbage truck rumbles past your coffee shop table.
The wireless charging case eliminates the daily USB-C cable hunt, while new ear tip guards prevent wax buildup that gradually murders sound quality over months of use. These improvements target the small annoyances that accumulate over months of daily use.
Premium Comfort Meets Practical Performance
Six-hour battery life and CustomTune calibration maintain Bose’s reputation for all-day wearability.
The fundamentals remain rock-solid: six hours of listening time (four with Immersive Audio mode engaged), extending to 24 hours total with the case. CustomTune technology adapts both sound signature and noise cancellation to your specific ear shape, creating a personalized audio bubble.
IPX4 water resistance handles gym sessions and sudden downpours. You can now disable touch controls entirely if accidental taps annoy you during workouts. The familiar stability bands and three ear tip sizes ensure these stay put during your morning jog or cross-country flight.
The $299 Reality Check
Incremental improvements justify premium pricing for noise cancellation devotees.
At $299—unchanged from the previous generation—these earbuds compete directly with Apple’s AirPods Pro and Sony’s WF-1000XM5. Preorders begin August 28, with public sales starting September 10 in Black and White Smoke colorways (Deep Plum arrives in October).
The improvements feel evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but Bose continues delivering noise cancellation for travelers who consider airplane engine noise a personal affront. Whether AI-enhanced call quality and wireless charging convenience warrant replacing already-excellent first-generation QuietComfort Ultras depends on how much those daily frustrations matter to your routine.
