Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review

The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) bring much of what makes the Ultra appealing to a lower price. Bose describes active and adaptive noise cancellation with its QuietControl Tech, multiple listening modes and TrueSpatial Tech for an immersive sound field. For work, the important details are multipoint Bluetooth, so you can hop between a laptop call and a phone, and Bose's note on excellent call quality. Lossless audio over USB is included, as on the Ultra. The battery is rated at up to 24 hours with a 3-hour charge, which covers a week of commuting but falls short of Sony, Sennheiser and Anker. Weight is 0.507 lb, the lightest Bose in this list. The value case depends on the sale: at the $219 Bose was charging when we checked, it undercuts most rivals by a wide margin. At the $359 list price, the Ultra on sale is the better buy.

Who it is for

Commuters who want Bose noise cancelling at a much lower price than the Ultra.

Price

$219 on sale at Bose when checked, list price $359.

Current Price is: $219.00 Original Price is: $359.00
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 7, 2026.

Key features

• Active and adaptive noise cancellation with QuietControl Tech
• TrueSpatial Tech for immersive sound
• Up to 24 hours of battery
• Lossless audio via USB
• Multipoint Bluetooth

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Bose noise cancelling for $219 when on sale
• Strength: Lightest Bose here at 0.507 lb
• Strength: Multipoint and lossless USB audio
• Weakness: 24-hour battery is the shortest in this list besides AirPods Max
• Weakness: Protein leather cushions rather than fabric
• Weakness: List price of $359 is close to the Ultra on sale

Key facts

• Battery: Up to 24 hours
• Charge time: 3 hours
• Weight: 0.507 lb
• Bluetooth: 5.4, multipoint
• Wired audio: Lossless via USB

Where it ranks

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) is No. 3 in our Best Noise Cancelling Headphones verdict and No. 4 in Best Wireless Headphones.