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In this guide
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are Bose's in-ear flagship: Adaptive Noise Cancelling, Aware Mode, Immersive Audio and, new for this generation, a case that charges wirelessly. Bose lists them at $299; on November 5 Amazon sold the black pair for $229 against that list price.
Bose rates six hours in Quiet or Aware mode and four with Immersive Audio. The case holds three more charges; IPX4 covers splashes, not swimming.
Our verdict
At the $299 list price these are the Bose in-ears to buy for Adaptive ANC, Immersive Audio and wireless case charging, provided six hours per charge, with three more in the case, fits your day.
- A good fit for
- A commuter or flyer who wants Bose's adaptive cancelling in an in-ear, uses Immersive Audio for films and keeps the case in a bag.
- We would skip it if
- You need more than six hours without the case, want a wired connection, or expect the earbuds to survive a swim: IPX4 is splash resistance, not immersion.
Reasons to consider it
- Adaptive ANC with an improved ActiveSense over the first generation, plus Aware Mode and CustomTune calibration
- Immersive Audio spatialises stereo, at a cost of two hours per charge: six hours drop to four
- IPX4, Bluetooth 5.3, nine eartip and stability-band combinations, and a case that holds three full charges and charges wirelessly
The compromises
- Six hours per charge means anything longer than a short flight depends on the case
- Immersive Audio cuts battery to four hours
- No wired listening and no power adapter included; Bose's spec sheet lists the A2DP and HFP profiles but names no codec
What we have not verified: Fit, real-world cancelling and call quality vary with the ear and the room. The six-hour figure is Bose's own February 2025 test at 75 dB in Quiet Mode with Immersive Audio off; louder playback or Immersive Audio shortens it.
The things in this guide
A closer look at the products, who they may suit, and what to check before buying.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
$299 list, Adaptive ANC, Immersive Audio and a case that charges wirelessly.
Before you buy: Six hours per charge; IPX4 only.
Price checked November 5, 2026. Retailer prices can change.What $299 buys
Bose's own store and Amazon both list the pair at $299. The box holds the earbuds, the charging case, a 12-inch USB-A to USB-C cable and the Bose Fit Kit; Bose states that no power adapter is included.
The Fit Kit has three eartip sizes and three stability bands, nine combinations in all. Bose covers the earbuds for one year from purchase; its BoseCare plans extend that at extra cost.
Amazon's $229 on November 5 was a 23% cut from that list price with no end date on the page; Bose's own site showed $299 the same day.
Six hours, or four with Immersive
Bose rates six hours in Quiet or Aware mode and four with Immersive Audio, measured at 75 dB. The case adds three full charges, and 20 minutes in the case gives up to two hours.
The case charges over USB-C or on a third-party wireless pad. For a long flight, the case is the runtime; the buds alone are not.
Cancelling and fit
Adaptive ANC uses ActiveSense to smooth spikes in surrounding sound; Aware Mode lets them back in. Against the first-generation pair, Bose lists improved ActiveSense, AI-based call noise suppression and wireless case charging as the changes.
CustomTune adapts the sound to the ear canal. The seal depends on the tip and band combination, so the fit decides how much the cancelling can do.
How we put this together
Built from the product pages and listings below, without test scores or results we have not measured. Specifications and prices change, so check the original page for the exact model, current price, delivery, and returns.
- Amazon US: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Black (opens in a new tab)
- Bose: QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) (opens in a new tab)
