Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen Headphones review: What's new and how they stack up

The new Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen are a great pair of wireless headphones, with features and performance that make them well-suited for everyday listeners. They've been redesigned (subtly) with a revised headband and cushions. The active noise cancellation (ANC) is also better engineered in a few ways. Plus, they feature new niceties like USB-C audio and playback support while charging.

When it comes to actual quality and design, there really aren't many flaws to speak of. But these new headphones are complicated by one key factor: their $359 retail price. Bose's higher-end QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Headphones are $90 more but have been on sale for as low as $369. Meanwhile, the first-gen QuietComfort Headphones that this new model replaces are still in stock and often discounted to around $250. This presents a potential buying dilemma.

I've been testing and reviewing audio gear for over a decade, so I have extensive experience with the best headphones on the market. To figure out whether the QuietComfort 2nd Gen are a good buy, I tested them directly against the 2025 QuietComfort Ultra. I also compared them to one of Bose's older midrange headphones, the QuietComfort 45 from 2021, to see what's improved in the last five years. Here's why the new second-gen QuietComfort succeeds as a worthy addition to Bose's lineup.

What's new about the QuietComfort 2nd Gen headphones?

You'll be forgiven if you don't immediately notice all the ways the QuietComfort 2nd Gen Headphones have evolved from the first-gen model and even Bose's older QuietComfort 45 before that. The biggest visual difference is the fresh color options, which include Dewdrop Mint, Eucalyptus Green, and Rosewood Mauve, in addition to more standard black and white editions. But even the black colorway has a new splash of blue inside the ear cups.

I tested the Dewdrop Mint color as I think it's the most striking combo at launch. Its pale green exterior takes on different appearances depending on the lighting, and the inner headband and earcups feature a bolder shade that offers great contrast.

When it comes to other design differences, the power switch location has been moved from the side of the ear cup to the bottom, and the headband has been tweaked and expanded. These changes make the product more modern than the first-gen QuietComfort and QuietComfort 45 headphones, but I wouldn't call it a dramatic redesign.

I also appreciate certain elements that have been carried over, including a physical on/off switch and media controls. The tactile functionality is worth celebrating, as I prefer this style over finicky touch controls. Battery life is also the same, with up to 24 hours when ANC is on, which is solid for midrange headphones. But be aware that, like the original model, the QuietComfort 2nd Gen Headphones don't support head detection, so they won't automatically pause when they're removed. This is an odd omission for $360 headphones.

Here's a rundown of a few other changes and upgrades that separate the second- and first-generation QuietComfort models:

• Bose's Immersive Audio feature is now supported, including Cinema Mode, which emphasizes dialogue while keeping a wide soundstage.
• You can now listen to lossless audio (24bit/48kHz) over USB-C.
• Audio playback is now supported while charging.
• ANC has been improved with Active Sense, which handles noise spikes more effectively in Aware mode. The tech also accounts for gaps against the head better (like if you're wearing glasses). And ANC can be turned off completely.

The new QuietComfort headphones deliver impressive noise cancellation

The biggest surprise I encountered while testing the new QuietComfort 2nd Gen Headphones was realizing just how closely their ANC performance compares to Bose's pricier QuietComfort Ultra. During back-and-forth tests with airplane cabin noise, city street sounds, and the bustle of a café, the two performed very similarly.

There is a noticeable difference between how each pair's ear cups and cushioning feel, which likely plays a small part in how outside noise is perceived. And the Ultra Headphones' ANC is still technically better, but it's much closer than I thought it would be. There's no specific sound type or frequency I could identify that broke through more on the standard QuietComfort than on the Ultra, but in my testing, the more expensive model simply provided a slightly more effective overall dampening of ambient noise.

I also compared the QuietComfort 2nd Gen's noise cancellation to Bose's QuietComfort 45 from 2021, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well that older model still fares in the ANC department. I wouldn't feel bad about handing those to anyone in my family for a long plane ride. However, the QuietComfort 2nd Gen Headphones are definitely better, with the most noticeable difference coming from their adaptive noise canceling technology.

Both the new Gen 2 and Ultra headphones can adjust noise cancellation to match an environment's changing ambiance. The sound dampening seemed to improve the longer I wore them. While the QC45 headphones still blocked out noise well, they didn't adjust as the surrounding noises changed.

Audio quality is solid, and USB-C playback is a nice addition

Testing the second-generation QuietComfort's audio quality largely mirrored my ANC experience. The new headphones sounded better than expected, but the QuietComfort Ultra are still Bose's top-performing model.

With a wireless Bluetooth connection, the Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen Headphones handle Spotify and Apple Music streams like a champ. But what really sets this model apart from the first-gen QuietComfort is its new wired USB-C support for high-resolution playback. Music sounded especially good when I plugged the headphones into my Mac using the included USB-C cable and turned on Apple Music's Hi-Res Lossless (ALAC 24-bit 192kHz) setting.

Of course, songs aren't as detailed or rich as they are on ultra-premium headphoneslike theBang & Olufsen Beoplay H100that I tested recently, but that's to beexpected. Bose's Ultra Headphones also had a touch more clarity and richness to their default sound profile than the QuietComfort Gen 2. However, I doubt most people will be able to tell a difference with any real certainty unless you do a back-to-back comparison.

On the other hand, it was much easier to hear how Bose's audio quality has improved when comparing the QuietComfort 2nd Gen to the older QuietComfort 45. The frequency range, from the low end through the mids, up to the highs, all sound better on the QC 2nd Gen. But to be clear, the QC45 headphones don't sound bad, especially for Spotify listening; they're just not as good.

Those who want the widest soundstage should use the headphones' Cinema Mode. It offers crisp, clear dialogue with expansive music and sound effects. While the Cinema setting may be a bit niche, it's worth using if you wear headphones regularly to watch movies on an iPad or another device.

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen headphones?

If you're shopping for Bose headphones and can't decide which model to buy, the new QuietComfort 2nd Gen are the brand's most well-rounded option. They offer a lightweight, modern design, solid sound quality, and niceties such as USB-C charging while in use. They're a perfect pair of ANC headphones for work, travel, and everyday listening.

The QuietComfort 2nd Gen have been designed to appeal to the widest audience, and I think they pull that off. For me, their biggest flaws are their lack of on-head detection and the sheer fact that you can still buy the first-gen model for around $100 less. The second-gen headphones do add some solid perks — like USB-C playback, Immersive Audio support, and improved ANC — that bring their performance closer to Bose's step-up Ultra model. They also come in a few fun new color options. But the discounted first-gen model remains a decent alternative for those who want to save some cash.

Of course, I expect these new second-gen headphones to get frequent discounts of their own over the coming months. Once that happens, the QuietComfort 2nd Gen will cement themselves as the best Bose headphones for most people.

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