We've all been there. You're on a bus, train or other mode of public transportation, and you're consistently being disturbed by someone watching things on their phone — out loud, without using headphones or earbuds. When the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts in a couple of weeks, you'll see — hear, rather — people watching games out loud on their phones. Don't be that guy. No one likes that guy.

I, for one, know that I'll be using my phone to either catch up on games or watch them live, and there's an easy way to ensure you aren't disturbing anyone's peace, and that's by using a pair of the best headphones. I test headphones day in and day out, so for your convenience, I've shortlisted my favorite cans — all of which will arrive well in time for the first kick-off.

Whether you've got a budget of $100 or you're willing to spend nearly $500, there's a pair of headphones for everyone. The ones I've picked all feature highly effective ANC to make you feel immersed; clear vocals so that you can hear the commentary properly, and powerful bass so that you can feel the crowd rumbling and chanting in your chest.

Under $100

Under $200

Under $300

Under $400

Under $500

Under $600

More from Tom's Guide

• I thought the Apple AirPods Max 2 were way overhyped — but I finally tried them and they're some of the best headphones I've ever used
• I've been testing the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks — they fix my biggest gripe with on-ear headphones, and are the new gold standard
• My doctor banned me from earbuds so I got these Marshall headphones instead — and I’m surprised I didn’t do it sooner

Over a year ago, I ditched in-ear buds for over-ear headphones and didn't look back. You'll usually find me with my trusty Marshall Monitor III headphones around my neck, or sitting atop my head while I jam to my favorite tunes. While I love my headphones, I'm no stranger to itchy ears from sweating, and due to the very nature of over-ear cans, they can be tricky to wear for long periods of time during the summer.

The solution is a simple one, of course: get a pair of in-ear buds. In-ear buds don't sit around your ears, like over-ear headphones do, so they don't feel suffocating during the year's hottest months. And you don't need to spend big bucks to get a decent pair — which is why I'm opting for the Sony WF-C710N.

I tested the WF-C710N back in April 2025, and to date, they remain some of the best wireless earbuds I've ever tested. They're lightweight and ridiculously comfortable, and their see-through Glass Blue design is nothing short of delicious. Meaty bass, crisp treble, refined mids, and with highly effective ANC — these earbuds have got it all. And the best part? They're $170 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2. It's time to upgrade your life for less with the WF-C710N.

Like you aren't even wearing them

Having tested and used many earbuds in my time, I believe that the true hallmark of a good pair is when you don't even realize they're in your ears. I should be able to go about my day without feeling earbuds digging into my ear canal. By that standard, then, the Sony WF-C710N are simply excellent.

Each earbud weighs just 0.18oz which is practically nothing. In my ears, they fit snugly and never once have they fallen out, even when I've been walking briskly or headbanging. There have been times where I've forgotten that the WF-C710N are in my ears, and that says everything you need to know about their comfort level.

In addition to that, the WF-C710N are sure to turn heads because they look stunning. Available in white, black and blue, I'd personally recommend the third option. You can see the wires and hardware on the see-through Glass Blue model, and this sets the earbuds apart from any others on the market right now.

They sound amazing

I would never recommend a pair of earbuds unless they sounded downright fantastic — yes, even if it's very comfortable and good-looking. The Sony WF-C710N have that covered, with their 5mm drivers delivering powerful bass and vibrant treble. Thanks to Sony's trademarked Digital Sound Enhancement Engine technology, sound is reproduced as close to the original recording as possible.

Through the WF-C710N, the distorted bass in 070 Shake's 'Elephant' and the reverberating bassline in Twenty One Pilots' 'No Chances' sound fantastic. It's powerful enough that you can you feel the music in your skull but not so booming that it overpowers the rest of the soundstage.

Treble is crisp but not overzealous, so you can clearly hear the high-pitched coins in Pink Floyd's 'Money' but that sound doesn't pierce through the soundscape or undermines the other instruments.

For a pair of in-ear buds, the WF-C710N provide an excellent, immersive listening experience. Combine that with the highly effective ANC that goes toe-to-toe with Bose, and you've got a winning formula. The ANC is so good that you can't hear the kettle boiling or the TV indoors, and the noise of a bus rattling while you're traveling is also muted. You're getting bang for your buck here.

In the summer, you need a pair of earbuds that enable your ears to breathe — and while headphones are great, they clamp down on your earlobes, leading to some discomfort, especially during heatwaves. Conversely, when it gets colder, over-ear cans are a great choice, because they can double as earmuffs and provide some warmth to your ears when temperatures drop.

What do you think? Do you swap between over-ear headphones (or on-ears) and in-ear buds depending on the weather? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

More from Tom's Guide

• Sony WF-C710N review
• Do you need to spend $449 on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen when you can get the new Marshall Milton ANC for $229? I tested both and I’m very surprised
• Not all on-ear headphones are uncomfortable: I’ve been using the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks and they’re ridiculously comfortable and offer outstanding sound too

It's no secret that Bose is the unbeaten king of noise-canceling headphones. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen are incredible, boasting a plethora of outstanding features, including best-in-class ANC, supreme comfort levels, and great battery life. But it's also no secret that these headphones are very expensive, priced at $449 / £449, and not everyone can afford them.

But just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't have nice things — and British manufacturer Marshall has just shaken up the ANC scene with its brand new Marshall Milton ANC on-ear cans. I know what you'll say to that: a) they're on-ears and not over-ears like the QuietComfort Ultra, and b) how can any brand even conceivably think of dethroning Bose as the ANC king?

To that, I have a few retorts: a) they're on-ears but they're great on-ears, b) the Milton ANC weren't created to dethrone Bose, and a bonus c) they're half the price of the QuietComfort Ultra and for $229 / £179, they're simply fantastic. I've been testing the Milton ANC for three weeks and I've been using the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen for a week. If you can't afford Bose's offering, Marshall's offers bang for your buck. Here's why.

Hi, Nikita here! This isn't going to be a traditional face-off like the others you may have seen on Tom's Guide, such as my Marshall Milton ANC vs Monitor III. It would be unfair to make direct comparisons between the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen and the Milton ANC as both vastly differ when it comes to price, so it would be crown just one a winner. Think of this article as more of buying advice instead.

A few tricks up Marshall's sleeve

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen are excellent, but one of the areas they struggle in is battery life. The OG Ultra offered just 24 hours of playback time, but their successor kicks it up a notch to 30 hours... but that's still not class-leading. Meanwhile, one of the things Marshall has historically nailed with its consumer-first headphones (like the Monitor III) is battery life — and the Milton ANC are no different.

Offering 50 hours of battery life with ANC on and 80 hours with ANC off, the Milton ANC blow the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen out of the water. It's not even close, really. Sure, you get better ANC with the latter, but if it's more juice you're after, the Milton ANC are worth the trade-off.

But it isn't a massive trade-off either, which brings me to the Milton ANC's key selling point: these are Marshall's first-ever on-ear cans to feature ANC, and they've knocked it out of the park. I've tested a few on-ear headphones now, and the Milton ANC offer the most effective noise cancellation of them all.

Sounds indoors, like the kettle boiling or the clickity clackity of mechanical keyboards, are muted to ensure you feel immersed in your music. Outdoors, the ANC is alright — the sound of cars zooming past makes it through but it isn't too jarring.

I won't lie: using the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen outdoors blew me away as I couldn't hear anything, and they made me feel like I was in a room so quiet I could hear a pin drop. But I wouldn't hear that pin drop because the headphones would cancel out the noise. The Milton ANC can't compete with that, and they don't need to. For half the price of the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, you're still getting pretty solid ANC, and the best on-ears have to offer at the time of writing.

Take control

I've spent a fair bit of time using the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen. I've found them extremely comfortable, and the plush ear cushions make my ears feel like they're resting on clouds. The design, though unchanged from the OG headphones, is pretty enough to look at, but the thing that bothers me most? The controls.

This might be a hot take but I think we need to get rid of touch controls on all headphones. They work fine on earbuds — the ones I've tested, at least — but I've never been a fan of them on headphones. The QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen's touch slider to adjust the volume sticks out like a sore thumb, and I've found its placement frustrating and ability to register my commands finicky, at best.

Turns out, I'm not the only one here at Tom's Guide who has struggled with the touch controls on the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen. Our Buying Guide Editor, Tammy, mentioned them in her review of the headphones, and Senior Reviews Writer, Erin, easily gave the win to the AirPods Max 2 when it came to the two headphones' controls.

So, what's better than a strange mix of physical and touch controls that leaves users frustrated? Full physical controls, just like on the Marshall Milton ANC. There are two buttons that control everything on the Milton ANC: a joystick-like power button that can be used to adjust volume and change tracks, and a customizable 'M' button that can be personalized to enable Spatial Audio, change EQ, or enable/disable ANC.

And simplicity works. The controls are easy to understand and don't give you much to complain about. Not to mention, that brass power button looks drool-worthy. The Milton ANC's design, in general, looks classier and more premium than the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, but that's just my opinion.

Music to my ears

What surprised me most about using the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen and the Marshall Milton ANC to listen to music back-to-back was how similar their tuning is. Both headphones offer deep, rich, bass-first sound profiles, which may not be everyone's cup of tea — and if they aren't, both headphones come with user-friendly apps to customize the EQ.

Personally, I love bass-first tuning because that's the aspect of the soundstage I enjoy the most, so both the Milton ANC and the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen impressed me straight out of the box. 'Let It Happen' by Tame Impala sounds glorious through both pairs, but when it comes to spatial audio, I think the Milton ANC's Soundstage creates more of an immersive listening experience. The QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen's spatial audio is good but it does so at the cost of bass which sounds muted. The Milton ANC's, on the other hand, keeps the bass thumping while making the track sound wider.

'FA9LA' by Flipperachi sounds excellent through both headphones too, with great emphasis on the pounding bass without making the treble sound too shrill or piercing. Vocals? Crystal clear, with each word discernible and not bleeding into the next.

One of the biggest advantages of using the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen is that because the ANC is mindblowing, it makes you feel truly immersed in your music. The ANC on the Milton ANC is good, like I said earlier, but doesn't come close, and that has an impact on your listening experience. Swings and roundabouts.

Looking ahead...

So, should you buy the Marshall Milton ANC or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen? I wish I could say that there's a straightforward "yes" or "no" to that question but there isn't. Question is, how much are you willing to spend? If you've got a budget of over $450, money is no object, or you want to get peerless ANC, the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen are a no-brainer.

But if you can't loosen the purse strings to that extent, the Milton ANC are great value for money. They cost $229, so almost half the price of the QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen, but they don't compromise on features that matter most to 90% of users. Here at Tom's Guide, our job is to help you upgrade your life for less, and when it comes to getting premium features and audio at a non-premium price, you can't go wrong with the Milton ANC.

More from Tom's Guide

• Not all on-ear headphones are uncomfortable: I’ve been using the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks and they’re ridiculously comfortable and offer outstanding sound too
• I’ve been testing the Marshall Milton ANC on-ears vs Marshall Monitor III over-ears — and it’s closer than you think
• I've been testing the new Marshall Milton ANC for 3 weeks — they fix my biggest gripe with on-ear headphones, and are the new gold standard

Bose has shown us time and time again that it can build some truly great soundbars — both the Bose Smart and Bose Smart Ultra soundbars being good examples. But in 2026, the brand wants to take things to another level with the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar.

Although I’ve only had a few days with it, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar feels like it’s a true Sonos Arc Ultra competitor. It sounds great both with and without the additional Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer, and I was hard-pressed to hear anything wrong with it.

Is it time for the Arc Ultra to finally give up its crown as the best soundbar?

TL;DR

• What is it? A new Spatial Audio soundbar from Bose
• How much will it cost? $1,099 for the black or white model
• What does it work with? Any streaming service that supports Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth

Price and availability

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar was announced on May 5 2026, and became available to pre-order at Bose.com shortly afterwards.

At $1,099, it’s the most expensive soundbar in Bose’s range, but it’s similar in specs and power to the $999 Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar and is exactly the same price as its closest competitor, the Sonos Arc Ultra.

If you want something a bit more manageable in price, the 3.0-channel Bose TV Soundbar starts at $279, while the 5.0-channel Bose Smart Soundbar can be had for $549.

Design

Bose being Bose, the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar only comes in two color options: black and white… Excuse me, Arctic White.

The top of the soundbar is divided into two layers. There’s a fabric layer that wraps all the way around the front and sides of the soundbar and a glossy section that sits on top and acts almost as a mirror to the TV.

Spin it around to the back and you'll see a strange array of ports. You've got the essential HDMI-in port that you'll want to connect to the eARC HDMI port on your TV, but also connections for Ethernet, Bass and Data, as well as a USB-C port for service.

I'm not sure I totally understand why some of these ports are here and I would trade any one of the aforementioned extras for an HDMI passthrough that could link up to a Blu-ray player or game console.

On the top right of the soundbar are the touch-sensitive controls laid out in a large circular indentation. You'll mostly use your phone to control playback, but these are handy to use in a pinch.

Audio

According to Bose, the speaker features six full-range drivers (two up-firing and four front-facing) alongside an additional center tweeter and two proprietary Bose PhaseGuide drivers inside the main bar. On the back are two QuietPort acoustic openings that enable what Bose calls "CleanBass" technology.

The specs are all very impressive on paper. But how does the speaker actually sound? I haven’t put the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar through my entire testing regimen yet, but I’m fairly pleased with what I’ve heard from it so far.

To kick things off, I started with songs from Qobuz, my streaming service of choice. First up: “The Mountain” by Gorillaz. Its blend of sitars and flutes fluttered wonderfully out of the soundbar, never too shrill for my ears and perfectly balanced. The soundstage wasn’t the largest, especially if I toggled off the subwoofer, but the clarity was great.

To test the bass response, I threw on “Barbra Streisand” by Duck Sauce. If you need an impromptu dance party in your living room, I highly recommend giving this a listen. The bass response wasn’t the greatest with just the soundbar, but there was enough oomph there to get me bobbing along with the beat.

Testing some classical music, “Star Wars: A New Hope Main Title” was up next — and I knew this one was going to be difficult for the soundbar.

Unfortunately, to make classical music to sound like you’re listening to it at the philharmonic, you need a wide soundstage. It’s here the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar fell a little flat. There was nothing wrong with the sound profile itself, mind you, it just felt cramped. Admittedly, this is an issue with nearly all soundbars, but I was hoping Bose’s CustomTune technology would widen things a bit.

Last but not least was “INDUSTRY BABY” by Lil Nas X, a perennial banger that should have the windows and walls shaking with its deep sub-bass. Without the subwoofer enabled, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar got pretty darn low, but it wasn’t until I flipped back on the subwoofer that I really got the walls to shake.

To see how dialogue sounded, I threw on a Premiere League game. With the SpeechClarity setting at Medium, the announcers were crystal clear and the cheers of the audience were audible, but not overwhelming. This is an area that I'll really dive into with more movies and shows when I write the final review early next week.

Setup and smart features

Setup for the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar is done via the Bose app. The whole process can be done in just a few minutes and requires little technical knowledge to pull off. It also worked the first time, which is something I can’t say about every soundbar I’ve tested recently (cough, LG Sound Suite H7, cough).

Inside the app are a number of very simple tuning options. There’s a three-band EQ (treble, mids, bass) and adjustments for height and surround. You’ll want to adjust the height of the sound to match the distance to your TV. If the soundbar sits five feet below the TV, crank this setting up to +5. Need the sound lower? Go in the other direction to -5.

If you pick up the subwoofer to go with it, you’ll be able to toggle it on and off via the app as well as increase its output if you feel the bass is a little lacking. I had mine set to a +2 for the majority of my hands-on time, but I occasionally cranked it up higher to see if I could rattle windows. (I was able to and my wife was none-too-pleased about it.)

You’ll also come into the app to re-configure your setup if you shell out for a pair of Bose Lifestyle Ultra speakers or need to change the source of your playback from HDMI to Bluetooth or AirPlay.

Outlook

I'll need to spend some more time with it before I can say definitively whether this overtakes the Sonos Arc Ultra, but I think it's going to be exceptionally close.

Features like Bose's custom tuning and SpeechClarity are genuinely helpful, and I think music sounds fantastic for a soundbar. There are some minor issues like the small soundstage and lack of an HDMI passthrough port that are troubling, however.

Although it's a bit pricey, the Lifestyle Ultra is a darn good entry in Bose's storied soundbar lineup, and it's one I'm excited to fully test over the next week or two.

What took so long? It’s pretty remarkable that, for all its other products, it has taken Bose this long to come out with an in-home smart speaker. But the Bose Lifestyle Ultra is finally here, and it looks like the company has not only taken lessons from its own rich history of designing audio products, but also from what’s worked — and what hasn’t — from its competitors.

Apart from delivering excellent audio, this is the first smart speaker not made by Amazon that supports Alexa+; it supports AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect, and you can even plug it directly into a turntable.

But, having used it for a week, I have a few reservations. So how does the Bose Lifestyle Ultra stack up against the best smart speakers? You’ll have to read the rest of my review to find out.

Bose Lifestyle Ultra review: Price and availability

The Bose LifeStyle Ultra Speaker went on sale May 5 2026 at Bose.com, and is more widely available at other retailers. The speaker comes in three colors: the black and white models cost $299, while a limited-edition Driftwood Sand model costs $349.

Bose Lifestyle Ultra review: Design

Stylistically, the Bose speaker falls between the all-plastic Sonos Era 100 and the completely cloth-covered Apple HomePod 2. The body of Bose’s speaker is made primarily of plastic, but the front and sides are wrapped in an acoustic cloth, which softens the overall look.

The top of the device has a speaker grille towards the front, and a circular indentation towards the rear with volume controls. In between are additional touch-sensitive controls for Bluetooth and muting the speaker’s microphone. With all the little icons, it feels a bit busy, but that’s just me.

I saw all three color options in person, and the limited-edition Driftwood Sand model definitely stands out, especially with its white oak base. If you have wood decor, it might be worth springing the cash.

Bose Lifestyle Ultra review: Audio quality

As you might expect from a Bose product, the sound quality from the Lifestyle Ultra speaker is superb. To test its performance, I streamed a number of tracks through Spotify.

One thing I noticed in my hands-on — and confirmed in my home — is that the Bose speaker has much brighter mids and highs compared to the Sonos Era 100. As a result, female vocals were especially more pronounced and defined. I could really hear the personality of Carole King singing “I feel the Earth Move,” Dua Lipa in “Dance the Night,” and Kristen Chenoweth belting out “Popular.”

In fact, the mids were forward sometimes to the point of them sounding a bit too harsh. It was especially evident when I cranked “Tom Sawyer,” Geddy Lee’s falsetto cracked a little bit on the higher lines.

Lower tones also came through loud and clear; on that same track, the bass line and drums were so crisp that I could hear every bang and thump cleanly. The thumping bass line on the Beastie Boys’ “Paul Revere” also rang through like the silversmith running through Massachusetts warning of the British.

When played on the Sonos Era 100, those same vocals weren’t as present — things felt a bit rounder and pulled back — but the soundstage also was a bit wider, if not as tall as the Bose.

Ultimately, choosing between the Bose and the Sonos really comes down to a matter of preference. Both offer superior audio quality, and it’s hard to pick a winner based on sound alone.

The upward-firing speaker also added a bit more height to music, which, in the absence of Dolby Atmos support, is a nice little extra. Still, both the HomePod 2 and Amazon Echo Studio support spatial audio, so Atmos’ absence is felt.

Unlike some of the other smart speakers I’ve tested — most notably the Sonos Era 100, HomePod 2, and even the Amazon Echo Studio — the Bose Lifestyle Ultra speaker does not support Bose’s room-tuning feature, CustomTune.

Bose Lifestyle Ultra review: App and home theater capabilities

Maybe Bose learned from Sonos’ lesson, because its app is pretty minimalistic — but in a good way. You really only need it to set up the speaker, connect it to Wi-Fi, Alexa+, and tweak EQ settings. It has a 3-band EQ (treble, mid, and bass) plus a fourth for height. Overall, it has one of the clearest guides to walk you through the setup process that I’ve ever seen.

After that, there’s little reason why you’d need to use the app, as Bose has designed it to work within the music app of your choice. It’s compatible with Google Cast, Apple Airplay, and Spotify Connect; when I opened Spotify, the Bose speaker was listed there as a music source.

If all else fails, you can also simply connect to the speaker via Bluetooth, or just plug in a 3.5mm cord in the back. At a time when physical audio connections seem to be disappearing, it’s nice to see Bose keeping this legacy connector around.

You can also pair two Bose Lifestyle Ultra speakers for stereo sound, group them in different rooms of your house, or add them as part of a home theater surround system. One bummer is that, while the Lifestyle Ultra Speakers can be paired with a Bose Lifestyle Ultra soundbar, they’re not backwards-compatible with other Bose equipment. So, if you already have a Bose soundbar, you won’t be able to use these as surrounds.

Bose Lifestyle Ultra review: Smart home features

The Lifestyle Ultra is the first third-party smart speaker that’s compatible with Alexa+, Amazon’s AI-improved voice assistant. However, unlike the HomePod and Echo Studio, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra lacks presence, temperature, or any other sensor of that ilk which would allow you to create automated routines

Bose Lifestyle Ultra review: Bottom line

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra is a very capable and well-designed smart speaker. Its audio quality is superb, it’s easy to set up, it works seamlessly with all the major music streaming services and it’s the first third-party smart speaker that can access Alexa+.

All that being said, it’s sandwiched between some well-established competition. At $299, it’s the same price as the Amazon Echo Studio and Apple HomePod 2, but those models both support spatial audio and have extra sensors to take fuller advantage of their smart home capabilities.

Bose’s other chief competitor in this market, the Sonos Era 100, has now been out for three years, costs $80 less, and offers similar audio quality. (Sonos also sells the Alexa-free Sonos Era 100 SL for $189, so I suspect that not as many use voice controls as the company originally thought.)

In addition, all three rivals offer some sort of room-tuning capability, while the Bose does not.

On the basis of its performance as a speaker to play music from your turntable or streaming service of choice, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra will not disappoint. However, it falls a little short when it comes to the little extras you get with its rivals.

It's taken a minute, but Bose is finally coming out with a smart speaker that will rival the likes of the Sonos Era 100 and Apple HomePod 2. Last week, I had the opportunity to listen to the Bose LifeStyle Ultra Speaker, a new device that will not only let you stream music from Spotify, Apple Music and more, but also connect to your home theater system — including your record player.

But how does Bose's new product compare to the best smart speakers? I checked out the Bose LifeStyle Ultra Speaker; here's my early impression of a device that could be the next addition to your entertainment system.

TL;DR

• What is it? A new smart speaker from Bose
• How much will it cost? $299 for the black or white model
• What does it work with? Any streaming service that supports Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth

Price and availability

The Bose LifeStyle Ultra Speaker goes on sale today (May 5) at Bose.com — we can only imagine that it will be available at other retailers shortly after. The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker will come in three colors: the black and white models will cost $299, while a limited-edition Sandstone model will cost $349.

At launch, Bose's speaker will cost $80 more than the Sonos Era 100 and Amazon Echo Studio, but is the same price as the Apple HomePod 2.

Also going on sale today is the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar ($1,099) as well as the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer ($899). Unfortunately, the soundbar is only available in black or white, so you can't get one to match your Sandstone-colored Speaker.

Design

Bose's smart speaker is roughly the same size as its main competition, but has some nice design flourishes to set it apart. As viewed from the top, it has an oval shape, with a fabric wrapping around the front and sides, to give it a softer look. The majority of the rest of the speaker is made of plastic, but the base of the Sandstone model is made of white oak, which looks most visually distinctive.

On the top are the speaker's touch-sensitive controls; there's a large circular indentation for volume controls, which you can adjust either by tapping or spinning your finger around.

Also on the top, you'll see a grille for an upward-firing speaker, which Bose says will help give your music more vertical depth.

Around back is the power plug, as well as a 3.5mm audio jack; the bottom of the speaker has a screw mount should you wish to place it on a pedestal.

Audio

Inside the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker are three drivers; a forward-facing woofer and tweeter, and one more tweeter that's directed upwards. There's also a rather large resonance chamber that exits out the rear of the speaker, to add additional passive bass to your music.

During my hands-on session with the speaker, the music I heard ("Man I Need by Olivia Dean, "Bad as I Used to Be" by Chris Stapleton, "Peaceful Place" by Leon Bridges," and "Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan) was definitely impressive for its size. Bass was powerful without being overwhelming, and vocals came through crisply.

I will say that the highs sounded a bit too bright for my tastes, but I'll have to listen to it more before I can render an official verdict.

The upward-firing speaker definitely added height to the tracks I listened to, but this is a speaker you'll want to have placed fairly close to a wall, so that the music has something to bounce off. However, keep in mind that unlike the HomePod 2, it does not support Dolby Atmos.

Home theater capabilities

Like most other smart speakers, you can pair two of Bose's together for stereo, and you can also create a multi-room setup.

Similar to the Sonos Era 100, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker can be used as rear-channel satellites with the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, should you want to create a more fully immersive home theater setup. However, the Ultra Speakers struggle to interface directly with a TV, unless you were to run RCA cables from your TV to each speaker.

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker has a 3.5mm jack, which lets you connect it directly to a turntable — a nice touch for those who want to listen to records with as little fuss as possible. (With the Sonos, you need to purchase a USB-C adapter, and the HomePod and Echo Studio lack this capability entirely.)

Smart functions

Bose takes a very light approach when it comes to the app that controls the speaker. While you need the app to set it up, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and adjust things such as treble and bass, you won't use the app to when using your music streaming service of choice.

Rather, you'll go through that company's app — be it Apple Music, Spotify, or whatever — and select the Bose speaker there. The speaker supports Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect, so you should be well-covered.

In the U.S., the Bose speaker will also support Alexa+, and in fact will be the first third-party speaker to support Amazon's upgraded smart assistant. (The Sonos Era 100 supports the older Alexa, but not the newer version.)

Outlook

Bose finally has a smart speaker that rivals those of its biggest competitors: The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker certainly ticks all the necessary boxes with strong audio capabilities, as well as support for the major streaming protocols — and it has an audio jack in the back.

At $299, it's priced to compete with the established names out there, so we can't wait to get one in to test out and see how it fares in our home.

You don't need to spend over $200 to get good sound quality — just look at the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3). These earbuds cost $179 each, and during sales events, like Black Friday, you can get them for even cheaper. Both are excellent at delivering nuanced vocals and powerful bass, and both are good at blocking out external sounds with solid ANC.

I reviewed the QuietComfort back in 2025, and now in 2026, I've finishing reviewing the Ear (3). I awarded both pairs 4-star ratings in their respective reviews. This got me thinking, "Is one better than the other?" Chances are, you're probably going to go for the QuietComfort because Bose is a household name. But I don't think you should write Nothing off so quickly.

If you're on the hunt for a fantastic pair of earbuds but don't want to spend more than $180, I'm here to make that decision easier for you. I put the QuietComfort and the Ear (3) through their paces in this face off to find out which is best value for money. Spoiler alert: it's closer than you think.

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Specs compared

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Price

Both the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) cost the same in the U.S. and in the U.K. You can grab the QuietComfort for $179 at Amazon U.S. / £179 at Argos U.K., and the Ear (3) for $179 / £179 at Amazon. Since the QuietComfort have been out for longer, you can often find them for $129 / £129 during sales events. The Ear (3) are yet to receive a substantial price drop.

The QuietComfort and the Ear (3) do more than enough to justify their individual price tags, as you'll soon see throughout this comparison, so we'll call this round a tie.

Winner: Tie

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Design

The most noticeable difference between the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) is the design, as they look vastly different from one another. The QuietComfort have a rounded design with rubber ‘stability bands’ that aid the earbuds' secure fit. Each bud weighs 0.29oz. An important thing to note is that the QuietComforts' look fairly bulky, even though they aren't that heavy. They protrude out of your ears, and while there isn't anything wrong with that, it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

The Ear (3), on the other hand, sport your classic drop-stem design — you know, the one you find on the likes of the Apple AirPods Pro 3. They look futuristic, keeping in line with the British brand's sci-fi design philosophy, and feature see-through plastic. They look very cool, and they're comfortable too, with each bud weighing just 0.18oz. As opposed to the QuietComfort, they look more inconspicuous as they don't bulge out.

Both pairs of earbuds are mighty comfortable, and I haven't experienced any discomfort wearing either of them. I asked my partner, who uses the QuietComforts as her daily drivers, to try the Ear (3) and she said she almost preferred them over Bose's offering.

Touch controls on both the QuietComfort and the Ear (3) are fairly straightforward but it's worth noting that while you can use voice commands on the former, they're a bit too sensitive to these, and will often trigger on their own. The Ear (3) don't suffer from this problem, winning them the crown in this round.

Winner: Nothing Ear (3)

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Features & connectivity

Both the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) are chock-full of features. They both feature multipoint connectivity so you can connect them to two devices simultaneously. Each pair utilizes Bluetooth 5.4 for seamless wireless connectivity, but here's the kicker. The QuietComforts support AAC and SBC codecs but there's no aptX or lossless support. The Ear (3), on the other hand, feature LDAC, if that's something that matters deeply to you.

Other similarities between the two include effective wear detection, Google Fast Pair, Find My features, and extremely detailed and user-friendly companion apps. In terms of waterproofing and dust protection, the Ear (3) are better because they're IP54-rated as opposed to the QuietComforts being only IPX4 rated, so the latter aren't protected against dust. By a narrow margin, the Ear (3) win this round once again.

Winner: Nothing Ear (3)

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Sound quality

I'll be honest with you: I will never recommend you spending any amount of money on a pair of earbuds that doesn't make music sound like angels are singing. Thankfully, both the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) warrant recommendations here as they're both outstanding. The QuietComforts have a frequency response range of 20Hz-20KHz while the Ear (3) have a range of 20Hz-40KHz — so both cover the entire spectrum of human hearing.

In terms of vocals and the upper ranges, both the QuietComforts and the Ear (3) are excellent, delivering nuanced sound packed with plenty of detail. For instance, on the QuietComforts, Mika's high notes in 'Grace Kelly' sound pleasant, controller and never so shrill that they pierce through the rest of the track. On the Ear (3), Emily Armstrong's breathy vocals and screams in 'IGYEIH' by Linkin Park sound layered and wide, with great instrumental and vocal separation.

Listening to 'No Chances' by Twenty One Pilots first on the QuietComforts and then on the Ear (3) revealed practically no differences. The mid- and sub-bass was textured and I could feel a steady, vibrating pressure in my ear canal through both earbuds. It also felt like I was engulfed by the driving bassline, which made for a thoroughly immersive listening experience.

While the Ear (3) and the QuietComforts are mostly on equal footing when it comes to sound quality, the Ear (3) have a tendency to make the treble sound a tad harsh at times. It isn't surprising as the Ear (3) utilize a 'V' equalizer curve so the treble can sound overzealous when this happens. In 070 Shake's 'Skin and Bones,' the "chkkk" sound of the hi-hats and cymbals pierced through the track. Though not unpleasant, it wasn't particularly enjoyable.

This is never the case on the QuietComforts. The QuietComforts' sound profile is well-balanced and refined throughout the frequency range. The winner is, therefore, clear. Sorry, Nothing.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): ANC

When it comes to active noise cancellation (ANC), there's a clear winner, and I don't think you need me to spell it out, but I'll do it anyway. The Bose QuietComfort win, easily. Look, Bose is the king of ANC and it's something we've all known for a while now. Whether I'm indoors or on a busy street outdoors, the QuietComforts block out 90% of sounds, so I can go about my day in peace.

This isn't to say the Nothing Ear (3)'s ANC is bad. It's very good, actually. Indoors, at least. With the Ear (3) in my ears, I can't hear the sound of my very loud mechanical keyboard, the kettle boiling or the doorbell ringing. This is also the case with the QuietComforts. Both pairs of earbuds create excellent seals to ensure no noise makes it through.

But the reason the QuietComforts win is because the Ear (3) aren't as effective outdoors. When I wear them outside, I can still hear cars whizzing past me, and the sound of the bus rattling. With the QuietComforts? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. The ANC is so good on the QuietComforts that it makes you feel lonely.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Call quality

When it comes to call quality, both the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) are excellent, as both ensure that your voice is heard loudly and clearly on the other end. Having tested both back-to-back on a call with my partner, she said that she could hear me properly through both.

But the Ear (3) have an ace up their sleeve. Their charging case features a ‘Super Mic’ dual-microphone system which you can use by holding the 'Talk' button on the case (when the earbuds are in your ears). You can then hold up the case to your mouth and speak into it, and the 'Super Mic' will cancel out 95dB of noise so that only you can be heard. In my testing, this worked exceptionally well, as my partner said she couldn't hear the public's chatter or the cars going past me.

However, is it actually an advantage? Because the QuietComfort, without their own 'Super Mic' feature, effectively cancel out ambient noise so that only you can be heard. The mic on the QuietComforts' is just as good if not better than the 'Super Mic' on the Ear (3), so we'll call this round a draw.

Winner: Tie

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Battery life

I'm not exaggerating when I say the Nothing Ear (3)'s battery life is disappointing because that's exactly what it is: subpar and underwhelming. And the Bose QuietComforts have them easily beat. With ANC enabled in my testing, the Ear (3) died after 5 hours, and they're officially rated for 5.5 with an additional 16.5 hours from the charging case.

The QuietComforts, on the other hand, comfortably lasted me nearly 9 hours, and they're officially rated for 8.5 with an additional two and a half charges from the case. The QuietComforts are far more reliable, and though Bose doesn't specify how long they can last with ANC off, we can safely assume it's a long time — the Ear (3) can last 10 hours with an additional 28 hours from the case when ANC is disabled.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Verdict

There's no denying that the Nothing Ear (3) are extremely competent earbuds. I've absolutely loved testing them and I've been using them ever since I reviewed them. But are they better than the Bose QuietComfort, the undisputed kings of mid-range ANC? By a tight margin, yes.

The QuietComforts win in the sound quality, ANC and battery life departments, while they're tied with the Ear (3) in the price and call quality rounds. While the Ear (3) win in the design, features and connectivity departments, when it comes down to it, the QuietComforts simply offer more bang for your buck.

Most people care the most about sound quality and ANC, and if you're one of those folks, then the QuietComforts are easily the way to go. Still not convinced? Check out my full Bose QuietComfort review and Nothing Ear (3) review for the detail breakdown.

Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Ratings scorecard

More from Tom's Guide

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: These mid-range earbuds reign supreme
• I’ve been testing the Nothing Ear (3) for a week — they look super stylish but the sound is the real star
• Best wireless earbuds in 2026

The AirPods Max 2 are the most exciting audio release of 2026. Apple fans have been waiting since 2020 to see an upgraded model of the flagship over-ears, and I awarded them a 4.5-star rating in my review. The unbeatable sound quality, the much-improved ANC, and the plethora of features makes them some of the best headphones money can buy right now.

But this got me thinking: how do the AirPods Max 2 compare to the best noise-cancelling headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen? Bose gear is the reigning champion of ANC — Dr. Bose literally invented ANC — and the QC Ultra 2 are widely considered industry-leading cans.

To find out which cans come out on top, keep reading this AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra showdown.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Specs

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Price

The AirPods Max 2 are the same price as their predecessor: $549 in the U.S. and £499 in the U.K.. This makes the AirPods Max 2 some of the most expensive lifestyle Bluetooth headphones on the market right now.

Sure, the AirPods Max 2 sound awesome, and are the perfect cans for someone like me — loads of Apple gear, loves wide, rich soundscapes with loud-but-not-overpowering bass — but I won't pretend they're not overpriced.

Of the "main players", only the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 ($799), Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 ($1,200) and the Focal Bathys MG ($1,099) outprice the AirPods Max.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen are relatively affordable by comparison — $449 in the U.S. and £449 in the U.K.. For your $449, you get industry-leading ANC, supreme comfort, and bass-heavy sound — for most customers, the "holy trifecta" of headphone features.

The $100 saving makes the Bose more in-keeping with the rest of the flagship Bluetooth headphone market: the Sony WH-1000XM6 are $449, and the Beats Studio Pro are $349. I also recently tested the Nothing Headphone (a), which, granted, don't sound anywhere near as good as the AirPods Max 2 or Bose QC Ultra, but will set you back just $199.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Design

The AirPods Max 2 take the award for "prettiest headphones", hands down. There are some things Apple dominates the market in, and design is one of them. The AirPods Max 2 look and feel like the premium cans they are: gorgeous, shiny ear cups, intuitive controls, and a weight-bearing mesh headband that prevents headphone headaches as much as possible.

In comparison, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen look a little, dare I say, cheap.

Of course, there are swings and roundabouts here: the AirPods Max 2 look and feel more premium, but they're incredibly heavy. Conversely, the Bose QC Ultra feel a little cheaper and they're not as pretty, but they're almost half the weight of the AirPods, and are much comfier to wear for long periods.

Your preference will, of course, depend on you. Would you rather a sleek metal-forward design, or a slightly plasticky, yet lightweight finish?

Personally, I prefer the look and feel of the AirPods Max.

Controls are also a slam-dunk for Apple: everything is managed via two tactile buttons on the right cup. You've got Apple's "Digital Crown" for things like play/pause, Siri, and volume. The tab-shaped button controls ANC.

The Bose controls are a little confusing, and took me a while to get used to. You adjust the volume by rubbing the underside of the right cup. To pause, you press the multi-function button on the right cup — while searching for this, I accidentally increased the volume.

You also use this button to switch between Immersion, Quiet, and Aware modes. You cannot turn ANC off on the Bose cans.

For me, this choice was easy. Yes, I am begging Apple to make the AirPods Max lighter, but the easy controls and premium appearance means the Maxes take this round.

Winner: AirPods Max 2.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Features & connectivity

If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, on the surface it makes more sense to get the AirPods Max 2 as they integrate seamlessly with your iPhone and MacBook.

However, there's much, much more to both the AirPods Max 2 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra than that. The Bose QC Ultra also have multipoint connectivity; I was able to connect to my iPhone 16 Pro and MacBook Air M2 and switch between both just as easily.

The Bose run on Bluetooth 5.4, and the AirPods Max 2 have Blueooth 5.3. I'm surprised to see such "old" Bluetooth versions on flagship new products, especially as Samsung launched its Galaxy Buds 4 line with Bluetooth 6.1 just weeks before the AirPods Max 2.

Although there aren't any life-changing differences between Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth 6.1, the more modern version helps future-proof the product and allows for a wider and more reliable connection. I'd like to see both Bose and Apple go for the 6.1 version with its next releases.

Connectivity complaints aside, both the AirPods Max 2 and Bose QC Ultra boast a huge range of features, some more "modern" than the others.

Apple has gone for a more "smart tech" angle with the AirPods Max 2, stuffing the cans with Live Translation, Siri integration, a camera remote for your iPhone — no, I'm not joking — and AirPods Pro functions like Conversation Awareness.

Bose has leaned more into the "do one thing and do it really well" angle. Instead of these smart features, the QC Ultra 2nd Gen sound great, feel great, and have supreme ANC. So while you won't be able to translate other languages while on vacation, your long-haul flight to your holiday destination will be a heck of a lot comfier with the Bose.

It really depends on what you personally look for in a pair of headphones, but seeing as the AirPods Max 2 offer way more features, I'm giving Apple the win.

Winner: AirPods Max 2.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Sound quality

Alright, now let's get into the meat of it: sound quality.

Apple and Bose gear have different sound signatures, so they will, inevitably, sound different. While Apple goes for a more expansive, immersive, and detail-focused soundscape, Bose offers a deeper, richer, and bassier listening experience.

There's no right or wrong way to do sound, so your personal preference will likely differ from mine. I lean more towards the Apple side of the spectrum — I like immersive music that handles bass with clarity and focus and allows each layer of the track to shine.

That's not to say I dislike Bose's sound — not at all. The QuietComfort Ultra sound immense, with powerful, bass-driven energy and clarity across most of the frequency range.

I played the same three songs via Spotify Lossless to even the playing field — using Apple Music would be unfair in favor of the AirPods Max 2 — and analyzed each track independently.

First, I played an electronic track: "Birth4000" by Floating Points. This song is built over a glitchy, fearless synth bassline and electronic hi-hats, clattering tambourines playing in the background, and a punchy kick-drum keeping the whole thing going.

The QC Ultra handled this track excellently, unafraid of the pulsing, glitchy bassline, not allowing the kick drum to get lost in the melee. Even so, the low-end was the most pronounced part of the track, somewhat overshadowing delicate high-frequency stereo effects in the left ear.

When I played this track with the AirPods Max 2, I was surprised to hear a squeaky, wobbly sound effect in the left ear. In the Bose cans, this was almost completely overpowered by bass.

I also listened to "Regular John" by Queens of the Stone Age, a heavy rock track with raucous bass and a rich rhythm guitar section. The AirPods Max 2 handled the vocals fantastically, clearly separating them from the rich instrumental and focusing on the texture in Homme's voice.

Comparatively, I think this song sounded a little muddied in the Bose QC Ultra, like all the sonic layers were competing for the same volume and the same point on the frequency range.

The AirPods Max 2 made this song sound much more expansive and wide, and separated the instruments with more precision.

Finally, I played "Run Your Mouth" by the Marias, a soul-pop track with funky basslines and sunsoaked synth layers. The breathy vocal and soulful guitars sounded clear and balanced through the AirPods Max 2, and the samba-esque bass didn't overpower the vocals. When I listened with the QuietComfort Ultra, the vocals were equally as effective, but the bass and kick drum were brought forward, rather than the synth chord progressions.

Sound is a very subjective experience, but I personally prefer the wider, clearer soundscape of the AirPods Max 2.

Winner: AirPods Max 2.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: ANC

It goes without saying that Bose wins this round. Spoilers, guys, sorry. But, yeah, Bose is still the undefeated champion of ANC. What can I say? The company invented it.

No other headphones come close. When I was testing the QC Ultra around the city, I couldn't hear a single car. No engines, no buses, no motorbikes. I was in my own little bubble, just me and my music against the world.

It is a little frustrating that you can't turn off ANC at all — unlike on AirPods, there's no 'Off' mode, just 'Immersive', 'Quiet', and 'Aware' — as this will inevitably drain the battery a little more.

Even so, the clue's in the name — QuietComfort, after all. You buy Bose cans for the ANC.

In comparison, Apple's ANC is good, but not quite Bose-level yet. I could still hear a few high-frequency sounds leaking through, but most of the low, grumbly environmental noise — like car engines — was blocked out.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Call quality

We've reached a point where all flagship headphones have identical call quality. There's no way around it. It just is.

Apple claims the AirPods Max 2 have a "studio-quality" microphone. While I'd rather have one of the best microphones if I were a content creator or vocalist, I will say that, on work calls, my colleagues reported my voice sounded clear and clean.

Comparatively, the QC Ultra have 12 mics (as opposed to the AirPods' one), but my call recipients couldn't tell the difference between each headphone.

I think you could use either for work calls or personal calls, and you would sound crystal clear and audible, even in loud environments.

Winner: Draw.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Battery

Battery life is a bit of a sore spot for AirPods Max users. The original Maxes tapped out at 20 hours, which, even in 2020, trailed far behind the industry standard of ~30 hours (ANC on).

So, imagine my surprise when the AirPods Max 2 were released with the same battery life. 20 hours in 2020 was one thing — 20 hours in 2026 is wildly audacious. Apple claims the battery's "efficiency" has been improved, but it's still 20 hours.

The Bose QC Ultra have a 30-hour battery life (ANC on, as you cannot turn it off), which drops down to 23 hours with 'Immersive' ANC mode on.

This is still not particularly impressive: I recently tested the $199 Nothing Headphone (a), which last for a jaw-dropping 135 hours on a single charge, 75 hours with ANC on. This is incomprehensibly long. If you wore the headphones from the moment you stepped through the office door until the moment you left, you'd get almost two weeks out of the Nothing cans.

Sure, they're probably driving much less power than the AirPods Max and the QuietComfort Ultra, but you'd hope the two behemoths of audio could outlast a relatively new, underdog British company.

So, while the Bose technically win this round, I really want to give the win to Nothing.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Verdict

Both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen and the AirPods Max 2 are excellent, flagship cans worthy of the praise directed at them. You wouldn't be disappointed with either headphone — both are sleek, sound great, and have fantastic ANC.

Of course, the Bose QC Ultra block out a touch more sound and are a little comfier for longer periods, but personally? I'm going for the AirPods Max 2. I prefer Apple's wider, more complex sound tuning (true of AirPods Pro, too). The seamless connection between my iPhone, MacBook, and work MacBook makes shifting between devices a breeze.

If you prefer a bassier soundscape and you travel a lot, I would recommend the Bose QuietComfort Ultra over the AirPods Max 2. But if, like me, you predominantly use your headphones for work and running errands, and you have a lot of Apple gear, it's gotta be the AirPods Max 2. These cans took the term "flagship" and ran with it.

AirPods Max 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Ratings scorecard

One thing I love about my job is that there's never a shortage of audio gear to test: When I'm listening on my own, I use the Marshall Monitor III over-ear headphones. When I'm chilling with my partner or we're hanging out with friends, I turn to one of the best Bluetooth speakers. And if we're having a party? It's gotta be a party speaker — and there are few (if any) better than the Marshall Bromley 450.

The Bromley 450 is the British audio giant's second-ever party speaker, and it joined its bigger sibling, the Bromley 750, in March 2026. I was one of the first reviewers to test the Bromley 450, and I immediately fell in love with it. It looks good, it sounds better, and its battery lasts oh-so-long. I've found it difficult to fault, really, and testing the Bromley 450 got me thinking, "Does it sound better than other party speakers in the same price range?"

Luckily, in our testing lab, we had a Bose S1 Pro+, so I listened to it for a while and immediately knew that I preferred the Bromley 450 (sorry, Bose). There's plenty to love about the Bromley 450: from its exquisite design to the drool-worthy light show and delectable sound quality. Few brands come close to the prestige Marshall's speakers and headphones ooze, and it's no different in the case of the Bromley 450. Here's why it's my top pick for the party speaker of 2026.

I can't stop staring at it

When John Keats wrote "A thing of beauty is a joy forever," he was clearly talking about the Marshall Bromley 450, because I would very much like to place it in my apartment, turn on the LED lamps, and stare at it for as long as I can. It's one of the best-looking speakers I've had the pleasure of testing. No, scratch that. It's one of the best-looking anything I've ever used.

I'm no stranger to speakers. I've tested many during my time as a tech journalist. I've seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and the Bromley 450 very clearly belongs in the first category. It really is a thing of beauty. Its matte black finish feels exquisite to touch and pleasing to the eye, while its brass and gold accents add a premium panache to the impressive package.

Adding to the Bromley 450's appeal are its integrated LED lamps, located behind the front grille. They light up in white and yellow, and depending on the lighting mode you choose, they can dance and react to the music you're playing too, to create an immersive light and sound show. Beautiful.

I could wax poetic about the Bromley 450 all day long if I could but I wouldn't want to bore you, of course. Marshall's trademark tactile controls are present on the Bromley 450 in spades, as you can control basically every sound and light setting via the onboard buttons and dials. Thank goodness for that because the companion app is... underwhelming, at best.

No dearth of features

The Marshall Bromley 450 has everything you could need in a proper party speaker. Want to play music from your phone? Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC and LC3 codecs. Want to connect two smart devices at the same time? Multipoint connectivity. Want to plug your phone in for hi-res wired playback? 3.5mm aux or USB-C is at your disposal.

Or imagine you're hosting a party and someone says, "Hey, I brought my guitar to the party and want to serenade everyone with Oasis' Wonderwall, can I do that?" You've got the Bromley 450, so you can reply with, "My Bromley 450's got two XLR/6.35mm combo ports for guitars and RCA ports for keyboards and turntables so technically you can, but I don't want you to bore everyone with Wonderwall, so let's refrain from that." Sorry, Oasis fans, it is what it is, but at least you can plug your guitar into the Bromley 450 as it doubles/triples as an amp and a karaoke machine!

In addition to the connectivity options, the Bromley 450 is also protected against dust, dirt and water as it's IP55-rated, so it's perfect for outdoor parties. If you've got another Bromley 450 or 750, or even another Auracast-enabled Marshall speaker, you can sync them up any number of them to play at the same time, making the Bromley 450 even better for big parties.

But does it sound good?

Via its onboard controls, you can adjust the Marshall Bromley 450's bass, treble, add reverb and delay effects if you're using the karaoke feature or instruments, and adjust the lighting.

"Sounds great, but does the speaker sound good?" I hear you ask, and I'm here to tell you, dear reader, that it sounds excellent. The sound quality really doesn't give you much to complain about, and I had to be really nit-picky to find any faults with it. And the faults I found? You'll need to play around with the bass and treble dials to get the perfect sound — but apart from that, that's about it.

The Bromley 450 is a powerful, well-endowed speaker, and you can learn all about its internal hardware in my full review. All I'm going to tell you in this article is that it sounds phenomenal. I thought the treble, especially, sounded brilliant. Crisp, vibrant, never overzealous or shrill. Sibilance and plosives gave me nothing to moan about as the sounds didn't bleed into one another, especially in tracks like 'White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter' by Lana Del Rey, where she ad-libs different 's' and 'tss' sounds.

This is a party speaker, though, and chances are you'll be using it to listen to dance music or bass-heavy electronic tracks, and it's the ideal speaker for high tempo music. The bass is warm with plenty of low-end impact and detail in the mid range, and it never sounds booming in tracks like 'Tomorrow is Another Day' by M-High, and you can hear each individual string pluck in songs like 'Money' by Pink Floyd. I have no notes.

Unlimited powaaaaah

The cherry on top of this beautiful cake is the Marshall Bromley 450's battery life. Marshall says that the speaker can last for up to 40 hours between charges. This will naturally depend on usage conditions, such as the LED lighting and volume. While I couldn't drain the entire battery during my testing period, I noticed that the battery had dropped by only 15% after six hours of listening to the speaker at full volume and with reactive lighting turned on.

What's even better is that you can remove the Bromley 450's battery pack (securely slotted in the back and protected by a hard plastic cover) and use it as a power bank for your other devices. It's got a USB-C port on it so you can plug in your headphones, phone or laptop. I think that's very cool, and it's something I loved about the Bromley 750 too.

I absolutely adore the Bromley 450. It's pretty, its sound quality is stunning, and it lasts a long, long time. What more could you possibly need?

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been testing the Marshall Bromley 450, and it might be the ‘best party speaker of 2026’
• I tested the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Marshall Bromley 750 party speakers — and the winner surprised me
• As a guitarist and an audiophile, this is the all-in-one speaker I’ve been waiting for

Audio can be cheap. Audio can also be extremely expensive. Thankfully its possible to spend more for incremental improvements in your audio quality. But I've always wanted to compare them all side by side — how much better does spending more sound?

So I've lined up 5 different "tiers" of audio: a cheap Bluetooth speaker, a more expensive option, a pair of Wi-Fi speakers, a budget HiFi system, and then a fairly expensive system.

I've listened to them all and now I can say which one might be worth your hard-earned money... and which ones are not. So let's get listening.

Tier one — cheap Bluetooth speaker

This lil' guy is the Wonderboom 4, and it's one of the best ways to listen to music outdoors or in your bedroom without spending too much money. It only comes in at around $100, making it one of the cheaper Bluetooth speakers.

Can you expect the best sound? Of course not. But if you're on a budget or want a throwaway speaker for some outdoor trips, it's great.

You can listen to your music, as I did, and you won't find a huge amount to complain about. It would be nice to have some more bass, a bit more detail, and a wider soundstage, but you can't expect much from something that you can palm with one hand.

It marks the start of my audio journey, and it shows you don't have to spend loads of money to get something that sounds good. Still, I'm excited for my next speaker to see how things improve.

Tier 2: Bluetooth stereo pair

My next port of call was to connect two Bluetooth speakers and see how much better the sound would be. I stepped up to the Bose SoundLink Flex 2, a solid Bluetooth speaker in its own right, that also lets you double up for twice the sound.

First off, you won't get more detail or even drastically improved sound when it comes to dynamics or frequency representation. The only thing that might seem enhanced is bass volume, and that's only because there are now two drivers making the low stuff, although even then, it mostly only smooths things out. After all, there's less work for each to do.

What is on offer, however, is vastly improved soundstage. That's because you can now spread the sound out amongst the two speakers, widening the sound stage. The sound is improved in terms of space and immersion as a result — if you can afford the extra for a pair of speakers, I'd say it's actually worth buying two for stereo mode rather than one more expensive model. This next step has been an interesting one, but now I'm ready for the next step — and we're connecting to the Wi-Fi.

Tier 3: Wi-Fi connected speaker

This hourglass-shaped wierdo is the Sonos Era 300. It's a Wi-Fi-connected smart speaker that offers something we've not yet seen on the list (and won't see again) — Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. That means that compatible streams from Apple Music and Amazon Music sound more spacious, as if you've got multiple speakers dotted around the room.

That's why I chose this speaker. The Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio mean that not only does the speaker sound excellent, but it also sounds much larger than similar devices sound on their own.

This step-up in audio quality does feel like it's worth the extra dollars. Its mighty bass, impressive mids, and massive sound make up for the lacking detail — and its sculpture like design makes sure it fits in no matter where you put it. Now — onto the really good stuff.

Tier 4: Entry level HiFi

HiFi systems this side of the pond are expensive. Where in the likes of the U.K. you can pick up excellent components for relatively cheap, audio equipment in the U.S. often demands a hefty premium. Still, it's possible to spend less than $1,000 and get something that sounds epic. Case in point — the Wiim Amp Pro and a pair of Q Acoustics 3020i.

So far, this one's the clear winner. The speakers themselves have more drive, more dynamism, and more detail than the other options we've seen so far. They're more articulate as well, so you're in for a more involving musical experience.

The system is also more flexible. There are loads of inputs on the back of the amplifier, so you can hook up stuff like the best record players and spin some discs, or even pick up a CD player for some '90s throwback headbang sessions.

This is the happy medium for me — and even better if you can find some components on eBay and save some money. That's how I got my first HiFi system, and I only shelved some of those components when I replaced them last year. My old speakers lasted about 10 years in my care before I upgraded them, and they were older than that when I bought them.

Still, there's better; let's give it a try.

Tier 5: Premium HiFi

Now we're into the big leagues. I've got here a Cambridge Evo 150 SE, nearly three-and-a-half grand worth of streaming amplifier. At its core, it's the same idea as the Wiim Amp Pro above, but dials up all its features to eleven. That means 150 watts per channel so that it can drive even the most demanding of speakers, and some seriously impressive internals to make sure the music sent to the speakers sounds epic.

I've paired it with some monster new floorstanders from Dali, the Sonik 7. They exude special, from their monolith-like design to the massive speaker units that dominate their front fascia. They also happen to sound insane.

As you might expect, the sound fills the living room. There's bass for days, detail for miles, and immersion like nothing else. Is it that much better than the entry-level system? Oh yes, it really is, but I'm not sure I could ever tell anyone to buy it.

This is an audio system for people with more money than sense. For audiophiles who are seeking the best sound possible, who have lots of money but not the tens of thousands of dollars for the really expensive stuff.

This is the point when things get trickier. The sound is much better than anything else on the list, but spending more becomes a case of diminishing returns. For some, this is an endgame system. Until they experience something even better, and suddenly, nothing is good enough. The path of the audiophile is a slippery, expensive slope.

Which should you buy?

Honestly? Buy what you can afford, or save up for that which you can't. Not everyone is going to the need the sonic prowess of even the entry level HiFi system, and will be more than happy with the $100 Bluetooth speaker.

As for what provides the best bang for your buck, I'd say the entry level HiFi system. It sounds much better than the other options towards the cheaper end of the list. You'll be left with space to upgrade in the future, and have something to show off when friends come to visit. Some of them, like the system I've built here, can be plugged into a TV to improve your movie and TV show sound.

Most important of all is to have fun — the important thing is the music you're listening to, not the equipment you're playing it through.

More from Tom's Guide

• I put IKEA's new $35 cast iron pan head-to-head with my Lodge skillet — there was a clear winner
• I spent 24 hours with the Galaxy S26 Ultra — what I like (and don’t) so far
• 41 Pokémon deals to celebrate Pokémon Day, picked by a lifelong fan

There's part of me that feels like I'm repeating myself. A new pair of wired headphones lands on my desk from a name you've never heard of, and they sonically eviscerate all the wireless options you can buy for a similar price. Cue me acting "surprised," penning my "surprise," and then everyone continuing to buy the same ANC cans they always have.

But seriously, you have to give some of these wired options a chance. Sure, you won't be wearing them on a train to block out the sounds of angry sports fans, but you will appreciate everything your music has to offer when you sit at your work desk, or at home after a long day at work. Or something.

The Sivga Peng are just that. They're not outdoor headphones, although their leather carrying case will do a great job at keeping them safe from harm. No, they're sitting in front of the fire with a glass of something delicious and a spare hour to listen to your favorite albums. And my goodness, I'd take these any day of the week over the similarly priced wireless options from Sony or Bose.

Connect to disconnect

The modern world is too filled with "beeps" and "boops." My car bings at me when I go slightly over the speed limit to overtake your Mom in her station wagon, my nightstand light squawks at me when it's disconnected from the Wi-Fi, and trash cans say "thanks!" when I throw away my empty Monster can.

I hate beeps and boops. They're annoying. The fact that wireless headphones beep and boop more than just about anything else I own is the icing on top of a disgusting cake. "Oh, I've disconnected," say my headphones. "BEEP, I've got some battery left." "BEEP, I've got even less battery left." Please. Stop.

You know what doesn't beep at me? The Sivga Peng, and just about any other wired headphones you might have. Plug them into a device that doesn't see the outside world for anything other than music streaming, and you'll find a peaceful world where nothing wants for your attention with a piezo buzzer or a synthetic beep. Or boop.

Battery life? Never heard of her

"My headphones last for 30 hours!"
"Oh yeah? Well, mine last for 50!"
"I've got you both trumped — mine go on for 100 hours!"

How about all of the hours? The only thing you have to worry about is how long the connected device will last. The Sivga Peng? No charging needed. Pub friends bragging rights won, perpetual music gained.

Seriously impressive sound

Bluetooth has improved in leaps and bounds. You can listen to far higher-quality audio than the first pairs of wireless headphones could ever have hoped of reproducing. But it's still limited, either by the device you're listening to, the codecs your headphones support, or both. Wireless is an imperfect listening solution, a compromise of convenience over just about everything else.

My Sivga Peng and their wonderful, braided cable, however, are different. They take wonderful hi-res tracks from my digital audio player (or my laptop, or even my phone), and then feed them directly into my earholes as if they were love letters delivered on the backs of cherubim.

There's detail for days, mids that give you a warm, welcoming hug, and their closed-back design keeps the bass in for weighty, thick sound. The soundstage is slightly more intimate as a result, but you won't mind as you're surrounded by your favorite tunes.

You might miss some amenities

Wireless headphones do, of course, have some pros. ANC that keeps the noise of irritating people at bay, and no cable to get all tangled. But if you want something that sounds incredible, and don't want to start looking at headphones that cost over $599, then wired headphones are the only way to go.

The Sivga Peng are just one pair of wireless headphones — but they are a spectacular option if you've got $449 spare and you were thinking of picking up something with a Sony or a Bose logo. Don't. Buy these. They sound so much better. And you'll never have to worry about the battery running out.

More from Tom's Guide

• 6 Apple Watch settings you should change now for more accurate sleep tracking
• I've been using MacBooks for 10 years — here's 15 must-have accessories I'd buy for an instant upgrade
• I've used the iPhone 16e for a year — and the iPhone 17e shouldn’t launch without these 3 upgrades

If you don't want something else to worry about in today's world, perhaps stop reading. Otherwise, a new study finds that most headphones contain toxic chemicals that may be "migrating" into our bodies.

Reported by the Guardian, the study comes from the activist group ToxFree LIFE for All, a Hungarian research and campaigning group. If it helps, they're like the Eastern European version of Consumer Reports.

ToxFree found that a multitude of headphones contain chemicals that can "cause cancer, neuro-development problems and the feminisation of males." That includes ones from major brands like Apple, Bose, Panasonic and Sony, makers of some of the best headphones.

According to their website, ToxFree has tested over 81 headphones, from earbuds to over-the-ear cans. Apparently, the primary source of chemicals in the headphones comes from the "formulation of the plastics from which they are made."

These dangerous chemicals include bisphenols, phthalates and poly- and perfluoroalkyl (Pfas). PFAs are known as forever chemicals, which other studies have found to have terrible biological effects.

ToxFree apparently started testing for the chemicals because headphones have "transitioned from occasional accessories to essential tools." They purchased readily available headphones that can be found in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and online marketplaces like Shein and Temu.

“Hazardous substances were detected in every product tested,” they said.

Reportedly, synthetic chemicals used to stiffen plastic can migrate into sweat that can then be absorbed through your skin.

From what we can tell, the study only tested for the presence of the chemicals, but it doesn't reveal how much exposure is required for chemicals to reach toxic levels. It also emphasizes that the chemicals were found in "trace" quantities.

How to avoid the chemicals

ToxFree notes that "highest concentrations of harmful substances were found in the hard plastic parts of the headphones. These chemicals can be released into the environment through heat, mechanical stress or sweating and then absorbed through the skin."

Which means you'll want to avoid wearing headphones while sleeping, and unfortunately, when doing strenuous activity that causes you to sweat.

“Daily use – especially during exercise when heat and sweat are present – accelerates this migration directly to the skin," ToxFree said.

This makes sense for earbuds where the plastic is more likely to come into contact with your skin on a more consistent basis. What we can't tell is what the study found regarding over-the-ear and on-ear cans.

In general, those headphones feature softer materials, including cloth, pseudo or real leather in the cups and the headbands. Higher-end models might be made out of metal.

ToxFree has released previous studies that found Pfas in baby pacifiers and women's underwear, two products that have even more contact with skin and orifices.

Mayhap this isn't as dire an issue as Toxfree asserts. However, it may be a good time to consider how much time you spend wearing headphones and finding ways to mitigate it for your general health.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best over-ear headphones: Top picks tested by experts
• This $70 USB-C iPhone dongle makes my wireless headphones sound amazing — and I don't think I could live without it anymore
• Cambridge Audio's new desk speakers are some of the best I've ever tested — they punch far above their weight class

At the moment, I'm working on an article that shows you how to get better sound for the same price as a Sonos soundbar setup. I've had just one problem in my sonic journey — the price of audio things is feeling pretty dire in the U.S. at the moment.

The speakers I want for the system are $2,800 Stateside, and the amp is $200 more than it would be where I live. Audio gear has never been more expensive, I've realised, and it's even true of the headphones and earbuds that everyone needs for day-to-day listening.

Sony's latest headphones, the WH-1000XM6, cost $50 more than the previous model. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 came with a price hike. The Nothing Headphone 1 are more expensive in the U.S. than just about anywhere else. So how do you solve it? Here are my 5 tips for saving money when buying new audio stuff.

1. Buy the older model

Look, I know how nice it is to get the newest thing from the biggest brands. It comes with an irresistible luster that's almost impossible to ignore, with all those fancy new features and clever design changes. But it's not a good way of saving money, especially with the price hikes that have made themselves known in the most recent flagships.

If you go with the previous model, you'll save buckets while getting flagship features. The WH-1000XM5 might not have the same folding design or fancy magnetic case, but they're about $120 cheaper (on average) than the newer model. That's a massive saving.

Bose is the same. The older first-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones can still be found for around $200 less than the second-generation version. That's another massive saving.

Still want flagship cans, but you're reluctant to pay for the XM5? Go and grab some of the even older (and still just as excellent) WH-1000XM4. Those come in upwards of $150 cheaper than the current flagships.

Yes, the XM6 and the QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 are some of the best headphones you can buy today — but so are their predecessors, and those savings should be impossible to resist.

2. Go off the beaten track

Having a pair of AirPods hanging out of your ears has become in recent years something of a status symbol — although it's one you don't have to make if you want to save money. Sure, the AirPods Pro 3 and even the AirPods Pro 2 are excellent earbuds, but you can get similar performance if you're willing to go for brands that you might not have heard of before.

The CMF Buds Pro 2 are some of our favorite earbuds, offering spectacular battery life, stellar sound and a standout colorful design. We've stacked them up against the AirPods models, and they come out on top when it comes to staying power; 11 hours to the AirPods Pro 3's 8.

The best bit? They cost $70. $70. You could get three pairs of the CMF Buds Pro 2 and have some change left over for a very nice meal out before you've spent the same as Apple's buds.

3. Wait for deals events

It is said that you're never more than a few feet away from a spider, no matter where you are. The same can be said of deals events. No matter where in the year you find yourself, you're almost certainly only a couple of months away from Black Friday or one of the many (many) Prime Day events.

That's good for you — they're the perfect time to get a new pair of headphones, some earbuds, or a new Bluetooth speaker. I've seen prices on even the newest products dip to hitherto unseen depths, making them more affordable than ever.

Apply the two tips above to the deals event and you'll save even more money. Watch out for these events throughout the year to save as much as possible. Or, just keep coming back to Tom's Guide because we'll regularly point out the deals worth your time — and the ones to avoid.

4. Buy second hand

First things first — I wouldn't recommend buying earbuds or headphones second-hand. You'll likely find plenty of unwanted grease and goo all over them, and cleaning them out is a fool's errand. And gross. They might be cheaper, but I'd wager it's not worth it.

Instead, go second-hand for the best Bluetooth speakers and HiFi components. I built an entire HiFi rack during college for the price of a few large pizzas from Domino's, thanks to second-hand stores (and eBay), and I had very few issues over the course of my ownership. I still use the speakers, in fact.

You do have to be careful, however. Only buy from highly rated sellers, or go to your local second-hand store so that you can return it if it's not working (depending on whether the store offers such a service). I'd avoid Craigslist like the plague, for example.

5. Make your old pair last longer

I know that getting something new feels great. Opening the box, the "new thing smell" — it's all wonderful. But if you're trying to save money, you're better off looking after what you've got or troubleshooting issues so that you don't have to spend money on something new.

If your earpads are starting to wear out, don't put the whole headset in the garbage. Go and find some replacements instead, and get another few years on the clock. If your earbuds sound muffled, give them a clean with some cotton buds or a cleaning kit.

And if they still work and you just fancy a change, see if you can find the settings menu in case there's something you're missing. You don't need to have the latest thing, especially if you're looking to spend less.

More from Tom's Guide

• Patagonia is slashing the prices on winter jackets, fleeces and more — here's 21 apparel deals starting at $11
• 5 of the greatest live performances to test your headphones with
• IKEA's adorable new portable lamp looks like a sad giraffe, and I want to give it a big hug

So I've had the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 and the Sony WH-1000XM6 for about half a year. I've thoroughly put both through their paces, and they've each taken a turn as my primary pair of headphones.

I started off preferring the noise canceling of the Bose headphones — it really does block everything. But time makes fools of us all (or so I'm told), and the 1000XM6 have slowly crept their way into my heart. So much so that I'd say they're my pick of the two — if you're looking for buying advice, that's about as good as you're going to get.

But what's my journey been like, and why has it taken this long to make a final decision? Let me tell you all about it.

A matter of style

You're going to be wearing your headphones a whole lot, so I still think that the way that they look is very important. Both the Sony and the Bose headphones look pretty good from any distance — but I've managed to come to a conclusion on which I prefer.

First and foremost, if you're going to buy some QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, make sure you go for one of the colors without shiny armatures: The chrome covered metal ones are nice to look at for all of three seconds before you accidentally cover them in greasy fingerprints. Your hair (if you've got enough, or any for that matter) will add some extra grease too. They quickly look gross.

The Sony headphones, in my eyes at least, look better. They're a simpler affair, with a more pleasingly minimal design. Build is similar between both, with lightweight construction that can make them feel cheap.

They've held up well with months of wear and tear, and the more I use them, the less I'm concerned about the glaring weak point of the WH-1000XM6's folding hinge. The XM5 felt a whole lot more flimsy, so I'm glad these are more confidence-inspiring.

Both are about as comfortable as the other, although Sony's headband starts to dig in a little after many hours of listening. It does take many hours, though — like, tens. I felt it after wearing them nonstop during a particularly long work day.

For a pair of headphones that people are going to see me wearing, the XM6 have my vote.

A matter of noise canceling

Sony's noise canceling is very good, make no doubt about it. The firm popularized the idea with the X mark series, and the XM6 follow a very solid legacy indeed. They do a great job at blocking just about anything you could hope for, with little sound getting through.

The transparency mode is great for hearing what's going on around you, making it easier to chat to shop clerks and bus drivers without them sounding like a robot. It's good — but it's still not the best.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 are the best. They block out everything, bar none. Play some music, and you're in a world of your own making, filled with your favorite tunes and just about nothing else. If you want the best noise canceling? Buy these, no question. Nothing comes close. Apart from the WH-1000XM6. Which don't come close enough.

If it were just down to their ability to cancel noise, I'd be using the Bose. But it's not.

Sound quality, battery life and features

There's only so much that noise canceling and build can make turn you towards a pair of headphones — you've also got to actually live with them. And the Sony headphones are just nicer to live with. There's more sound customization with a superior 10-band EQ to Bose's measly 3 bands.

There are more noise-canceling modes, and the spatial audio, while slightly more restricted, sounds better. There's more battery life, so you don't have to charge them as much. The case and its magnetic flap are a genuine game-changer for daily usability.

In our review, Tom's Guide's Managing Editor of TVs and AV said the XM6 trades a wide soundstage for better clarity. They may not have the fullest sound, but they are exceptionally clear, especially in the mid-range.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 are good, but not great in terms of sound quality. In my review, I said they're "perfect for some background listening, but not quite as good if you want to sit down and get involved with your music," and I stand by that sentiment. They're fine. Mostly. But, when it comes down to the meat and potatoes of things, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the better pair of headphones.

In short, buy the XM6 — if you can afford their hiked prices.

More from Tom's Guide

• ‘Skyscraper Live’ backlash — here’s why viewers have labeled Netflix’s live event a ‘total joke’
• The ‘glitch’ prompt instantly makes ChatGPT smarter — I use it every day
• Everything new on Apple TV in February 2026

Straight out of the box, Bose headphones are great. Their ANC ranks amongst the very best noise canceling headphones available, blocking out more sound than just about anything else. But they can get even better thanks to some slight tweaks in their settings menu.

We can improve their sound quality with a quick dip into a sub-menu, extend their sound stage with an extra feature and even improve their useability. There's only one thing that you need (well, two, including the headphones): The Bose app. It's available for Android and iOS, so you have no excuse.

1. Improve the sound quality

Bose headphones sound good. They've got plenty of detail and a powerful low end. But they can sound even better. With a just a quick trip to the EQ section in the Bose app, we can dial in the Quietcomfort lines sound to something even more sonically pleasing.

They all suffer from the same problem — over reliance on the low end. Well, lets take some of that crutch away from them by dialling down the bass slider a couple of notches. I like to leave it around -2. We leave the mids alone, and then we turn our attention to the highs. I like to bring it up around +2, to bring some extra dimension to the sound.

You'd be surprised how much of a difference it makes. It's one of the first things I do to Bose headphones when they arrive on my desk, once I've had a try with the out-of-box sound.

2. Add a multipoint device

If you've ever become irritated endlessly connecting and reconnecting your headphones to different devices, then the multiconnect built into certain Bose models is going to be a lifesaver. Pause your media on your phone, and then instantly connect to your laptop for a work call.

To initialize the system, head to the "multipoint" tab in the app. From there, initiate a connection and find the headphones in the Bluetooth menu of the second source device. Et voilà — done!

You can only connect to two or three things at once, mind you. This works with most Bose headphones and earbuds. Check the Bose app how many devices your headphones support.

3. Change the shortcut

This feature is only compatible with the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones line. Using the touch-sensitive panel on the right earcup, you can activate various features in your headphones. Press and hold to activate.

Find the Shortcut menu in the Bose app, and then choose one of four different options. You can hear the battery level, change the Immersive Audio mode, Access your voice assistant, or start a Spotify listening session.

Or, you can turn it off completely.

4. Create some modes

This feature is unique to the QuietComfort Ultra line of headphones and earbuds. Changing both the ANC and the Immersive Audio settings of your headphones separately can be annoying, so Bose has allowed you to make different "modes" that change both simultaneously.

Perhaps you want max ANC when you're out and about, but the static Immersive Audio mode so that it doesn't sound strange when you're walking around. You can make a mode that instantly sets both to your desired settings. Perhaps you want slightly less ANC and head-tracked spatial audio. You can make a mode that does that too.

Head to the modes tab of the Bose app, and press the "+" button. From there, you can add and change modes.

5. Change how much of yourself you can hear on a call

When you take a call with your Bose headphones, there's a certain amount of your voice that the headphones feed you so that it doesn't sound unnatural. To some people it's either too much or not enough, so you'll want to change the level.

Head to the Bose app, and select the little settings wheel in the top right hand corner of the screen. Scroll down until you see the "Self Voice" setting. From here, choose your preferred level, and back out of the menu.

More from Tom's Guide

• I had no idea my AirPods could do this — and it's perfect for group photos
• Change these Sonos soundbar settings immediately to get the best performance out of your TV and movie watching
• 'Hundreds of millions' of Bluetooth earbuds, headphones, and speakers vulnerable to tracking and eavesdropping — what to do right now

I'm very lucky in my line of work. I get to try out all kinds of different audio gear, from gorgeous wireless headphones that cost more than I could ever hope to afford to cheap earbuds that everyone can put in their pockets.

And yet, I have a life outside of work. When I'm not helping readers figure out how to get the best audio gear for their budgets, I'm chilling at home, listening to music and watching movies... or I'm gaming. That's when I break into my home stash of audio gear.

So which of the best headphones accompany me on long trips, and which speakers power my HiFi? Well, here they are: my actual audio devices. I'm not sure any will surprise you, but I love every single one for different reasons.

My wireless headphones: Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2

Last year, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 became my pick for the best headphones you can buy in 2026, and then my heart was captured by the more expensive PX8 S2. (Get them on your head and you'll very quickly discover why; they're a wonderful piece of on-ear wireless goodness.)

They're super comfortable thanks to their leather-covered cushioning and well-judged clamping force. They're stunningly well built with metal armatures and earcups. The protective case ensures they stay shiny and premium, no matter how many times you toss them in your bag.

And then there's the way that they sound. They're warm, enveloping, and lovely, and then stretch the soundstage further than most with a similar sonic signature. Picked guitars shimmer, bass notes rumble and cymbals ring with crystalline energy. They're some of the best-sounding wireless headphones that money can buy — and I love them. They're sure to be my wireless companions for some time.

My wireless earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2

I like to meditate. It's my time to mull over the world and everything around me, finding new connections with the ground that I sit on; listen to the birds I can hear calling, the wind that brushes through my hair. At times, though, I want no distractions while I think over important decisions or other things that life throws at me.

The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 are my faithful "mulling over" headphones. They block everything out, acting almost like earplugs when not listening to music. Sometimes I'll play nature sounds around me, sometimes I'll leave the sound off. Whatever I choose, they're blocking the noise.

I've been able to wear them for hours and hours on end. It's not just their epic noise canceling that keeps them close at hand, but their impressive comfort as well. They might not play much music, but they're a vital part of my audio arsenal.

My wired headphones: Various

This is where things become a little trickier. See, I have managed to cultivate an impressive collection of wired headphones as a hobby, not just thanks to work, but my own wallet. I like to have different headphones for different genres, or I might want to listen to the sound profile of one pair over another on a particular day.

I can say that there have become some mainstays in recent months. I remain extremely impressed with the Sendy Audio Aiva 2. They look stunning, and sound excellent. I've also been using my Sennheiser HD800S a lot recently, in part due to their unbelievable detail.

I don't have a pair of favorite headphones, but at the moment, the pair I'd recommend are the Aiva 2. They're not cheap, but they're a welcoming pair of cans in a sea of inpenetrable nerdiness.

My Soundbar: Sonos Arc Ultra surround setup

The Sonos Arc Ultra has graced my TV stand since it was first released, and for very good reason. It sounds excellent, and powers a very impressive Atmos experience before you've even considered adding in some surround speakers or a subwoofer. And then you do, and suddenly you wonder where it's been your whole life.

Sounds that whizz past your head with surprising accuracy, stirring movie soundtracks that fill your room, explosions that shake the windows. The Sonos surround experience is something I've become accustomed to now, and I don't think I could pull myself away from it for any other soundbar system.

That, and it was really easy to get past my parents — they weren't particularly enthused by the idea of a seperates system taking up loads of space. Oh well. One day.

My smart speaker: Wiim Sound

This is a recent addition to my every day tech list. The Wiim Sound is a speaker that had me waiting for a long time before I was able to place it on my nightstand. Now that it's here, I can't see it going anywhere quickly. I love it and its funky little screen that shows spinning album artwork, and I really like the excellent Wiim Home app that outperforms the competition in just about any metric (Sonos, ahem).

It also sounds great, with loads of detail and a surprisingly large soundstage for something so small. I've been listening to all my favorite music as I get ready in the morning and as I do some reading before I go to bed.

It might just rank amongst the best smart speakers, although I do wish it had a built-in microphone as opposed to one built into the remote control. Still, it's a great speaker and I love having it next to my bed.

The state of the HiFi

My HiFi system is my pride and joy. The thing in life that keeps me going, playing my music and powering my TV room like nothing else ever could. It's not cheap, I should say, but I don't care. I love it.

But it's not finished yet. HiFi systems never are. You want to get every ounce of performance out of the whole ensemble, and then when you do, you wonder what's possible with something even more expensive. My current system is as follows:

• Cambridge Audio EXA100
• KEF LS50 Meta
• Qacoustics QSub80
• Rega Planar 3 RS
• iFi Zen Phono 3
• Wiim Ultra streamer
• Cambridge Audio AX35 CD player

That's a whole stack of devices, and that's not to mention the mad number of cables that connect the whole thing together, or the special power sockets that make sure the power is clean. Is it a bunch of audiophile hogwash that likely makes little difference in the end?

Almost certainly. But then I turn it on, place a Bloodbath record on my turntable, and settle in for a listening session, and suddenly nothing matters anymore.

More from Tom's Guide

• Your old iPad is more useful than you think — 5 ways to give it new life
• For months I've been waking up at 3am, unable to fall back asleep — two doctors have finally explained why and how to stop it
• I discovered this hidden camera mode on my iPhone — and it's a game-changer for night photography

Gift giving is fun. It's also really tricky — what do you get for who? I can't help you with your fashion-conscious sibling (I exclusively wear black band t-shirts), and I definitely wouldn't have any clue what your mom would want, but I can help you with your audio-obsessed nearest and dearest.

I test loads of cool devices over the course of the year, and some of them make excellent gifts. Here are five of my favorites, all of them at reasonable prices. I know if I was to find any of these under the tree, I'd be happy!

iFi Go Link Max

It's a dongle that you can use to plug your headphones into your phone! But it's more. Inside that larger end, some very clever bits of audio wizardry do a better job of translating high-quality audio tracks than your phone's internals, for, you guessed it, much better sound.

I won't go into too much detail, but it's called a "dongle DAC," and they're a great way of getting increased audio fidelity to a pair of wired headphones without breaking the bank on a completely new device. This one only costs about 80 bucks, for example.

I love the iFi Go Link Max. It's my preferred way to take wired headphones on the go, and it does a fabulous job of making my music sound excellent over my favorite wired cans. The perfect Christmas gift for the music fan in your life.

Pro-Ject Record Puck E

I can hear you from here: "What on earth is a record puck, and why would my record fanatic family member need one?" It's one of the greatest record accessories ever developed, that's what it is — and I don't think I could live without mine.

Records can be a pain. They have a habit of getting warped and even moving about during playback. Both ruin the experience, making your music sound straight-up bad. That's where a record puck steps in. It flattens lightly warped records and stops vinyl from moving about on the platter while spinning.

The Record Puck E is a great option, and doesn't cost very much. It's a lump of metal with a hole for the spindle to sit in and a soft surface so that the bottom doesn't ruin your record labels. A great gift for a vinyl listener — or a festive treat for yourself.

Fiio JM21

A DAP (or Digital Audio Player — audio nerds certainly do love an acronym) is essentially a high-end MP3 player. Remember those? Well, the JM21 is of the very best, and it costs less than $200.

It's a great-sounding device that I had a fantastic time testing earlier this year. There's enough space on board for plenty of high-resolution, uncompressed audio files, and you can even connect it to the internet to stream from one of the best music streaming services.

There are ample headphone connections on top, and its amplifier is powerful enough to make even very thirsty headphones sound great. Perfect for the audio fan who's on the go and wants something separate from their phone to listen to music.

Meze Alba

If you're still not sure what to buy, then some excellent in-ears are the way to go. The Meze Alba are some of my favorite wired earbuds that you can grab these days, thanks to a lovely design and some excellent sound quality.

They're also plug-and-play with most devices. They're easy to drive, so you can hook them up to your phone with the included dongle to listen to your favorite tunes in the best quality possible.

They're a great gift for the audio-conscious family member you're shopping for — and maybe even something for yourself...

More from Tom's Guide

• I gave up my QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for no headphones — and after 3 months I've never felt better
• This is the No. 1 ChatGPT prompt I use to get expert-level advice — here's how to use it
• Avatar: Fire and Ash’ review: A technical marvel that's also a tedious watch

It was about 3 months ago that I first left my Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in my rucksack during a trip in London. Since then, I've not used a pair of ANC headphones at all while walking around outside, so that I can feel safer and more aware of my surroundings.

But there's been more to it, in the long run. It's opened me up to the wider world, the people that live alongside me, and the sounds of everyday life that I had missed for so, so many years.

Am I a better, more rounded person because of it? Perhaps not. But I now have a deeper understanding of my environment and how being more aware of it can make even life's noisier moments more engaging and enjoyable.

I am safer

One of the primary reasons I stopped wearing my ANC headphones while out and about was so that I could feel safer while walking around cities and other busy environments.

I immediately found that I was much safer while crossing the street, and I could more easily guess what the people around me were going to do. People no longer "appeared out of nowhere," and I noticed more in my peripheral vision as I was able to focus more on my surroundings and not my music.

I can hear cars better as they approach crosswalks and other pedestrian crossings. I can tell if a car is going to stop for me instead of guessing, based on the sound that its engine is making. I'm no longer taken by surprise by quiet electric cars as they stealthily approach.

I've heard people trying to get my attention as well. I dropped my wallet at a train station the other day, and I would never have heard the kind lady trying to get my attention with ANC headphones on. Neither would I have been able to help her find the platform that she needed for her speedy connection.

Without ANC, my vision feels more rounded, and my awareness has increased. It's also shown me just how blind we can be when locked into musical cocoons of our own making — the number of people I've seen buried into their headphones step out in front of cars is mind-boggling.

I'm more confident

When I wore my ANC headphones to keep out the outside world, I was hesitant in pretty much everything I did. I would hold myself back from getting involved with things on the street, and I hated talking with shop staff.

I think now it's because I had become so used to being in my own world that I didn't enjoy having to let other people into it, even for a moment. While I shared a physical space with these people, I was living in my head — somewhere I like to keep for myself.

Taking off my headphones — and I mean taking them off, not just activating transparency mode — allowed me to become not just a physical part of the world, but an engaged participant within it. Suddenly I had to take stock of the people around me, and how I might have to interact with them.

Sure, sometimes it's annoying. The people that hand out pamphlets on street corners, noisy sports fans.

But it makes it much easier for me to handle sudden social interactions. I can make more decisive decisions when I'm grabbing coffee at a cafe, and I don't stutter when ordering a sandwich. I have brief chats with the people making my lunch.

I no longer live permanently cemented in my own personal bubble. I can take a more active role in what's going on around me. I am more approachable by people who need help, and I'm able to be more actively engaged in what's going on.

I made a new friend

I like to go to gigs. I go on my own sometimes, so that I can really get involved in the music. Previously, while walking to the gig and in the queue to go in, I'd wear ANC headphones so that I can immerse myself in the music before I get sweaty and half deaf.

But, as you might have guessed, when I ditched ANC while out and about, I had to ditch it when going to gigs. Now I had to interact with the people around me — turns out, the people you go to gigs with actually share a lot in common with you. Who'd have guessed?

I've even made a new friend. We met while I was waiting to go in for a death metal gig, and got chatting about our favorite pasta sauces. We continue to chat now, and go to gigs together. I'd have never met my new friend if not for my ANC experiment — and it goes to show why it's so important to be more aware of what's going on around you.

It's not for everyone

I understand that this is not for everyone. Some neurodiverse people value ANC and how it can isolate them from an otherwise overwhelming world. I'm not saying that everyone should go ANC-free at all — only that I've seen benefits in my experience.

I have had people question parts of my method, understandably. The most common is "why not just turn on transparency mode?" I've gone completely headphone free because it's not just the ANC that keeps me distracted while out and about, but music as well.

If nothing else, I want people to consider how they react to the world while they're wearing their headphones. As loneliness becomes a bigger issue, I can't help but wonder if part of the reason is down to how we lock ourselves away from our fellow humans. Perhaps it's time we untethered ourselves from our noise-canceling headphones.

More from Tom's Guide

• I test headphones for a living — here's what I'd buy instead of the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra
• Tom’s Guide Value Awards: The 43 Best Tech Bargains of the Year
• I saw 40 new movies in 2025 and these are my 10 favorites to watch right now

I love the AirPods Pro 3, I really do. They're some of the best wireless earbuds that you can buy today, thanks to their comfortable fit, excellent sound and stellar noise canceling.

But I can't help but feel left wanting, occasionally, when I look at the competition. There are features out there that I feel would fit very well with the AirPods line, from a personalizable custom EQ to even more fitting options.

These features, found in the likes of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, would make the AirPods Pro 3 even better. Let's dive in and see what Apple should be adding to its AirPods sack before it brings a new pair to store shelves.

Fitting wings

The most comfortable buds I've ever tried, hands down, are the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2. They're also the most secure, and I'd wager that is down to the extra-fitting wings and assorted silicon 'bud bit' that ensure they stay in your ears.

I have particularly large ears, so fitting wings are a boon anyway. But even then, they stop tight buds from pushing their way out, and loose ones from shaking away. They needn't be particularly invasive — see how subtle the wings are above — but I'd love to see some on the AirPods.

Even better, they could be removable. Given that the AirPods are sweat and dust-proof, making them even more runner-friendly would be a massive positive to notch on their impressive belt.

Is it likely? Probably not. But we can always dream of AirPods that fit even better.

Customizable EQ

There is some customizability built into the AirPods line, thanks to pre-sets that change the sound, but there's no way to change the sound profile more granularly. Compare that to the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM5, which you can tune to your heart's content with a comprehensive EQ section, and the AirPods come up wanting.

I'm not asking for much — just a few channels of adjustment. I'd like to be able to dial in the sound more to my taste, instead of relying on the sound engineers at Apple. They're very good, but you can't please absolutely everbody.

That would make the AirPods an even more compelling option in my eyes, allowing for more customizability.

All the features available on Android

This is about as likely to happen as the second great flood, but a girl can wish. The AirPods line, if you use an iPhone and other Apple devices, are as fully featured as they come. If, however, you happen to also use a Windows laptop, or an Android tablet, many of the features won't work.

They'll connect, and they'll play music, but you'll lose most of their most useful features. Hearing test won't work, the EQ presets can't be changed, and some of the touch controls might get a bit... funky.

I know that the Apple walled garden strengthens those that live within it — but one step outside of those glassy walls brings the restriction into stark daylight. Android customers make up swathes of the smartphone-buying public. There's a fresh customer base right there Apple, and some of them might want to buy some AirPods.

Why not open those gates?

More from Tom's Guide

• No more cables! Dolby and LG are making wireless Dolby Atmos sound happen in 2026
• I test headphones for a living — here's what I'd buy instead of the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra
• The Pixel Watch 4 is great, but I'm sticking with my Galaxy Watch 8 Classic — here's why

Look, the Sony and Bose entries into our best headphones guide are good cans. They're both very comfortable, sound good, and offer otherwise unrivalled ANC. But they're very... safe.

They don't do anything different, barely shaking up the design category, or taking their sound profiles to different and more interesting places. They're the headphones for the everyday person, and that means, in my eyes at least, that they're... kind of boring.

And here's the thing. There are headphones you can buy for a similar price (and even less) that do more interesting things with the medium. That focus on a particular facet — be that sound, style, or battery life — and stand out from the otherwise identikit sea of similar headphones.

So, which headphones would I buy instead of the WH-1000XM6 or the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2? Let me tell you in about 700 words and some pretty pictures.

My top pick: Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3

This year has been a weird one for the previous class leaders. We gave both the WH-1000XM6 and the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 four stars in their reviews, after years of 4.5 and 5 stars for their predecessors. Which headphones received a better score this year?

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3.

The competition has finally caught up with Sony and Bose, and the PX7 S3 merely highlight how difficult the job has become. While the noise canceling might not be quite as powerful, they put more focus on other parts of the formula – namely, sounding really, really good.

They're a wholly more musical and engaging listen than the Sony and Bose options. They bring more detail to the table, while going even lower into the frequency range. The sound is bigger in almost every direction, even if the soundstage is more intimate than expansive.

There are other spots where B&W has overtaken the competition. The build of the PX7 S3 is unlike anything at the same price, and they're more comfortable for long periods of time. The protective case is better too. It's sturdier and more protective. The physical controls are clicky and responsive, no matter what weather you're in — something that can't be said of the touch controls on the alternatives.

The sound focus makes them a far more compelling buy than either the Sony or Bose options in 2026 — and it makes me really excited to see what the future holds for Bowers & Wilkins.

Something a bit cheaper: Cambridge Melomania P100 SE

If you want really good headphones, you gotta spend a few more dollars than something super cheap. But you don't need to spend near $500 to get something that's epic. Case in point: Cambridge's Melomania P100 SE. They cost $299, a whole $150 less than the Sony and Bose cans.

And they beat them in some key areas.

They're not trying to be the kings of everything like the XM6 and QC Ultra 2, so they make some concessions. The case is big and bulky, their features not as extensive — but that's given Cambridge the opportunity to look at more important things. Like sound. And battery life.

The Melomania P100 SE last for 60 hours with the ANC turned on. That's double the battery of both the Sony and Bose options, and more than the Bowers & Wilkins above. Turn the ANC off and they'll last for 100 hours, making them some of the longest-lasting headphones you can buy today.

The sound is extremely clean, but also weighty and meaty. You can really get your teeth into a listening session, savoring each mouthful of delicious music-steak. They're engaging, fun, and revealing all at the same time. For the price, nothing sounds better.

If I had $300 to buy a new pair of headphones I'm pretty spoilt for choice — but I would go for these. They're different enough to stand out from the crowd physically, and their battery life and sound seal the deal.

More from Tom's Guide

• Massive Apple leak reveals over 30 upcoming products — iPhone Fold, cheap MacBook, smart glasses, AirTag 2 and more
• Samsung reportedly raises DDR5 RAM prices by 100% with 'no stock' left
• Push-ups are the exercise you can do anywhere — 3 variations to try now if you want to build chest strength

The original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are still some of my favorite headphones. While their battery life left a lot to be desired and their sound wasn’t quite as impressive as more sonically capable rivals, their ANC was the very best you could buy for a price that matched the competition. They were (and still are) excellent headphones.

The aptly named QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation are now here to carry on the torch. They’re pretty much up to the task — thanks to a very welcome increase in battery life, improved sound profile, and some new spatial audio modes —but they don't surpass the competition in every category.

They are, without a doubt, the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy right now. But, if you’re looking beyond ANC ability, Sony and Bowers & Wilkins might have them beat. Find out why in my Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 review.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation: Specs

• Price £449/$449/AU$699
• Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4
• ANC Yes
• Battery 30 hours (ANC on)
• Weight 0.58 pounds
• Dimensions 7.68 x 5.47 x 2 inches
• Colors Black/ White Smoke/ Midnight Violet/ Driftwood sand/ Desert Gold
• Drivers 35mm
• Compatibility iOS, Android
• Frequency response 10Hz - 22kHz

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? An update to Bose’s flagship noise-canceling headphones
• Who is it for? Users who want to block out every single noise ever
• What does it cost? £449/$449/AU$699
• What do we like? Epic noise canceling, very comfortable fit, reliable and helpful app
• What don’t we like? Aging sound profile, identical design

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Price and availability

As with all things Bose, getting yourself a pair of QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 is going to be a cinch. They’re available at pretty much any big box retailer like Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon. You can also pick up a pair directly from Bose, if that’s what you'd prefer. Either way, adding some to your backpack isn’t going to entail a lengthy search of store shelves or web pages.

What might make purchasing a pair slightly trickier is the price. The first model cost $429, and this newer model has received a not-insignificant price hike of $30. That makes them about $10 more than the Sony WH-1000XM6 and our current pick for the best headphones, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3. It’s an unwelcome price hike, that’s for sure, especially as everyone tightens their belts in a particularly icy financial climate.

The price wouldn’t sting quite as much if they were a significant update over the previous pair, but they don’t feel like enough of an upgrade to justify the increase. It also makes them an unworthy upgrade for current QuietComfort Ultra Headphones users. My advice? Wait for the next model, you won’t get much extra here.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Build and design

• Slightly rattly
• There’s nothing new…
• But they’re still handsome

Look, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones were a good-looking pair of headphones. Those metal accents in the hinges looked lovely, and they match the pearlescent plastic earcups and headphones nicely.

They’re certainly more interesting-looking than the Sony XM6-flavored competition, but not quite as stylish or premium-looking as the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 headphones. I like the look of the QuietComfort Ultra, but they’re not the best around.

It’s good that the 1st gen looked so nice because the new model doesn’t look even one iota different from their forbears. It's the same metallic hinge pieces, the same plastic earcups, and identical cushioning on both headphones. There are new color options to keep things a little fresher, but at their core, no one is going to know that you’re rocking the new version.

I wasn’t entirely sure I was using the 2nd gen at one point, and had to check in the app to see what they were called. Which perhaps says a lot about just how iterative this update actually is.

Thankfully, that also means the incredible comfort of the old version carries into the second generation. They’re impressively lightweight, and when you combine that with their super soft leatherette pads and ample padding, you end up with one of the most comfortable fits in all of noise-canceling headphone-dom. I had no problem wearing them for hours and hours on end, and I’d wager that neither will you.

Their identikit build also carries one of the biggest disappointments of the older model with them; they don’t feel premium in the hand. They’re a bit rattly, and they don’t feel as put-together as their key rivals.

They don’t feel cheap, but neither do they feel like you’ve just dropped nearly half a grand on a pair of noise-canceling headphones.

The excellent protective case does make it easier to toss them in a busy backpack guilt-free, and my older QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have stood the test of time with no breakages (despite a difficult life). But you’d hope they’d feel more expensive, given that they are expensive.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Features

• Plenty of “immersive” spatial audio modes
• Fairly weak EQ
• AptX adaptive

When you’re looking at the spec sheet of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen, you have to talk about the “Immersive” Spatial Audio sound modes. There are technically three, and one of them is new. Well, there are four if you consider “off” a mode. I don’t, it’s the default; because I still don’t get why everyone raves about these immersive sound modes.

There are two Immersive modes for music. One is for when you’re sitting down, and tracks your head movements to sound like your music is in a static place in space, with you looking around in the middle.

It’s smooth enough, unlike the same feature in the Beats Studio Pro, but I just don’t get it. It thins out the sound, tanking bass response and detail in exchange for an artificially widened soundstage. I don’t even think it sounds that much bigger — I often found my music sounded wider when it was turned off.

The second is for when you’re walking around, centering the music around your head so that it no longer moves. It’s not as disconcerting, but no less uncomfortable-sounding.

To be clear, there are two problems here. The first is that it doesn’t use a Spatial Audio mix like Apple headphones do, and has to work with stereo recordings. They only have a certain amount of information to parse out into a 3D space, and what Bose has done is very impressive. The second is me. I simply don’t like it.

For home-grown musical spatial audio systems, Bose’s Immersive Audio is fine. It works. But the fact remains that standard stereo listening sounds better, and doesn’t use as much battery.

The third immersive mode is cinema — and it’s about the only immersive mode I like. It’s designed, as you might have guessed, for movies, and it does a good enough job of making your movies feel more like surround sound when you're on a train, a plane, or, indeed, an automobile.

TL;DR: Musical Immersive Modes, no thanks. Move Immersive Mode, yes please.

The “Bose” app at the core of the experience works well enough. It’s where you’ll find all those Immersive sound modes, as well as the other settings. There’s a fairly weak (although essential) 3-band EQ, the ANC ‘noise control’ settings, as well as a customizable control for the touch… thing found on the right earcup.

There are fewer features here than you’ll find on Sony’s headphones, but it’s about the same as those in the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3. About the only thing you’ll really miss out on are the fancy ANC modes that Sony has cooked up for the WH-1000XM6, and I’m not entirely sure they’re actually all that useful.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: ANC

• Just about the best around
• No notes.
• Nothing better.

Usually, I’d spend loads of time here waxing lyrical about the ANC of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation's ability to block noise. I’d use fancy words like “indomitable” and “unconquerable.” I might throw in an “indefatigable” or two, perhaps even an “unflinching.”

But I won’t, because I don’t really need to. The ANC that Bose has packed into the Ultra Headphones 2nd gen is somehow even better than the first gen. Press the button, and you’re whisked away into your little noiseless cocoon, your only companion the music or podcast you’re listening to.

It’s still remarkable, still impressive, and continues to set the benchmark for how much noise a pair of headphones can block.

Transparency mode is no less excellent. Your conversation partners (or the station announcer) will sound natural, and it avoids the often robotic sound of similar systems. Bose still sets the bar for noise canceling and transparency modes, outdoing similarly priced and more expensive headphones without breaking a sweat.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Call quality

• Solid mics
• Great sound quality
• Noise isolation is very good

Thanks to all the microphones that Bose has pumped into the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2, the call quality is excellent. But then the call quality of the previous model was also good — and you’re not going to get much of an upgrade here.

My call partners, whether I was sitting in my office seat, a train carriage, or walking down a busy street, all reported that I was clearly understandable. Little noise from my environment seemed to trouble the headphones.

On my end, things were similarly standout. My call partners all sounded good (depending on their source device, of course — the Bose did their best, but a friend's woeful headset still made it sound like he was talking to me from the other end of a massive concrete pipe), and I didn’t have any problem hearing what they had to say.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Controls

• The power button and noise control button are fine
• But the sliding volume touch thing?
• Woeful

My experience with the controls on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2, much like that with the older model, have been a mixed bag. A mixed bag filled with nails.

While the physical controls for power and noise controls are very welcome indeed, the imprecise touch slider that Bose has placed in the right earcup is straight up bad.

It’s annoying to find, for one. It’s towards the back of the headset, and not quite pronounced enough to find without activating one of its features. While multi-pressing the ANC button changes playback (bad), the touch bar changes the volume (even worse).

It has a habit of wildly shifting volume no matter what you ask of it, whether you swipe up or down. I was really hoping that this version of the headphones would take this control and cast it into the fires of headphone Mount Doom. Alas, it did not.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Sound quality

• It’s fine
• Very bassy
• You’ll need to play with the EQ

Bose’s sound profile has generally been all about the bass, and making things sound warm and velvety. That’s no less true here with the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd gen, although there is a way to tweak them and it’s not all that tricky..

Head into the Bose App’s EQ menu, and set the treble to +2 or +3. That dials in some extra high range, allowing cymbals and other sounds to breathe a bit more. It’s not the perfect solution, but it makes them sound more listenable than they are straight out of the box.

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are otherwise a solid-sounding pair of headphones, especially with the Immersive Sound modes turned off.

They’re reasonably spacious in their soundstage, and there’s some lovely, rich bass here to get things rumbling. The mids provide good vocal representation, although they’re not quite as focused or dialed in as the Sony WH-1000XM6.

The bass, while plentiful and warm, feels one-note. As a result, detail takes a hit, as do dynamics. It’s perfect for some background listening, but not quite as good if you want to sit down and get involved with your music. If that’s what you want, then you should opt for the Sennheiser HDB 630 or the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3.

Katatonia’s metallic melancholy Wind Of No Change allows the headphones to stretch their bassy legs, although I do wish for some more dynamism in that low end. The bass guitar hits nicely, but it feels very flat. With my EQ adjustments, the cymbals can sing more, and the vocals are right in the forefront.

The distorted guitars sound great, with plenty of bite. Instrument separation is fine, but when things get busy, it can be hard to pick out the choir in the background. That’s not a struggle in the Sony WH-1000XM6.

As you might expect, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen fare a whole lot better with Pop music. XG’s Gala brings the glam, and the headphones are more than happy to let the bass go off.

The flatness doesn’t feel like as much of a problem here as the group's vocals layer over the top, and the chirping synths bring some extra dimension. Nothing gets lost here, and the imaging is good. They’re headphones really dialed in for the genre, it feels.

Chvrches' Asking For a Friend feels similarly well defined in the QuietComfort Ultra, although I do miss some bass dynamism again. Mayberry’s vocals are clear and easy to listen to, and the drum beat drives with some gusto thanks to that warmer focus of the headphones. I’ve heard better — but it still sounds good.

• Listen along to the Tom's Guide Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation testing playlist

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Battery life

• Vast improvement over old model…
• But still not class-leading
• 30 hours

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones only featured 24 hours of battery life. You couldn’t extend that battery life either, with the headphones only featuring “on” and “transparency” modes for the noise canceling. Both drank battery life like a thirsty dog, and turning on Immersive Audio brought the staying power down to 18 hours.

We’ve got some improvement here, although it only brings them up to par with the competition rather than bettering it. According to Bose, you’ll be able to pull 30 hours of battery life out of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2.

That’s 6 hours more than the old model, but if you’re after the most battery life possible, then you’re going to want to choose something like the Sennheiser HDB 630. They’re about $40 more again, but they last for 60 hours.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation review: Verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen are a great pair of headphones. The sound is good, they’re incredibly comfortable, and the ANC remains a spectacular example of noise-canceling technology. I can’t not give them 4 stars, and a recommendation. They’re good. Unfortunately, so is the competition.

Making matters trickier is that the old model, a pair you can still buy for often reduced prices, is close enough in performance and is still well worth picking up. Once the stock of the first gen has dried up, the story will be different, but we're still a few months away from that point.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 are a good upgrade, and they’re now the best noise-canceling headphones by the sheer fact that their ANC is better than anything available right now.

However, when Bose ditches the useless touch control thing on the right earcup, improves the sound and brings us a new design, a higher score will be in order. But as it stands, they’re a solid four-star pair of headphones in a crowded, competitive market.

I have now been ANC-free for a month. A long month of hearing traffic noise, of dodging pedestrians with their faces buried in their phones, and being heckled by people with books on the side of the street. But I am resolute, knowing that I am safer without ANC while walking around, so that I can hear cars before they hit me. I am a pinball at train stations no longer.

But the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 look at me with a sultry gaze, tempting me back to the noise-canceling fold. But I stand firm, my inhuman will to hear the outside world stronger than the quiet comfort of Bose's headphones. I will resist. I must resist.

So, how have I really done, and has my experience been worth the lack of noise canceling? Let me tell you of a noisy month, and one that's revealed how I handle quitting something.

I feel safer everywhere I go

One of the primary reasons I gave up ANC was because I felt unsafe while wearing the best noise-canceling headphones. While sealed in a musical cocoon, I found that I couldn't handle what was happening around me, and I was terrified of being hit by a car. Stations and underground stops were particularly gnarly as I dodged my fellow passengers while trying to listen out for station and train announcements.

Now, without ANC over my ears, I do feel safer. Many would call me a pansy (some did, and to you I say, "I hope you don't get hit by a car with your ANC headphones on"), but I am more aware of the world around me than I ever have been before.

I am more grounded, my senses more rounded and less dulled. Turns out, when crossing the road, I don't just use my eyes — I also seem to use my ears, as I listen out for cars that might not stop when they're supposed to. I don't hesitate at the crosswalk, unsure if it's actually safe to go.

I just know.

But it's not just that. When I go to the shop or a fast food joint, I don't have to turn anything off for the cashier. I just, like, talk to them. It's so much more natural, so much more human. There's nothing in the way between me and my conversation partner. They don't have to speak up — and, perhaps crucially, there's no horrible digital filter thing making them sound like they're a computer.

I notice the small things now more than ever. The birds singing in the park I walk through every day, and the sound of cool sports cars that use the roads nearby. I was able to strike up a conversation with an old dude the other day who seemed like he needed the company — with ANC turned on, I don't think I'd have noticed any of those things.

It's been harder than I expected

I am no stranger to quitting. I gave up smoking in 2020, and I've not picked up a death stick since. I've ditched social media to help improve my headspace and avoid toxicity. Quitting is something I'm generally quite good at, so it surprised me how difficult it has been to leave my ANC headphones at home when I go for a walk.

I think part of it is down to my job. I test headphones, and that means I have to see how they perform when you're out and about outside. I need to make sure that the ANC blocks out the noise of traffic, other pedestrians, and other noises that might disturb a potential user's day.

So there are times when I can't avoid ANC outside. And I think that makes it very easy just to grab my headphones when I wander on past the table by the door, stuffing my earbuds in my pocket as I've always done.

Then there's my promise not to use ANC when I'm at home working. When I don't need it, I have reams upon reams of wired headphones that don't feature ANC and generally sound better than wireless options. But the best wireless headphones are so easy.

I just pick up my headphones, put them on my head, and press play. They connect instantly and play music without having to plug anything in or change any device settings. Forgive me, father, I have sinned — I have used my ANC headphones at home. It's too simple, too easy.

And there are no cars in my office to avoid.

It's not for everyone

It was pointed out to me when I first wrote about giving ANC up that a world without noise-canceling headphones is not for everyone. For some neurodiverse people, the world can be overwhelming, buffeting them with millions of different things to divide their attention. Noise-canceling headphones give them at least some form of respite, allowing them a calm mind.

But for those who can give up ANC headphones, I would thoroughly suggest you give it a try. The last month for me has been eye (and ear) opening, and I've felt freer than ever without noise-canceling blocking out half the world.

I feel safer and more involved with what's happening around me — and I can only see that as a good thing.

More from Tom's Guide

• Steam Machine vs PS5 vs Xbox Series X/S vs Mac mini: How does Valve's new console compare?
• I'm vetting the best Black Friday deals LIVE from Amazon, Hulu, Walmart, Best Buy and more
• I found all the best TV deals ahead of Black Friday — over 50% slashed on Sony, Samsung, LG, and more at Best Buy

AirPods are great. They have that magical connection to Apple devices, great build quality, and (quite unlike Apple) relatively affordable price points. Not looking at you, AirPods Max.

But what if you're looking for some of the best earbuds to pair with your shiny new iPhone that don't come in white plastic, or what if you've got an Android phone and don't want something from the Apple ecosystem?

Well, you're in luck — as much as I love AirPods, I've tried out enough other earbuds to tell you that there is great sound, comfort and build beyond something designed in Cupertino. So let me talk you through the best earbuds around that aren't made by Apple.

On a budget: CMF Buds Pro 2

This pair of buds is currently on the Tom's Guide's reviews team test bench, but things are going very well indeed for the inexpensive orange wonders. They're very comfortable and pack in some excellent ANC and good sound. All for much less than just about any pair of AirPods you can buy today — even the AirPods 4.

The 5 hours of battery life you'll get out of Apple's buds is handily beaten here as well, with 11 hours of ANC off time. They're IP55 for fitness fanatics, and even feature dual drivers for the audiophile on a budget.

And they're orange. Or blue, or black, or white. But why wouldn't you go for that wonderful sunshine hue? It's a lot more interesting than white.

A step up: Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

Cambridge Audio's Melomania A100 are some of my favorite buds of 2025. They're very comfortable thanks to loads of different fitting options and are lightweight. The case is nice and small so that it more easily fits into your pocket, or a section in your backpack. Add that all to the 39-hour battery life and you've a pair of buds that takes the AirPods 4 ANC to school.

The best bit, though, is the sound and the customization options in Cambridge Audio's app. There's buckets of detail on offer, so you can really dive deep into the music you're listening to. The bass is deep and well-formed, and the mids are wide. They're great-sounding buds, made even better with the addition of the EQ options. Not a fan of the sound? Dial it in yourself with the EQ.

I'd say they match up better with the AirPods Pro 3 — only they cost $100 less.

The flagship: Sony WF-1000XM5

The WF-1000XM5 are a well-known pair of earbuds that secured Sony's spot at the top of everyone's list by offering comfortable, great-sounding buds that block out loads of noise with great ANC. There's little more you could want, to be honest — apart from like, a free million dollars in the box.

They're a worthy competitor to the AirPods Pro 3, that's for sure. Een iPhone users will want to check them out thanks to more extensive EQ options and better sound.

They might not have the magic Apple connection, but they do pretty much everything else better.

Money no object: Noble Fokus Rex5

If you've got around $500 burning a hole in your pocket and you want some shiny new earbuds to slot into your earholes, I've got just the thing. These are the Noble Fokus Rex5, and they are currently my favorite pair of wireless earbuds — bar none. And yes, before you ask, they're worth every penny of that high asking price.

They're comfortable thanks to perfectly shaped buds made of resin. They're premium, thanks to a range of lovely materials that go into their construction. They've got battery life aplenty, with 50 hours of juice in the case. They're green.

But, best of all, they sound mind-blowing. There's little that comes close to the sonic characteristics of the Rex5 before you start looking at wired options. They're crystal clear, but not fatiguing. Vocals are perfectly formed, and the sub-bass goes all the way down. They're a sight for sore ears, that's for sure.

You may (or may not) remember that I stopped using noise canceling headphones while out and about. Since then, I've discovered that there's still one place that I need ANC, and that's when I'm sitting on a bus or train seat. I've experienced too many chanting sports fans and crying children to go ANC free all the time.

But I thought I'd try something new as I take ANC back into my life — to see how Sony's latest noise cancelers stack up to my personal favorite noise canceling headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra gen 2. I've been using the WH-1000XM6 as my primary noise cancelers for a week now to see whether they'll be my new portable companions. Here's what happened.

Where have I been wearing them?

My headphones need to be very good at blocking out the noise of engines, tires, wheels, and crying children. There is little I enjoy less while trying to relax on a long journey is a child screaming at the top of its lungs. So there's one thing.

My other main consideration for travel headphones is comfort. After all, I could be wearing them for many hours at a time, so I want them to be soft on my ears and head. Anything that makes me want to pull them off is going to be a no go.

Finally, sound. While I travel sound is strangely going to come behind the other considerations — for while other headphones might sound incredible, if I can't hear it over the sound of little Jimmy three seats away as he hurls his toys around, there's little point. Still, they need to sound good.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 fit pretty much all of those criteria. They are, after all, the best noise canceling headphones you can buy. But are Sony's latest good enough to dethrone them and take their place in my backpack?

1. Noise cancellation

I genuinely thought that this round would be more cut and dry, but I was surprised by just how close everything was. In short, the Sony WH-1000XM6 come much closer to the performance of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones than I had first considered, in some cases bettering them.

They Sony's are really good at blocking out low sounds, like rumbling engines and wheel noise on the road. That makes them very well suited indeed for bus journeys, especially if you like to sit close to the back of the vehicle. The clattering diesels of the buses that I frequent were almost completely silenced by the XM6, even more so than the QuietComfort Ultra.

The Bose still take the edge with voices and other environmental sound, but the low-end performance of the XM6 has made me reconsider which headphones should live in my bag. With the low drone of the engine gone, my music was able to block out the sound of the talking on the bus around.

Alas, however, little Jimmy cut through.

Where the XM6 did a much better job, however, was the transparency mode. Putting the two side by side, I found that the people I talked to while buying a bus ticket and the guards asking for my train pass sounded more natural. The Sony's also did a better job of highlighting the sounds I actually wanted to hear.

Activating the transparency mode was much easier as well. Holding down the touch panel on the Bose is irritating, while holding my hand over the whole earcup of my Sony's is inspired. It works well, instantly pausing the music and turning on transparency. Move my hand away, and it all goes back to normal. Excellent.

So it was close — so much to say that I don't think ANC would actually be a primary decider for whether the XM6 are going to become my new transport headphones. And that's something I really wasn't expecting.

2. The comfort

I didn't find the previous Sony WH-1000XM5 all that comfortable. It was due to that thin headband across the top that made them dig in to my head, making the headphones uncomfortable for longer term wear. The XM6 have a redesigned headband — and it's worked. Mostly.

The XM6 are more comfortable, without a shadow of a doubt. It took much longer for fatigue to wear in as I rode the train to London, and my bus journeys to the local shopping center weren't an issue at all.

However, I still felt some soreness after about 3-4 hours, and I needed to take the Sony's off.

The same can't be said of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra gen 2. They're extremely light, for one, so they don't weigh on your head during wear. The padding is also very thick, and it's soft, so they stay far more comfortable for a long time. I've never needed to pull the QC Ultra off my head — something I've experienced with the Sony headphones.

So, at the moment, the Bose are now slightly ahead.

3. Sound quality

This round was actually more cut and dry than I thought it would be. I've always had issues with the Bose QuietComfort line's sound quality, and the WH-1000XM6 merely highlighted the problems — and then summarily fixed pretty much all of them.

The Bose are a very bassy pair of headphones. Generally, I go into the settings menu and dial back the bass in the three band EQ — as I have done with this pair — but I've always found that (thanks to the relatively restrictive EQ adjustment) that it doesn't do quite enough to make the sound as good as I'd like. They've got decent detail and reasonable mids, but the bass can become overpowering.

I've found this generally to be the achilles heal of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (both gens), and given I completely ignore immersive audio because I don't like it, there's little sound wise to keep me coming back. That's where things get interesting — because the Sony WH-1000XM6 somehow do.

First off, the XM6 are not my favorite sounding pair of headphones around. But I wasn't expecting to enjoy them as much as I did. As we found in our XM6 review, Sony has dialled in the sound quality to focus on vocal clarity. That lends itself well to certain genres, like soul, which rely on their singers and their vocal abilities.

It also means that Sony has taken some off some of the bass weight that made the XM5 too "low-endy" for my personal taste. It's articulate and well crafted, and now doesn't overwhelm the rest of the sound. Add in some lovely detail and solid highs, and you've got a nice sound.

It's not perfect. Soundstage, imaging and instrument separation has taken a hit since the XM5, but it's still a much better experience than the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2. Like I said — it makes things interesting.

So which are my new headphones?

For those keeping score and doing some math, you'll notice that we actually came to a draw. But there are other considerations that I've now had to make that have actually landed the Sony's in my daily carry.

The Sony WH-1000XM6's case is nicer thanks to the magnetic clasp, and the more intuitive touch controls make them easier to use. The battery life is better, and the Sony app is more extensive. They fold up smaller, and I prefer the way that they look.

I wasn't expecting to be here, but now that I've come to the end of my extended, targeted testing period, I'm glad that I've done it. Right now the Sony WH-1000XM6 is my top pick.

More from Tom's Guide

• 7 top new movies to stream this week on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more (Nov. 4-10)
• Amazon settles with FTC, needs to pay Prime members $1.5 billion — here's how to claim your share
• iOS 26.1 is here with 7 big boosts you need to know about

Generally, if you meet me while I'm out and about, you'll find me with some form of Bose logo hanging on the outside of my ear. After all, if you want to keep the noise of the outside world out, there's little better — the firm makes the best noise-canceling headphones and the best noise-cancelling earbuds.

I'd recommend the brand's headphones and earbuds to anyone looking to make their commute a little smoother, their plane journeys more engaging, and roadtrips more chill. However, I've recently found that in most areas of my life, I actually don't really want to block that much noise anymore.

But why? When I literally have the cream of the crop of noise-canceling headphones available at my fingertips, why on earth am I choosing to listen to the world around me more and instead listen to my music through more noisy headphones? Or, in the case of being outside, not listen to music at all?

It's getting dangerous outside

The outside world is very noisy; this much is true. But it's also an increasingly dangerous place to spend any amount of time, especially when you live in a city. Traffic is picking up, cars are getting larger and quieter, and there are more people than ever riding electric bicycles and scooters on footpaths and other places that should be reserved for those walking.

Walking to work has more hazards than I've ever seen. Even just walking down a station platform is treacherous, as people mill past and knock you left, right, and center like a fleshy pinball. As a result, it's incredibly important to have all of your senses available — and that includes your hearing.

I can see things happen around me, and I can even, to some degree, feel when hazards are nearby, but I also need to be able to hear what's going. Electric cars (in my locale, at least) are required to make noise, but they're still quieter than an internal combustion beast. ANC headphones keep all that noise at bay — for better or for worse.

It means that wearing my trusty QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 feels more stressful than helpful when I'm walking around a town, city, or train station. So in order to feel and potentially even be safer, I'm going to leave them off.

Wires sound better

When I'm at home, I don't really need noise canceling. Sure, the buildings across the road can get noisy on occasion, and someone doing the vacuuming can get irritating, but for the most part, I don't really need ANC. There are even things that I need to listen out for, like the door, or my pet guinea pig begging for another treat.

Instead, I want something that just sounds really, really good — and there's not much I'd choose over something wired like the Meze 105 AER, or similar.

It doesn't matter to me that they don't block out noise — only that their open-backed design allows for a very wide, very pleasing sound. They're more detailed than ANC-closed backs could ever hope to be, as well as being lighter and more comfortable to boot.

That, and I'll never have to recharge them.

My experiment

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja's new Slushi Max is bigger, faster and smarter than ever
• 5 top new movies to stream this week on Netflix, Prime Video and more (Oct. 14-20)
• I just discovered what’s really draining your iPhone battery — and it’s not what you think

There are always hundreds of headphones and earbuds released every year that tend to fly under the radar, but it's much rarer that you get a 12-month period that's as filled with flagship releases from the likes of Sony, Bose and Apple as 2025 has been.

We've seen high-profile launches from Sony, with the WH-1000XM6 landing with thunderous applause. Bose has released updated versions of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Ultra Headphones, and there's been a surprise new entry that went straight to the top of our best headphones list in the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3.

So what has this year looked like for headphones — and what about the headphones we're still waiting for?

Headphones we did get

Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony's WH-1000XM5 were starting to look a little long in the tooth at the start of 2025. So we were looking forward to seeing if Sony dropped a new entry in its flagship headphone lineup — and the brand didn't disappoint. The WH-1000XM6 might not have been our favorite launch of the year, but it's definitely one of the biggest, and arguably the most impactful.

There have been some big updates brought to the XM series with the XM6. The headphones brought back the crucial folding mechanism to make them more compact, and the case they slip into has a new magnetic closing mechanism so that it's easier to open and close quickly. The headband was widened, fixing a key (literal) sore spot on the old model.

The sound profile saw a look as well, bringing more vocal clarity and a bit more detail. They're still pretty bassy, though, to make sure that they're popular with their old faithful users.

The headphones were reviewed very well across the web, although our own four-star review highlighted some issues. We found the sound wasn't as wide and immersive as the outgoing model, and we can foresee the new folding hinge breaking somewhere down the line. They're also $50 more than the XM5, making them a slightly harder recommendation. Still, they're a great pair of headphones, and a solid addition to the line's legacy.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 were something of a surprise this year. Sure, their forbears, the PX7 S2, were good headphones, but they didn't quite bring enough to beat out Sony and Bose to the headphone top spot. This year, though, B&W brought their entire audio broadside to bear on the competition and blew them out of the water with my favorite headphone release of 2025 (so far).

They're much slimmer and more comfortable than the outgoing model, and feature an excellent hard case that's going to keep them free of scratches and away from any kind of harm they might find in your backpack. The controls are even better and tactile to make them easier to find than before. They're even priced similarly to the competition, $449, so you're not going to have to spend more to get their impeccable build and style.

They stand out not just thanks to their immaculate design, but also their incredibly impressive sound. They're dynamic, warm, and super detailed. While it has a similar curve to other headphones at this price, you'll get more detail and more bass control than you'll find in the alternative options.

We are still missing their spatial audio feature, and the ANC isn't quite as good as Sony or Bose, but this is the best headphone launch of the year. I haven't been able to put my pair away.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 2 were starting to feel quite outdated in 2025, especially compared to the ever-improving competition. The ANC didn't quite work as well as that found in the Sony and Bose buds, and the battery life of six hours was starting to look a little... old hat. So the AirPods Pro launched and fixed pretty much all the problems in what might be the biggest earbuds release of the year.

That ANC problem? Completely fixed. The noise canceling is top-notch, getting very close to the class-leading QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (Gen 2). The transparency mode received attention as well, and even nets you extra battery life over full noise canceling. Speaking of battery life: It's good. Eight hours out of the buds is a 2-hour boost over the old model. Nice.

Apple has worked on the sound as well. Apple's more neutral sound signature is one that I really like, and the AirPods Pro 3 improved on the formula with some extra bass depth and a wider soundstage than older models. Spatial Audio also works better this time around, although I tend to only use it for watching movies.

The AirPods Pro 3 are a very successful update to Apple's premium earbuds — something that I couldn't say about last year's AirPods 4. Exciting times for AirPods fans and iPhone users who want the best earbuds experience possible.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra series update

There have been two launches from Bose this year, but I'll put them both together because they're more iterative updates than complete redesigns. First up, the improved QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — the creatively titled QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2.

They brought improved fit, ANC and slightly reworked the sound of the older pair. They retain their $299 price as well, something I wasn't expecting. The changes inside were many, and they made them a much better pair of buds as a result — although perhaps not one worth upgrading to if you've still got the first-gen buds.

The battery life still isn't up there with the best, and the exterior upgrades were few. Still, they now sit at the top of our list of the best noise-canceling earbuds, and have a permanent place in my pocket as a result.

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are, in many ways, the step up over the first generation that I'd been after. They improve the lackluster battery, bringing the longevity up to 30 rather than 24. The ANC is even better, keeping out every single noise that you might throw at them. They're just as comfortable as the old pair, and still feature the helpful EQ to change the sound to your liking.

There are still some bugbears. They're a rattly pair of headphones, and the sound still isn't quite as good as Sony's — but they're still a shoo-in for our list of the best noise-canceling headphones. If only they'd been renovated on the outside, and lost the annoying touch-sensitive volume control... thing.

The headphones and earbuds we didn't get

Despite some of the biggest launches landing this year, there are still some rumored headphones and earbuds we've been expecting that didn't make their way onto my test bench this year.

Sony WF-1000XM6

The WF-1000XM5 are sligtly newer than the over-ear WH-1000XM5, but they're also starting to age a little under the spotlight that the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 and the AirPods Pro 3 have now thrown on them. They are due an update at this point, and there was some evidence that we might see them in 2025 — but nothing has materialized yet.

What are we expecting? Improved battery life, a new design, and better sound are always on the docket. New colors too — although there's been no indication that they'll bring something like the AirPods Pro 3's heart rate monitor to the table.

We're not entirely sure when we might see them now, but I'd wager we're going to see more about the buds next year. There's also a couple of months of 2025 left to go as well...

AirPods Max 2

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple's offering 3 months of Apple Music absolutely free — here's how to get it
• 31 best early Prime Day deals under $25 — Apple, Lego, Carhartt, Yeti and more
• iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro — why the regular iPhone is the one to buy this year

Your commute is almost certainly noisy. Whether you're trying to drown out the screech of the train or a chatty passenger on the bus, all you need is pair of excellent noise-canceling earbuds to make it all go away.

The best noise-cancelling earbuds will block out the racket that might be keeping your commute from being the relaxing trip it could be. I've tested a bunch of different ANC earbuds to find my top picks — here's my quick list to make your life easier.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

There are very few ways to block as much as noise as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen. A pair of industrial ear-muffs might do it. Wearing a helmet filled with car insulation might be another. But neither of those options play your sweet, sweet tunes on the way to work – so I know which I'd rather buy.

The noise canceling of the QuietComfort Ultra gen 2 is incredibly impressive. With a quick tap on the buds' touch surfaces, you're sealed away into a cocoon filled with your music, as the rest of the world melts away into nothing. They work pretty well as ANC earplugs as well, doing a decent job with no music playing at all.

They sound good, feel comfortable and look pretty cool to boot. I do wish they had more battery life — 6 hours is just okay — but they're overall my favorite noise-canceling earbuds when I'm commuting via public transit.

Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony's earbuds department always makes something special when it comes out with a flagship, and the WF-1000XM5 are the best ANC buds from the firm yet. They're positively tiny, despite their very impressive internals bringing plenty of features besides their excellent ANC.

That ANC is, as you might expect, very good. It's not quite up there with the Bose buds, but it still does a stellar job of keeping the noise of your commute to a minimum. There are a couple of places where the Sony buds are better than Bose's effort, though. The sound is more well-controlled, and the battery life is superior. You get 7.5 hours of use on a charge, as opposed to 6. Those 1.5 hours go a long way in real life as well, especially if you wear them when you get to work.

They're very comfortable as well, thanks to their blend of felt and silicon eartips. There are loads of options in the box, so you can properly dial them in to a fit that suits you. That, and they come in pink. And who can say no to pink?

Apple AirPods Pro 3

The very recently released AirPods Pro 3 are a great option if you're in the Apple ecosystem. They magically connect with every single Apple device in your collection, so all you need to do is open them next to your iPhone or iPad. From there, the audio switches around when you change your source device. Magic.

They're also a big step up over their predecessor, the AirPods Pro 2. There's now improved ANC, and in my testing, I've found it to be far superior. It's somewhere in the very slim gap between the Sony buds and the Bose. Transparency mode is even better than both.

You get 8 hours of battery life with ANC on, much better than the AirPods Pro 2's 6 hours. Then there's all the extra features that Apple has packed in, like the heart rate monitor and the Live Translation feature. These are hands-down the best AirPods ever.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple responds to iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air 'scratchgate' — and aluminum durability concerns
• This $150 pair of ANC earbuds are the perfect budget alternative to the AirPods Pro 3
• Sony used a PS5 State of Play to reveal desktop gaming speakers — here's what they bring to the table

Bose has been on a refresh roll over the last couple of months. First, there were the new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2. Now, there's the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 — and I've got my greasy mitts on a pair to see how they compare to the first model.

The first generation of Bose's flagship cans are currently the best ANC headphones that money can buy, but they're not without their weaknesses. The battery life could be better, the touch controls aren't fabulous and the sound could use a little work.

The second generation has arrived to address the shortfalls of the first model. I've been hands-on for about a week and I can give you my first impressions.

Well that looks familiar...

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are a handsome pair of headphones. The metal armatures affixing the earcups to the headband are metal and finished in lovely shiny chrome. The glinting Bose logos on the outside of the earcups lend some extra class, and the off-white finish is... different. Still, they look nice.

But there's a glaring elephant in the room, and it's taking up quite a lot of space. They look exactly the same as the old model. If you were to place the two side by side, you'd find it very difficult to work out which was which. The White colorway, which I have here, is the worst offender.

In some ways, that's a shame. Part of the fun of a new model is a different design, bringing new elements to see and experience when you get your shiny new headphones. But, on the other hand, there's a lot to be said for "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The QuietComfort Ultra headphones look nice and are built well. Do they really need an update?

Another benefit is that, with less spent on a new design, more investment can go into the internals, which is what Bose has chosen with the Ultra Headphones Gen 2.

More ANC

If I've said it once, I've said it approximately 1 million times — the QuietComfort Ultra headphones have the best ANC around. It blocks out almost everything, making buses, offices and airplanes a whole lot more comfortable. The Gen 2 don't reinvent the ANC wheel, but they re-cement Bose's place at the top of the noise-canceling tree.

There's slightly more noise canceling at the top end, so noises like keyboards are better blocked out. Tire noise is negated more, and there's even more neutrality and natural sound to the transparency mode.

It's not enough of an improvement to say "wow, they're so much better!" but there's still a tangible difference in ANC performance.

Massive battery improvements

It's no secret that the battery life was the primary downfall of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. 24 hours of battery life simply didn't stack up against the competition, and left a dark stain on their product specs. Not so with the new version — the battery life is now claimed to be 30 hours from Bose.

During my short testing time, I've found that the battery life is better than the old model in real-world use. I've had to charge them less while using them, and I've not heard the 'low battery' chime as often.

You can even charge them while in use — which is very cool indeed.

Better sound and more modes

The sound of the Bose headphone line has always lagged slightly behind the competition. I've always needed to dip into the EQ to dial the sound in just right, with too much bass response straight out of the box. There's still some of that with the new version of the Ultra Headphones, but my adjustments are more subtle this time around.

Sound is still clear and detailed, and most people are going to really appreciate its warmer tone. Pop music sounds excellent as you might expect, but lovers of hip-hop, rock and other genres are going to find a lot to like about the Bose sound signature.

There's a new Immersive Audio mode as well, and the main setting continues to be one of the best in-house spatial audio setups. I'm still not a big fan — it stretches the music out too much for my liking — but I can understand why people like it.

The new mode is one designed for movies; and I like it a lot more than the standard one. Dialog becomes much clearer, and the sounds of your movie are placed well in a pseudo-surround setup. If you're one for watching movies and TV on the train or the plane, it's a fun extra. It does tank the battery down to 24 hours, however.

Overall, though, sound is good — and improved over the first-gen headphones.

Early verdict

If you're wielding a pair of the first-generation Ultra Headphones, you needn't worry about upgrading. While there are some key differences between the two sets of headphones, they don't warrant enough of a change to make me think that spending $449 of your hard-earned dollars is a good idea.

If you're looking for a way into the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy today, however, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 are a fantastic buy. They're still extremely comfortable and offer all the upgrades you'd want out of a second-generation product. They might be more expensive, but they are better.

I just wish I had the red pair. Oh well, we can all dream...

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried these heavy metal headphones from Kickstarter — here's how they sound
• I compared the Apple Watch's new Sleep Score to Oura Ring for a week — and the results are wild
• I've been testing Spotify Lossless for a week — 3 things I like, 2 things I don't

The best soundbars are expensive, and that's simply a fact. I've tested the $1,699 JBL Bar 1300X, a surround sound system that made me foam at the mouth — but there's no way I'd ever be able to afford that. So a mid-range soundbar it is!

Mid-range soundbars usually have some sacrifices: poor Dolby Atmos performance, lackluster bass, no smart features... just to name a few. However, as someone whose job is literally to test soundbars, I've discovered a few hidden gems.

Of course the Bose Smart Soundbar and the Polk Audio Signa S4 can't go head-to-head with giants like the Sonos Arc Ultra or the Marshall Heston 120, but for $549-$449, they're pretty impressive. But which is the ultimate winner? There can only be one...

At a glance

Think of this as a TLDR: the Bose Smart Soundbar is a better everyday product with smart features, but the Polk Audio Signa S4 is a better cinema product.

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Polk Audio Signa S4: Specs

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Polk Audio Signa S4: Design

Despite both soundbars being firmly in the midrange of both cost and performance, there are a few key differences between their designs.

The Bose Smart Soundbar is much smaller than the Polk Audio Signa S4. The Bose is 27 inches long compared to the Polk's 41 inches. Even so, each soundbar has the same number of center and upfiring speakers (three and two, respectively), and has comparable sound quality.

However, size isn't the primary point of comparison here. The main difference lies within the Signa S4's subwoofer. Unlike the Smart Soundbar, which can be used with Bose's Bass Module 700 ($899)(... yes, really...), the Signa S4 is a soundbar + subwoofer combo. For just $449.

I'll discuss the sound more in the 'Sound quality' section below, but let's just say that the Signa S4 is pulling ahead right now, purely because it has a subwoofer.

With the main differences out of the way, the Bose and the Polk Audio are comparable in most other design aspects. True, neither of them are breaking any beauty boundaries (that award goes to the Marshall Heston 120), but neither are markedly ugly, either.

The Signa S4 has a gray fabric mesh covering, which might look a little dated if you've got an ultra-modern home, but I don't see it looking out of place in a home cinema setup. Conversely, the Bose Smart Soundbar has a plastic body with a large 'Bose' logo in the center, which is better if you like the look of a branded soundbar, or you perhaps want to show off to your less-techie friends who assume Bose is the be-all and end-all of audio quality.

My final point of comparison is the remote controller. The Polk Audio remote is much sturdier than the Bose, with more buttons and a larger surface area. The Bose remote is quite flimsy, but, then again, the Bose can be controlled via the Bose app, which I'll discuss more just below.

The winner? There isn't one. The Polk Audio Signa S4 could take the crown because of its subwoofer and superior remote.

But the Bose Smart Soundbar looks better and is smaller, therefore more versatile.

The result? A draw.

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Polk Audio Signa S4: Features

In terms of features, there are a few key differences between the Polk Audio Signa S4 and the Bose Smart Soundbar.

First, though, let's get this out of the way: the Smart Soundbar and the Signa S4 have different use cases and, therefore, have different features. The clue's in the name: the Bose is, literally, a smart soundbar. It's going to have smart features.

Let's chat about them separately: first, I'll discuss sound quality-related features, then I'll discuss smart home features. Or, in the Signa S4's case, the lack thereof.

The Bose Smart Soundbar has an array of sound features: Dialogue enhancement, channel volume adjustment, and 'Bose TrueSpace' (for Atmos decoding). The AI dialogue enhancement is one of the best features on this soundbar: I never, ever struggle to hear dialogue. Even during loud action scenes, I am always able to understand dialogue.

You can also adjust each channel speaker independently, so you can increase the volume of the 'Center channel,' 'Height channel,' 'Bass,' and 'Treble' at will. Obviously, I upped the bass to the max, as the subwoofer is a separate purchase, and the soundbar needs all the help it can get bass-wise.

Finally, I'll discuss 'Bose TrueSpace'. This technology is supposed to upmix audio signals into an immersive, surround-sound experience. While obviously this is not Dolby Atmos or DTS Virtual:X, it tries to make everything you watch sound like it could be.

TrueSpace is really frustrating because it could be so good. It's not frustrating because it's bad, or because it's excellent, but a weird amalgamation of the two. Sometimes TrueSpace is awesome and makes me feel like I'm actually underwater during swimming scenes. Other times, I'm trapped on the outside, like I'm hammering on the door of Dolby Atmos and it won't let me in.

If this feature were more consistent, I'd be shouting about it from the rooftops. However, as it stands, it's merely good — not great.

Alright, let's talk about the Polk Audio Signa S4's sound features now. Like the Smart Soundbar, the Signa S4 has the following: Voice adjust (for dialogue), Movie mode, and Night mode. Unfortunately, you can't adjust the volume of each speaker, unlike the Bose, but these sound modes are still great.

Movie mode is the only one you really need if you're into blockbuster films. This mode effectively increases the bass, which makes the subwoofer rumble. Night mode does the opposite — reduces bass so you can listen while neighbors or roommates are asleep — and Voice adjust is ideal if you struggle to hear dialogue.

While the Signa S4 doesn't have any DSPs intended to upmix non-Atmos into Atmos, if you've got an Atmos-encoded movie, the surround sound will be impressive. When I was testing the Siga S4, I watched 'The Wild Robot', and the immersive sound effects made me feel like I was actually in the scene.

However, if your content is not Atmos-encoded, then you'll get no upmixed surround sound.

Right, now let's discuss other features. While Bose and Polk Audio stuff their soundbars with similar sound-related features, only one of these soundbars has any smart features, and it's easy to guess which one.

The Bose Smart Soundbar has a huge variety of smart home features. You can link it directly with your Alexa; it comes with AirPlay and Google Cast, so you can play music directly from your streaming app like Qobuz or Spotify, and you can control it completely from the Bose app.

I find myself using the Bose Smart Soundbar every day to listen to music while I'm cooking or pottering about the house. Thanks to the seamless AirPlay integration, I can play music directly from my phone, without having to connect to Bluetooth or connect any wires. If I wanted to play music on the Signa S4, I'd first have to turn on Bluetooth (annoying) and then connect to my phone (annoying), and then play music (annoying).

The Bose Smart Soundbar eradicates that frustrating system, and, as a result, the Bose Smart Soundbar wins in the Features category.

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Polk Audio Signa S4: Sound quality

Now onto the most important section. Everything I've said so far has been leading up to this very moment. I feel like a scheming adviser in a Medieval court. Imagine me rubbing my hands together with glee, smiling like I've heard a joke only I can understand.

First, I'll go over the fact that the Polk Audio Signa S4 has a subwoofer and the Bose Smart Soundbar doesn't. The existence of the subwoofer makes this a very easy assertion: the Polk Audio Signa S4 has much, much better bass than the Bose Smart Soundbar.

The subwoofer itself has one large woofer on the base, so it'll shake your floors. When I was watching 'Top Gun: Maverick' on the Signa S4 in the office, my colleagues who (unfortunately) work on the floor below our testing room complained that it was too loud.

Hey, if floorboard-trembling bass is what you're after, then the Signa S4 will make you happy.

Unfortunately, that brings me onto the Bose Smart Soundbar's subwoofer... well, lack of subwoofer. As I mentioned briefly above, if you want a subwoofer with your Smart Soundbar, it's going to cost you almost $1,000. Oh, I wish I were joking.

Even though the Smart Soundbar's bass performance is alright considering it's just a soundbar, it can't compare. There's no way you can listen to the Signa S4 and the Smart Soundbar and hear the same level of bass.

Although bass is important, it doesn't eclipse every other aspect of audio. There's also the very integral aspect of sound separation. This is basically: Can you hear different sound effects clearly? Is there enough dynamic difference? How does the soundbar deal with sounds across the frequency range?

The Bose Smart Soundbar has amazing sound separation. When I was watching 'Top Gun: Maverick', I could hear all elements of the scene, from the diegetic rope-whooshing and metal-clinking to the non-diegetic 'Danger Zone'.

I could also hear every element in 'Alien: Romulus', but some of the dialogue was a little muffled without the AI dialogue mode switched on. I use the Bose Smart Soundbar every day at home, and it just sounds awesome. It elevates everything I watch, whether that's brainrot YouTube videos or Bong Joon Ho movies.

The Polk Audio Signa S4 excels in different ways. The bass in 'Danger Zone' sounded fantastically groovy, and the roaring of Maverick's jet in 'Top Gun' was earth-shaking.

No, the diegetic sound effects weren't as pronounced as on the Bose Smart Soundbar, but this is a worthy sacrifice if you are a bass lover. I wish the audio separation on the Signa S4 was better, but for a $449 soundbar + subwoofer combo, the performance is really impressive.

The winner of the sound quality section is a hard one. The Signa S4 is better for bass, purely because it has a subwoofer, but the Bose Smart Soundbar is better for dialogue and sound separation.

Oof, I'm going to pick the Polk Audio Signa S4 due to its subwoofer, but if you primarily want a dialogue or music soundbar, then the Bose Smart Soundbar would be your winner.

Bose Smart Soundbar vs Polk Audio Signa S4: Verdict

I'm surprised writing this, but the overall winner is the Polk Audio Signa S4. At just $449, it's $100 cheaper than the Bose Smart Soundbar — and you get a subwoofer out of it, too.

That's not to say the Signa S4 is for everyone. I personally use my Bose Smart Soundbar at home. Yep, I said the Signa S4 is better overall, but I use the Bose Smart Soundbar. Why is that? The Polk Audio Signa S4 is simply too big. My living room and TV stand don't have enough space to house a 47-inch soundbar, which is why both soundbars won in the 'Design' section. If, like me, your home is on the smaller side, you might be better suited to the Bose Smart Soundbar.

However, if you've got a larger home with a decently big TV, the Polk Audio Signa S4 will surprise you as much as it did me. The sound is rich, room-filling, and immersive, and the wireless subwoofer is remarkably loud. I have no doubts that the Polk Audio Signa S4 will treat you well.

More from Tom's Guide

• This has just become my new favorite speaker — and it's a game changer for home audio enthusiasts
• My favorite earbuds for movie nights are the AirPods — here's why
• I toured Apple's secret audio lab to see how it built and perfected the AirPods Pro 3

While all eyes are on Apple ahead of next week's big iPhone 17 event, Bose quietly unveiled its second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones. In addition to offering better noise canceling, Bose's new flagship ANC wireless headphones come with a few upgrades aimed at improving everyday use that should keep it competitive with Sony's WH-1000XM6 and Apple's rumored AirPods Max 2.

The second-gen QuietComfort Ultra headphones go on sale October 2 for $449. While that's the same price as the current model, when the QualityComfort Ultra headphones originally arrived on the scene in 2023, they cost $379. Due to Trump's tariffs, the cost crept up to $399 and then $449, and it seems its successor will inherit that elevated price tag. Bose's debut follows in the footsteps of the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which the company rolled out earlier this month.

New features

The original Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones already reign supreme as the best noise-canceling headphones money can buy, but the company promises a "suite of meaningful enhancements" across the board with its successor. Design-wise, they look the same as the original, though they now come in two new color options, driftwood sand and midnight violet, along with the standard black and white.

Under the hood, Bose said these cans boast improved noise cancellation "with a new algorithm for more precise adaptive noise cancellation and natural sound." One of the most notable upgrades is USB-C audio support. While the first-gen headphones relied on Bluetooth or a 2.5mm aux cable for wired listening, these can now play lossless audio at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz when connected to a laptop, phone, or gaming desktop.

Other updates include more reliable on-head detection and the ability to disconnect from Bluetooth "in seconds" once you lay your headphones on a flat surface. Bose has also extended the battery life from 24 hours to 30 hours with noise cancellation enabled or a maximum of 45 hours without it.

Finally, a new Cinema Mode seems particularly useful for watching TV and movies or listening to podcasts and audiobooks. This feature expands the soundstage while keeping dialogue crystal clear, a marked improvement on the original Ultra's immersive audio setting, which was mainly geared toward music.

Whether these improvements will be enough for the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones to beat out its competitors remains to be seen. They seem to be more iterative than must-haves, so first-gen owners may not feel compelled to upgrade unless features like lossless audio or the new Cinema Mode are deal-breakers.

More from Tom's Guide

• I've used the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for 6 months — here's what I like and don't like
• Bose’s updated QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds iron out most of the first-gen's pain points, but they do look awfully familiar
• Your AirPods are getting a bunch of new features in iOS 26 — here's what's coming

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have long topped our list of the best noise-canceling headphones. Not one to rest on its laurels, Bose has just announced an upgraded version, creatively called the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2. And they're available to preorder right now.

They pack a whole bunch of upgrades and new features into a recognizable design. You'll be able to buy them in some lovely new colors, and Bose says the noise canceling is even better than the first model. Ambitious, given how good the first gen were at keeping out unwanted sounds.

So what's new with the update to one of the best headphones around?

A vastly improved specs list

One of my biggest complaints with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones was their battery life. The old model only features 24 hours of staying power — not enough when compared to the competition. Now, the Gen 2 will last for 30 hours. That's the same as the latest Sony cans, the WH-1000XM6, and more than the AirPods Max. You can also finally turn ANC off, a first for the Ultra line, and extend the battery to a remarkable 45 hours. That's more ANC off time than the Sonys — very nice, Bose.

There are the requisite updates to the ANC, which Bose has improved with some help from 10 mics and an updated version of its "ActiveSense" ANC engine. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 blocked out even more noise than their predecessor with similar updates.

There's Bose's new Cinema Mode, which looks to make movies more immersive when you're wearing the headphones. The idea is to make dialogue nice and crisp while enhancing the soundstage.

You'll also be able to plug the headphones in over USB-C for hi-res lossless audio playback. Finally, the headphones will adjust their sound according to the shape of your inner ear to ensure they sound their best.

A recognizable design

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone 17 event countdown live — last-minute rumors, specs, release date, prices and more
• iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Everything we know so far
• I tried the '3-word rule' with ChatGPT-5 and I got way better responses — 7 prompts to try now

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. If you own the first-generation version of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and they’re working just fine, there is no reason at all to upgrade to the Gen 2. The upgrades aren’t worth the extra, and you won’t make any gains when it comes to sound. They’re slightly more comfortable and the ANC is a little better, but the gains aren’t enough to warrant a purchase.

Now that everyone who’s already got a pair is out of the way, I can confirm that the upgrades to the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in their Gen 2 form cement Bose at the top of our best noise-canceling earbuds list. Bose has packed some very tasty upgrades into the buds, including wireless charging and extra improvements to ANC and call quality.

Not that you’d know from the outside. There are very few (if any) real upgrades to the buds in their design, apart from some minor changes to the fitting wings and silicon eartips. As a result, it’s almost impossible to tell the new from the old. But, as we’ll soon find out, beauty is more than skin-deep.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2: Specs

Price $299/ £299/ AU$450
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3
ANC Yes
Battery 6 hours (buds) 24 hours (Case)
Weight 2.1oz
Dimensions 2.5 x 2.3 x 1.0 inches
Colors White Smoke/Black/Deep Plum
Compatibility iOS, Android
Frequency response 10Hz - 22kHz

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? An update to the best ANC buds around
• Who is it for? If you want the best in-ear noise canceling, you’ve just found it
• What does it cost? $299/ £299/ AU$450
• What do we like? Excellent ANC, clear call quality, solid sound, comfortable fit
• What don’t we like? Some extra battery wouldn’t have gone amiss, and the design remains identical to the previous version

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Price and availability

Bose’s earbuds have never been cheap, and the second generation of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are no different. Thankfully, though, they’re not more expensive than the first gen. They cost $299, which is the same as their older siblings. With other brands upping the prices of their products, it's nice to see Bose sticking to the same price. Even if that price is more expensive than some of their key competitors.

The AirPods Pro 2, while old, are $50 cheaper at $249 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 have been seen as low as $210 in sales events. The Bose are the most expensive of the bunch as a result, but you do get that game-changing ANC.

That’s not to say they’re the most expensive buds you can buy. The Bowers and Wilkins Pi8 cost $100 more when full price. The scale has shifted slightly when it comes to ANC buds, so the QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 don’t seem as expensive as they once were. Still, they’re more expensive than the best cheap wireless earbuds — if you’re looking to save some money, that’s the best place to look.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Build and design

• Improved comfort
• Same old aging design
• Wireless charging!

Looking at the buds straight out of the box without a glance at the specs sheet, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve been shortchanged with a pair of the old buds. Look a bit closer and you’ll notice the improved fitting wings and silicon eartips, but this is still a design that has served the QuietComfort Earbuds line for some time.

The same large touch panel that dominates the outer edge of the buds, the funky-looking stem thing that screams “look at me, I’m NOT a pair of AirPods.” The case, while well-shaped for slipping into a pocket, still feels slightly cheap. It’s a bit like deja vu, only I really have seen this design before. Several times.

Given the numerous visual updates we’ve seen from the buds' over-ear counterparts, it’s a shame that Bose didn’t change the design of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2. Thankfully, it seems like the investment has gone on the inside — so it’s not a total loss.

The biggest external upgrade, the new fitting wings and redesigned tips, are excellent. Finding the perfect fit is simple, and it’s well worth trying some different options to find one that works for you. It took me a couple of tries, but the app's “fit checker” helped a great deal. Once you’ve found your fit, you’re in for a comfortable experience. That’s saying a lot, given how comfy the old pair were.

There’s one upgrade I’ll touch more on later that’s not immediately noticeable from the outside. Place the case on a wireless charging coil, and the battery will start to fill up. Wireless charging was a glaring omission from the last pair, so it’s good that it’s here this time around. No matter how late it might be.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Features

• Same “Immersive Audio” as before
• Useful, if restrictive, EQ
• Helpful, accessible app

The first-generation buds were loaded with some great features, and these successors are no different. There are some tasty extras this time around, and they’re all accessible from the app that Bose users know and love. It’s one of the easiest apps to navigate compared to the likes of Sony’s app, and more attractive too.

None of the settings and features are hidden behind cryptic menus and pages. It’s all laid out very simply. The front page is filled with the main features — ANC modes, EQ, Source, Immersive Audio and Shortcut. They’re all large buttons, sitting below a battery readout and volume control. If you want more granular control, there’s a settings button in the top left, where you update the software and use the fit checker, amongst other things.

I’ll touch more on the Immersive Audio feature in sound quality, but I can go into more detail about some of my other favorite features. I like the EQ, although it would be nicer if there were more adjustment bands. As it stands, there are only 3 — a whole 7 fewer than you’ll find with Sony’s buds. Still, it’s nice to be able to adjust the sound of my earbuds, and it gives me the opportunity to customize things.

Once the highs have been dialled in with the EQ, we can play with the modes. Those are like presets that change the ANC level and immersive sound all in one. You can add your own modes beyond the four presets, which is useful. I tend not to play with them all that much — I’m a set-up and leave it kinda gal — but the options are nice to have if you like more customization.

New for the Gen 2 is the Cinema preset. As you might have guessed, it’s a surround sound mode for movies, giving a more spacious sound and clearer dialogue. It’s good — although I’m still not entirely convinced about using buds for watching big movies. For movies on the go when you’ve not got enough space for over-ears, it’s a winner, though.

Source is how you set up the multi-point connection, and it works well. I was able to switch over from MacBook Pro to Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold with no problem at all. Hitchless.

Finally, Shortcut lets you change the function of a long press on the left and right touch surfaces. You can choose from a range of options, like ANC mode and even a one-touch Spotify function. It’s a nice bonus to have, but I never found myself reaching for it. Your mileage will almost certainly vary, of course, and it does work well.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: ANC

• Better than ever
• Ridiculously impressive noise reduction
• Natural transparency

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 1 are our pick for the best noise-canceling earbuds. The Gen 2 are better. And not just incrementally either — there is a tangible improvement in their noise canceling that I’ve discovered over the last month or so of testing. The previous model is something I can’t leave the house without. The new one has just dethroned them and then beheaded the jester. They’re so good.

Bose has leveraged the aid of AI — of the learning algorithm kind — this time around. The ANC is noticeably better at blocking out the sound of bus engines and other noises that the world might throw at you. The screaming brakes of a metro or underground train, the clicking clacking of your neighbour's irritating mechanical keyboard. The clicking and clacking of my mechanical keyboard.

Even better is the high-range blocking. Voices and crying children and babies on public transport melt away like memories long forgotten. Noisy workmen laughing at jokes as they drill into the pavement outside your house when you’re trying to work disappear. The only evidence of the delivery man with your parcel is that it’s sitting by your front door — there was no way you were going to hear the doorbell.

There are extra noise-canceling levels, but I never wanted to touch them. As always, I prefer to use the max setting at all times. It can be useful if you work in a busy environment that necessitates the ability to hear something; it’s good that they’re there.

Transparency mode is good as well, and sounds natural enough. It was perfect for grabbing a bite to eat at lunchtime without the need to yank my earbuds out of my ears, which is always handy.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Controls

• Touch controls
• They’re fine

As is becoming the norm with earbuds of any kind, the controls built into the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are of the touch persuasion. There’s a large touch panel on the outer edge of the buds, and it works well. I did find that they occasionally need a slightly more violent stab than some buds, but the results were always generally what I was looking for.

Press once to pause your tunes, swipe up and down to control the volume, and double-tap to skip a track. Hold the touch panel to activate your chosen shortcut. They’re responsive and work well, although I still don’t like them. I still find I skip tracks when I take them out of my ears, or pause ANC when I actually want to press play. For touch controls, they are good. I generally just pulled my phone out to change the volume or track, though. Because I’m old-fashioned.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Call quality

• Incredibly clear voice
• Call partner sounds great
• Best in class call quality

Call quality is, in a word, excellent. I gave it a suitable test by giving my sister a call, and I came through clearly, despite the noise of the road I was walking beside. The AI noise isolation is top of the tree, and made chatting over the buds a joy.

My sister came through well too, the only weakness being the speaker on her phone. All in all, the call quality of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 is excellent. They’re the best earbuds for call quality you can buy right now.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Sound quality

• Loads of bass
• Something lacking in the highs
• I still don’t like Immersive Audio

Traditionally, audio has been the main flaw in the QuietComfort line. They don’t sound bad by any stretch of the imagination, but they’ve always lagged behind the Sony alternatives. Sony’s buds are slightly more spacious and offer up a little more detail. It’s not much — both options still sound excellent — but the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds aren’t quite as impressive as the Sony buds.

Even with these Gen 2s, the sound isn’t quite as nailed down. It’s good, don’t get me wrong. The bass is thick and dynamic, but the detail and high-end retrieval simply isn’t as good as you’ll find in Sony’s buds. In a vacuum, though, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 are a great-sounding pair of earbuds that are going to please a great many ears.

I’ve found that having a play with the EQ makes them sound better than straight out of the box. It doesn’t take much for them to sound even better, just a quick adjustment. Crank the highs up to +2 and you’ve got some of that extra volume up top for your guitar solos, and cymbal edge. There’s still some detail left on the cutting room floor, but they sound more rounded now that the highs have been given some extra breathing room.

That means you can get listening to your favorite tunes. Hate’s A Ghost Of Lost Delight gave me ample space and ritualistic fury with which I could test the earbuds. The bass made sure that the low-end rumble of the sawblade-like bass guitars were edgy and terrifying. The distorted guitars brought their own brand of intimidation, and the growled vocals terrify and delight in equal measure. There’s some detail to drum parts missing, unfortunately, and the cymbals don’t have quite the impact you’d be looking for, but it’s otherwise excellent.

EDM lovers are in for a ball. Full Send from 1999 brings some low-end synth impact, packed full of dance floor attitude. The digital drum beat is gated well, and the buds don’t over-emphasize their less natural sound. The bass is enough to rattle the skull. To some, this is a boon, to others an irritation. I imagine for most EDM fans it’s the former. It certainly is for me.

Aphex Twin’s bizarre twisting and turning Windowlicker needs to bring with a certain degree of dynamism, as the strange vocal affectations pulsate and warble. The buds do an ample job, but it would be nice to have some more variance in the volume. Still, the bass notes and smooth synths are well represented, and the drum line is impactful and sharp. Again, there’s a little roll off in the top with the chirping hi-hats and some of the synth as it rises in tone, but not enough to put you off.

Podcast and spoken word listeners are going to do very well with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2. The dialog in audiobooks and podcasts is excellent, with a clear voice and good enunciation. Again, the best bit is the ANC here. While other buds struggle to block as much noise with the absence of music, these buds let you melt into your favorite story without any problem at all.

What I’m not such a fan of is the Immersive Audio Feature. I’ve spoken to many fans of this version of spatial audio, but I just can’t get behind it. While it’s certainly more impressive than some of the other in-house models from the likes of Marshall and Nothing, it still only serves to thin out your music in order to spread it around in an artificially inflated soundstage. For music, I just don’t think it works all that well at all.

For movie watching, however, things are looking a bit more impressive. The Immersive Audio Cinema mode does bring about some extra space to the mix, and does a solid job at placing voices in the middle of the mix. It doesn’t use traditional Dolby Atmos mixes, so it’s not perfect, but it’s a fun extra for when you want to watch some movies and TV on the go.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Battery life

• Only 6 hours from the buds
• 24 hours in the case
• There are better for battery life

The battery life of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds isn’t all that good, unfortunately. It’s about the same as the AirPods Pro 2, lasting for 6 hours. That’s less than the Sony WF-1000XM5’s 7.5 hours, which feels like a missed opportunity. Turn on Immersive audio and the battery life drops by 2 hours, leaving you with only 3 hours of battery life — that’s not worth it at all.

The case brings the battery up to 24 hours, giving you around 4 charges. That’s about par for the course, and slightly more impressive than the battery of the buds themselves.

In my testing, the battery life matched the claims that Bose prints on the side of the box, but it doesn’t exceed them. Despite a quick charge that gives you 2 hours of listening after a 20-minute charge, the battery life of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 ought to be better — especially considering it’s identical to the old model.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 review: Verdict

I must confess: I listen to music on my Bose soundbar. If you know anything about audio gear, I guarantee you read that sentence and winced. Then, you hear Bose and you think hi-fi, right? You think luxurious, premium brand, with cool tech and even cooler listening.

Well, most people do, but I know it's a stretch to generalize. Most audio aficionados I've met will disagree with the general populace's opinion that Bose is untouchable, and I'm kind of on the fence. Bose has made some awesome products — the discontinued SoundTrue headphones that were my first ever foray into the world of 'premium' audio gear — and, naturally, some flops. But I don't think the Bose soundbar I've got is a flop.

I've got one of the more affordable Bose soundbars: the Bose Smart Soundbar (2024). No, it's not the Sonos Arc Ultra or the Marshall Heston, but IMO the Bose soundbar's got a different use case. I only awarded a 3.5-rating in my review, because it's not as strong as other soundbars overall.

However, if you see it as a TV/gaming/music soundbar rather than a blockbuster movie soundbar, it definitely becomes at least a 4-star soundbar.

Even so, sometimes even high-end soundbars play music very poorly. Soundbars and music speakers are naturally tuned differently, as will produce sound in different ways. However, the Bose Smart Soundbar is my guilty pleasure, and I listen to music on it every single day...

So why is listening to music on a soundbar worth it?

Yes, I use my soundbar to listen to music.

Please don't come for me in the comments. Or, maybe, please do, and I can explain my reasonings to you. But for the sake of time, I'll also explain my reasonings here.

I have the Bose Smart Soundbar, which, if you hadn't guessed, is a soundbar stuffed with smart capabilities. It's got smart home integration (but I don't use smart speakers so can't attest to its adeptness), a mic, and, the best thing of all, AirPlay (or Google Cast, if you're an Android user).

AirPlay/Google Cast is the only reason I gravitate towards my Bose soundbar for everyday listening. It's so easy to play music directly from my iPhone 16 Pro via Spotify or Qobuz, our best streaming service for audiophiles.

Instead of having to turn on my Bluetooth speaker or connect my Edifier R1280T speakers to my laptop via aux, I just have to tap on my phone to play through my soundbar.

That's why I use my soundbar at home — it's so easy.

On top of being able to stream directly from my phone, my Smart Soundbar is always plugged in and ready to go. I never have to charge it. I never have to fiddle with Bluetooth settings to get it working. I can join my boyfriend's Spotify Jam and change the playlist without needing to connect to the speaker or ask him for the Jam QR code — very sneaky. (Of course you don't have to scan the Jam QR code every time — just when on different networks.)

So while the soundbar doesn't play music as perfectly as wired speakers or wired headphones, for everyday listening, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to pay. And, when you really think about it, when I'm cooking or cleaning, I'm not in the right headspace to listen to music deeply anyway.

I mostly use the Bose soundbar for music when I'm doing something else — aforementioned cooking or cleaning, or hanging out with friends — so I don't mind that the sound isn't as pristine as I'd usually expect. For serious listening sessions, I use other audio devices.

But I'm not a monster — of course there are exceptions

I know soundbars are generally quite poor at music playback. Trust me, I've tested enough of them — from $67 glorified TV speakers like the Majority Naga soundbar to $1,699 premium setups like the JBL Bar 1300X — to know that most of them have subpar music tuning. When you think about what a soundbar is actually supposed to do — make movies sound epic — that's not too surprising.

Music and movies invariably use different DSPs, different mixes, and different EQs to provide the user with a different type of sound. Movies have a lot of dialogue, so voices need to be audible without overpowering booming bass battle scenes. If you listen to music with the same tuning, it's going to sound weird and distorted.

Music generally needs more of a subtle and gentle tuning. When you think about it, the professional studio engineers, mixers, and producers have already done the hard work for you, right? So why would you need to fiddle with the sound?

When a new album releases, I don't listen to it for the first time on the Bose Smart Soundbar. Of course not. As I said above, I'm not a monster, am I?

I'll listen to new releases either on my AirPods Pro 2 or my Edifier R1280T — the speakers you see above. While I've only just got these speakers, I've already used them to death. The sound clarity is off-the-charts good. Instead of doing what some affordable brands are guilty of and bumping up the bass to hide a low quality center speaker, the Edifier R1280T have a really natural, balanced EQ that lets the whole frequency range shine.

So if one of my favorite artists releases a new record, I'll play it properly. Ideally on Qobuz (but not all my fave small bands are on Qobuz), but Spotify is my second best for serious listens.

I'm getting a turntable soon, so I'm beyond excited to dust off the collector's edition records I've had since 2012 and finally listen to them. Of course not on the Bose Smart Soundbar.

What could make me change my ways?

Well, the obvious answer is an AirPlay/Google Cast adapter for my wired bookshelf speakers.

And, thankfully, such things exist.

Ta-da!

More from Tom's Guide

• Huge REI Labor Day Sale Knocks up to 50% off Arc'teryx, Yeti and More — 19 Affordable Deals Worth Grabbing Now
• AirPods Max Not Popular Enough To Update, Claims Report — Here's Why Apple Is Wrong
• The World in 2035: A Sneak Peek at the Gadgets of Tomorrow

If there's one thing I've heard or seen the most when it comes to headphones that people want to buy, it's from people grumpy that their headphones lack certain features that are important for office use.

While ANC, comfort and sound quality are important to everyone, there are a couple of things that are useful when you use your headphones with a work computer.

Perhaps the Bluetooth connection on your work computer is locked down, and you need something you can plug into the 3.5mm connector on the tower. Maybe there's no way to charge your headphones, and you need something that can work without battery power when you're at work.

That's where the Bose QuietComfort Headphones come in, with their standout feature — a passive wired mode. Thanks to the cable that comes in the case, you can use them with your work computer, whether you've got battery power or not.

The use case

I was chatting to a computer-bound office-working friend the other day. They have locked down machines at work, so they can't connect their Bluetooth headphones for work calls, and neither can they listen to music on their phone, because phone use is prohibited. They're allowed to use Spotify through the browser, however.

So they asked me, "what headphones should I buy that I can use at work? I don't want any of those cheap little earbuds, and I'd like to be able to use them if the battery dies." I didn't need to think for very long at all before the QuietComfort Headphones came to mind.

I imagine that there are many other people in a similar situation to my locked-down office friend as well — so here's why you should buy Bose's mid-range headphones.

Work calls and locked down computers

Beyond their passive noise and wired connection, there are plenty of other reasons to pick up a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones. There's the excellent ANC, which keeps out the noise of your busy office like little else.

They might not have the same ANC as their more expensive co-star, the QuietComfort Ultra, but they block out loads of noise regardless. They'll keep that humming AC machine out of ear's reach, and the chattering gossipers next to the watercooler are completely gone.

Activate transparency mode for when you need to talk to a colleague, and then turn the ANC back on when you're done. Need to be available at all times? Just use the passive mode, and you won't need to worry that you're going to miss anything — or the battery dying.

Their call quality is amongst the best as well, so you'll be more than fine for all those big work calls you need to make with important people. The mic quality is good in both wired and wireless mode, so no need to worry if you can only use one.

They're comfortable, too, so you can wear them for a longer workday. I've found them super comfortable for long periods, especially while I was stacking them up against the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.

Their case is small, so space in your bag/briefcase/plastic bag isn't an issue when you're packing for work. They fold nice and small, and the case is one of the most compact around. It's boring to look at, no matter which color headphones you choose, which is a shame, but it's protective all the same.

One thing to bear in mind

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 reasons ‘Fantastic Four’ is better than ‘Superman’
• Students don't need a microwave anymore — just this compact air fryer that can be used in the smallest of spaces
• Tom's Guide Awards 2025: Our favorite TVs for design, size, picture quality and more

When I'm doing short hops around the country, I tend to stick with my trusty Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to keep the noise of the world at bay. Noise canceling is the name of the game, and there's little better than the best noise-canceling headphones for that.

When I go on longer trips, I want something extra to pass the time — and that means something that can give me the best movie sound possible. Whether that's on a lengthy ferry trip, a road trip that's going to last for hours and hours on end or a long-haul intercontinental flight, there's something extra that I want.

The Sonos Ace and their Dolby Atmos sound for movies on the go are my weapon of choice for getting through lengthier travel.

Getting my mobile movie fix

When a trip lasts longer than normal, I like to have a range of content to keep me entertained. I generally bring my iPad, so that I can do some light reading, but also to watch movies on a screen that's much bigger than my phone.

But no-one else wants to hear the sounds of the post-apocolyptia in Akira or the whining of Anakin Skywalker as the plot of Star Wars Episode II unfolds, just as no-one else wants to hear it when I crank Crowbar. Neither do I want to listen to my movies over the speakers built into my iPad. Clearly, something must be done to remedy the situation.

Enter the Sonos Ace from the top rope. They still block out the noise of the Greyhound bus/Boeing 787/Honda Prelude that I might be riding in, but they make sure that my movies sound their absolute best as I enter hour 11 of a long trip.

Dolby Atmos on the go

"Oh, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have that Immersive Audio feature, why not use that?" For one, it's because the feature is designed for music rather than movies.

It takes the track you're listening to and uses some clever audio algorithms to stretch out the frequencies and make your music sound 'bigger' and more spacious. I'm still not entirely convinced about its musical abilities, even then, let alone if I were to use it to watch my favorite movies.

Any surround mix, be that an older PCM mix or a new Dolby Atmos one, has specific places that sounds should be coming from. The mix of the film tells your audio system where to place those sounds, whether you're using one of the best soundbars, best home cinema receivers, or, in this case, the best headphones.

That means things need to be more exact when you're watching movies or you'll find dialogue coming from somewhere that's less than ideal, or a car chase that jumps from ear to ear.

That's why you need headphones like the Sonos Ace, or even Apple's Spatial Audio-equipped AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 or AirPods Max.

They're built from the ground up to be good for Dolby Atmos and surround mixes, giving you spatial audio from specially mixed Atmos music tracks on the likes of Apple Music, but also when you watch movies on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

They're solid headphones

More from Tom's Guide

• Forget the AirPods Pro 2, these are the best audiophile earbuds under $200\
• I've watched most of Netflix's top-streamed shows in 2025 — here are 3 to watch and 2 you should skip
• I upgraded to Alexa+ for my busy family — here’s what it did surprisingly well

I love the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. They're by far the best noise canceling earbuds you can buy, with by far the best ANC. They're comfortable and packed with features — I never leave them home when I go on any kind of trip. I don't think I could live without the peace and quiet I enjoy with my QC Ultra Earbuds.

So you can imagine just how excited I was when Bose announced it was launching a new version of the buds, with improvements across the board to make them even better. Well, I've now got them in my hands (ears), and I'm here to tell you all my discoveries in the 24-hour period that I've been testing.

What I like: Wireless charging

One of the only things really lacking from the charging case before was wireless charging. Unlike the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Pro 2, you couldn't drop the first gen onto a wireless charging pad to juice them up. That was (emphasis on was) a shame.

It was a shame because that's no longer an issue — the generation 2 version can now be charged up with a wireless charger. It's good! It's great! And crucially, it works. Place it on a pad, and it'll charge up. Nice. It does lead me to something I wish was better though...

What I don't like: No battery improvements

It's no secret that the battery life of the QuietComfort line of products isn't the best. It's likely because the always-on ANC and transparency modes suckle at the battery like a thirsty newborn, and it's left Bose headphones and earbuds with less battery than the competition.

Just like the first generation, the earbuds will only last 6 hours. That's only just enough and pales in comparison to the 8 hours you get on most of the competition. Some kind of battery improvement would have been nice, but alas, no such luck.

What I like: The ANC

I knew that the ANC was still going to be excellent. No doubt in mind. Bose has never let me down, and it's unlikely to start now. There's the same great ANC on board the gen 2 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, although there are now some subtle improvements.

They still play their signature orchestral swell to listen to the inside of your ear and adjust ANC accordingly, but I've found it's worked slightly better with the new version. Transparency mode has seen some improvements, too, with some AI implementation.

My dad sounded clearer in "aware mode" in the new buds than he did in the old model, and the sound of the outside world didn't feel quite as synthetic. Nice.

What I don't like: Iterative physical update

I quite like the way that the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 look. They're a chunkier bud than the likes of the WF-1000XM5, but that's not something that bothers me too much. What does bother me is that they look almost entirely identical to the old model.

The only thing that keeps them differentiated is the color. For the most eagle-eyed, there are now grilles inside the eartips to stop dirt and grime getting into the audio bits inside, but that's not noticeable when they're in your ears.

To be clear, the new white smoke color I've got here is nice. But I would have liked to see some more visual updates.

What I like: Improved call quality

The original QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds were already pretty good for calling people. Voices are crisp and noise isolation is used to make sure there isn't anything getting in the way of hearing your call partner.

The call quality in gen 2 has stepped up from what I can tell. There's apparently a new AI-powered noise suppression system, which makes sure that you're easier to hear on the other end of the call. I'll be doing more testing in the next few months, but things are looking pretty good at the moment.

An iterative update

Usually, I'd have more to say, even after only 24 hours with the buds — but this time around I simply don't. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2 are very, very similar pair to the gen 1 buds. They sound the same, and offer the same feature set, too.

My verdict at the moment — if you're buying a pair of the QC Ultra buds now, don't. Wait for the Gen 2 to arrive and you'll get the benefits of the few updated features. If you're thinking of upgrading, perhaps hang about and wait for our tech reviewers to finalize our testing. Because at the moment, this feels like a limited update.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just tested these stunning earbuds — and they beat Bose and Sony on design and sound
• Best early Prime Day and 4th of July sales LIVE — 39+ deals I'd shop now on TVs, apparel, grills and more
• Samsung’s Galaxy G fold feels more like a proof of concept than an actual phone — here’s why

Researchers have discovered a security flaw in Bluetooth headphones and earbuds from Sony, JBL and more, allowing attackers to hijack audio devices, eavesdrop and steal phone numbers and contact information.

Cybersecurity firm ERNW identified vulnerabilities in audio products using a Bluetooth System on a Chip (SoC) from manufacturer and supplier Airoha, allowing threat actors to manipulate devices without needing to pair with them.

This SoC is used among many popular brands, with affected devices confirmed to include the Sony WH-1000XM6, Link Buds S, Jabra Elite 8 Active, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and more.

As noted in the report, the vulnerabilities allow cybercriminals to hijack headphones over Bluetooth, with BLE GATT services and BD/EDR (a.k.a. Bluetooth Classic) missing authentication and leaving these devices open to be taken over without any need for pairing or authentication.

"The vulnerabilities can be triggered via Bluetooth BR/EDR or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Being in Bluetooth range is the only precondition," ERNW reports. "It is possible to read and write the device’s RAM and flash. These capabilities also allow attackers to hijack established trust relationships with other devices, such as the phone paired to the headphones."

The security flaws can lead to threat actors knowing what is currently playing on devices via RAM reading commands, eavesdropping on conversations when the Bluetooth Classic vulnerability is exploited and being able to see a connected device's phone number and incoming calls.

It's important to note that these vulnerabilities can only be exploited if an attacker is within Bluetooth range of a device (around 10 meters), and requires several steps to achieve hijacking without being noticed — with ERNW noting that it would take a "high technical skill set."

So, while it's possible for cybercriminals to take advantage of these flaws in headphones or earbuds using Airoha Bluetooth SoCs (especially if they're wireless), they would need to be in close range.

What devices are affected?

While many audio products, including headphones, earbuds, speakers and wireless microphones, are known to use Airoha's Bluetooth chip, the cybersecurity firm has confirmed a list of devices that are affected.

Here's a look at the devices that are exposed to the vulnerability:

• Beyerdynamic Amiron 300
• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
• EarisMax Bluetooth Auracast Sender
• Jabra Elite 8 Active
• JBL Endurance Race 2
• JBL Live Buds 3
• Jlab Epic Air Sport ANC
• Marshall Action III
• Marshall Major V
• Marshall Minor IV
• Marshall Motif II
• Marshall Stanmore III
• Marshall Woburn III
• MoerLabs EchoBeatz
• Sony CH-720N
• Sony Link Buds S
• Sony ULT Wear
• Sony WF-1000XM3
• Sony WF-1000XM4
• Sony WF-1000XM5
• Sony WF-C500
• Sony WF-C510-GFP
• Sony WH-1000XM4
• Sony WH-1000XM5
• Sony WH-1000XM6
• Sony WH-CH520
• Sony WH-XB910N
• Sony WI-C100
• Teufel Tatws2

However, it's expected that many more audio devices with the SoC are also exposed to the security flaw, but it's virtually impossible to test them all with the amount out there. ERNW states that "some vendors are not even aware that they are using an Airoha SoC," due to parts like the Bluetooth chip being outsourced for development.

Since these headphones, earbuds and more are from popular brands, including the latest Sony WH-1000XM6, it's likely that many people are at risk of the vulnerability.

How to stay safe

While many of the best headphones and best wireless earbuds are affected, an attack that exploits these security flaws would only take place if a cybercriminal is in range. So, as with any Bluetooth attack, it's a good idea to be cautious when in public spaces, such as public transport, cafés and more.

The only real way to stay safe from these types of attacks is to disable Bluetooth, which isn't ideal for wireless headphones and earbuds. Of course, it's also best to use wired options that don't require Bluetooth, such as the Sennheiser IE 200 wired earbuds.

As this leaves many audio products open to attack, Airoha has now fixed the vulnerabilities in a Software Development Kit (SDK). A new version with the fixes has been sent to manufacturers as of the first week of June, meaning brands such as Sony, JBL, Marshall and others should have a firmware update available with the fixes so users can update their devices with the latest patch.

Currently, ERNW isn't aware of any fixed firmware releases, but as soon as one is available, users with affected devices should update their headphones, earbuds and more to make sure they aren't at risk.

To keep yourself safe from any online threats that these security vulnerabilities may exploit, it's best to use the best antivirus software and best password managers, too.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Sonos Ace have one of my favorite wireless features — and it's not the ANC
• Over 40,000 security camera feeds found exposed online – here’s how to protect yours
• These 5 macOS settings are a security risk and you should turn them off now

Headphones — you can barely leave the house without them anymore. I'm no different. I always have a pair of earbuds and headphones nestled in my backpack, each focused on a different use case.

I also get asked a lot which headphones people should be thinking of buying when they go to grab some a new pair of over-ears or a set of earbuds.

So, to give you a better idea of what an Audio Editor would recommend overall, here are my top two picks.

The headphones: Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3

I've been lucky enough to try out headphones that cost thousands of dollars, with feature lists that could span the Atlantic and exotic materials that would make a Saudi Prince blush. And yet, it's the "save up for a few months and pick these up" Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 that are the headphones that I use the most, and recommend to the most people.

They're not a pair of cans that have been around for all that long, but they've more than cemented themselves into my daily use case. It's mostly down to their incredible sound.

They're a very rich-sounding pair of headphones, with a warmer sound signature. But, unlike other headphones that cost a similar amount, they don't forget that you also want to hear all the detail in your music.

As a result, they've got a bass-weighted (but otherwise fairly neutral) sound that works well for pretty much any genre that you might want to throw at them.

ANC might not be quite as good as that which you'll find on the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but I've found it's more than adequate for blocking out noisy trains and bus journeys. Transparency mode is useful too, especially when I had to go and buy my train ticket before heading on a trip to The City.

Interestingly, it's the comfort that really helps them hit home. They've got well-judged, padding on the earcups and the headband, and the clamping force that keeps them in place without becoming too tight.

They're not the cheapest pair of headphones at $449, but they present such a great package that I think they're a better option than similarly priced competitors. I recommend them to everyone who's looking for a pair of excellent travel cans.

The earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

There are plenty of earbuds that I use on a day-to-day basis. The Noble Amadeus and Noble Rex5, along with Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 buds. But it's the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds that have solidified themselves a place in my pocket whenever I leave the house.

Do they sound the very best? No, that honor goes to the other pairs that I've mentioned above. Do they have the most features? No, that'll be the Sony WF-1000XM5. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra find themselves in my pocket at the top of my recommendations thanks to their unbelievable ANC. It's truly like magic.

I put them in my ears, they connect immediately, and the noise canceling kicks in to completely block out the noise of my environment. I've had some of the most comfortable rides on public transport thanks to the QuietComfort Ultra and their excellent cocoon of sound.

There's more to it than just the ANC, of course. The sound is good once you've dialled it with the EQ settings, and they're incredibly comfortable for long periods of time, thanks to their silicone fitting wings.

The Immersive audio feature and the battery life could be better, but it doesn't stop them from being my most-used pair of buds. Whenever people ask me which they should buy, I almost always recommend that they pick them up.

It's all about what you value most

My choices and recommendations are based on my own experiences, but also on what I value most in my headphones or earbuds. When I use over-ear headphones, I'm looking for standout sound quality, and all-day comfort, for example.

Other people value different things when it comes to their headphones and earbuds, and so it's important to tailor recommendations based on their expectations.

If you'd like more tailored recommendations so as to more realistically fit your needs and wants, make sure you check out our detailed buying guides — they're all based on our extensive testing.

More from Tom's Guide

• iOS 26 has brought yet another Photos app overhaul for your iPhone — here's how it's different
• I’ve set up hundreds of TVs in my career — here are 6 mistakes people make when setting up a new TV
• Pest experts warn you should never squash ants in your home — here’s why

Your Amazon parcel has arrived — it’s your brand new pair of Bose headphones! Congratulations, you're now the proud owner of some of the best wireless headphones available today.

That could be a pair of the QuietComfort Ultra headphones or earbuds, some QuietComfort headphones, or even some QuietComfort Earbuds. Either way, there are some settings in the Bose app that you’re going to want to adjust to make sure that you get the best experience possible.

From some slight sound changes to making sure that your controls are all in order, here are the settings that you need to change to get the best performance possible out of your Bose headphones and earbuds.

Before you go any further, make sure that you’ve got the Bose app installed on your device. Without it, you’ll be using the headphones as they come out of the box with no customizations at all!

Adjust the EQ

First off, Bose has a habit of over-egging the low end in its over-ear headphones. Both the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the QuietComfort Headphones have bass-heavy sound profiles that have a habit of drowning out the highs. To compensate, we can use the EQ settings in the Bose app to further enhance the sound quality.

Find the “EQ” menu in the Bose app, and from there, we can dial in the perfect sound for your lovely new ANC headphones.

Here you’ll find the 3-band EQ that you can manipulate. To deal with the all-encompassing bass, we’re going to crank it down a couple of notches. -2 will do. If you prefer a bassier sound, bring it down to -1.

We’re going to leave the mids as they are, but we want to dial in some more high-range frequencies to make sure you can hear more detail in your music. My preference is +3, although some might prefer +2 if the sound becomes a little too piercing.

With those settings adjusted in the Bose over-ears, you’re going to get a more well-rounded sound signature with less pervasive bass and more detailed highs.

For in-ears, things are more refined already. There’s still lots of bass, but you don’t need to adjust it anywhere near as much as with the over-ear options. Here, the bass can remain the same, but for some more vocal body, we want to bring the mids up a notch. Then, for some more detail and high-range response, we can raise the treble by +2 to make those cymbals and highs sing.

And there we go! Bose headphones and earbuds dialled in for sound.

Check the ANC settings

Out of the box, your Bose earbuds and headphones are going to feature some epic noise canceling. After all, Bose makes the best noise-canceling earbuds and the best noise-canceling headphones at the moment — it might even be why you bought them. However, did you know that there are certain settings in the Bose app that you should check to ensure everything is functioning properly?

Hop into the “Modes” tab of the Bose app to find the noise-canceling and transparency settings. Here you’ll find the standard noise-canceling modes, with Quiet, Aware, and Immersion. The latter features immersive sound with noise cancellation, in case you were wondering.

You’ll also notice a little ‘plus’ button at the bottom of the list — this is what we’re looking at. Tap that, and you can create a new noise-canceling mode for a different use case, like working out, working, or any other activity you can think of. Choose one of the options, and from there you can set the noise canceling level depending on where you’ll be (less noise canceling, more battery), and whether you want the Immersive sound mode to turn on.

If the three main modes aren’t quite enough customization for you, this is one setting you have to change.

Customize the controls

On the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, there are two controls that cannot be changed — the power/Bluetooth button and the multi-function playback button. You can, however, change the function of what Bose calls the “shortcut”. If you tap and hold the touch-sensitive volume slider, the headphones will tell you how much battery you’ve got left, and you can change what the gesture does.

In the “shortcut” menu in the Bose app, you can change the function of the touch gesture between volume level, Spotify tap, and more. Choose the best option for you, and you’re good to go.

There are also touch shortcuts on Bose’s earbuds, and you can change what they do depending on the left and right earbuds. You could set the left to change between your noise canceling modes, and then the right to change between your connected devices.

The shortcut settings are a valuable way to customize your headphones and earbuds, making them easier to use in the long run.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just tested the Marshall Kilburn III — and it's one of the best Bluetooth speakers ever
• iOS 26 has brought yet another Photos app overhaul for your iPhone — here's how it's different
• I’ve set up hundreds of TVs in my career — here are 6 mistakes people make when setting up a new TV

Some of the best earbuds are sleek and inconspicuous. The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds — made in collaboration with high-fidelity brand Bose — are not one of them. The Method 360 ANC earbuds are slap-you-in-the-face nostalgia, complete with a carrying case destined for low-slung skater pants.

Besides being a blast from the past, the Method 360 ANC earbuds really benefit from this Bose sound. The bass is pumping, loud enough to be destined for the sticky dancefloors of yore. Don’t think the bass overpowers detail, though — not at all. With a little EQ tweak, these earbuds can provide both electric bass and sharp detail.

While they have a few connectivity annoyances, for just $129, these earbuds are most definitely underpriced. I’d get them now before Skullcandy realises and bumps up the cost. I’ll discuss everything in extensive detail in this Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A pair of earbuds that please my late-2000s emo heart
• Who is it for? If, like me, you hit your teens in the 2010s and crave some childhood nostalgia, or just want Bose sound for very cheap — both legit reasons, of course
• What does it cost? A very competitive $129 / £99
• What do we like? The sound, the vibe, the usability — I like it all
• What don’t we like? Jumping between devices is a little annoying

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Specs

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Price & availability

The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds are extremely cheap considering their sound quality: just $129 from Amazon U.S. and £99 from Amazon U.K..

This makes them some of the cheapest earbuds I’ve tested, but oh boy, they do not sound like it. They’re miles better than the $129 Soundcore Liberty 5 and not even in the same ballpark as the relatively impressive $99 EarFun Air Pro 4.

I was actually gobsmacked when I found out how affordable these earbuds are. As I wrote above, the sound quality performs like earbuds double the price, if you can overlook the semi-cheugy design. At $129, they’re the priciest earbuds on Skullcandy’s roster (the Sesh and Rail buds are $69), but still very cheap when compared to rivals.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Design & controls

• A very specific design for a very specific crowd
• Touch controls responsive and easy to learn
• Overly large charging case

Complete with a carabiner ring, these Skullcandy earbuds are destined to be clipped to low-slung skater pants. Their home is a belt loop inhabited by a chain belt and the waistband of boxers that’ve seen better days. If you’re wearing the Method 360 ANC earbuds and not listening to Limp Bizkit, what are you doing?

As someone who grew up on Fred Durst & crew, coloring my entire eyelid with a crumbly black pencil, and spending my allowance on spiky jelly earrings and fingerless gloves, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds remind me of that simpler time. I think for me, the design of these buds is incredibly nostalgic and comforting, but for others, the design could be a major con.

On the side of each bud is a cute little skull (Skullcandy’s logo, of course), which matches the logo on the charging case itself. The earbuds are a little big, so if you have super small ears, I’d recommend something dinkier like the AirPods 4. My ears err on the side of small and they were a little snug, but not uncomfortable. I switched out the ear tips for the smallest size, which helped with the snugness.

Now, the charging case. Probably the Method 360 ANC’s most… unique feature. Some people might love this case, and others might hate it. I’m somewhere in the middle. I am prone to losing things — I sewed a pouch on the inside of my bag to prevent misplacing my AirPods — so for other absentminded folk, this overly large case could be a breath of fresh air.

For others, however, it’s bulky and counterintuitive. Our Audio Editor, Tammy, was not a fan of the bulk. The case is a pretty massive 3.5 inches long, which is easy to find in a bag, but also not possible to fit in a pocket. Unless you’ve got super baggy skater pants, of course.

While controls have been an issue with other budget earbuds I’ve tried in the past, I had no headaches with the Method 360 ANC. I was able to customize my controls completely in the Skull-IQ app, including adding a volume control.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Features & connectivity

• 5-band EQ customization in the app
• ANC, Stay aware (hear through), and ambient
• Some connectivity issues when switching between devices after dormant periods

Although most of the Method 360 ANC’s features are excellent, I’m going to discuss my one issue first. As with other non-native gear, I found the earbuds a little annoying to switch between devices, even after setting up multi-point connectivity.

When I removed the earbuds and did something else for a few minutes, once I put the earbuds back in, they didn’t connect to my laptop or phone. I had to return the buds to the charging case, and then reinsert them. This is a little annoying, I suppose, but I also assume you’re supposed to return the earbuds to the charging case after taking them out every time anyway.

Another minor annoyance is the lack of single-ear wear detection. Skullcandy claims that the Method 360 ANC have wear detection, and that’s only half accurate. Yes, if you take out one earbud, that earbud pauses. But the other one doesn’t. Only the removed earbud pauses, which is kind of pointless. My AirPods pause my music entirely when I remove one earbud.

While this isn’t unheard of for $129/£99 earbuds, I’d like to see this as a toggleable feature on future versions.

Now that’s out of the way, I’ll discuss everything I do like about the Skullcandy Method 360 ANCs. Firstly, these earbuds have IPX4, which means they’ll be able to withstand mild water like gentle rain or sweat. However, they’re not completely waterproof so don’t go dunking them in the sink.

Other cheaper earbuds have IPX5, like the EarFun Air 2 ($49) and EarFun Air 2 NC ($69), but this is really a negligible difference.

The ANC is very good; I couldn’t hear any street noise or ambient office sounds like typing and talking. There are ‘Stay aware on’, ‘Stay aware off’, and ‘ANC’. I wish Stay aware was a little more, well, aware. When I tried to have a conversation with this ANC mode, I couldn’t hear properly and had to remove the earbuds.

Finally, there’s a range of features in the app, like EQ customization Spotify Tap. Spotify Tap — hold down a touch control to launch Spotify and pick up where you last left off — is a great feature in a pinch, but I found myself gravitating towards manually selecting music myself. Also, of course, this won’t work with Tidal, Apple Music or the like.

There’s also a pretty bizarre feature: Take a Photo. This feature allows you to transform the earbuds into a remote control for your phone’s camera. I have no wish to do this so never made use of it, but I suppose it’s a good option to have… maybe.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Audio quality

• Very bassy out of the box
• No detail lost with custom EQ
• Incredibly impressive for a $129/£99 set of earbuds

As the Method 360 ANC earbuds are made in collaboration with Bose, I had high hopes about the music quality. And, thankfully, I was not disappointed at all.

To test the Method 360 ANC earbuds, I listened to a wide variety of music on Qobuz, our best streaming service for audiophiles.

Right off the bat, I could tell that these earbuds were very bassy. I fiddled with the EQ settings in the SkullcandyIQ app, and reduced the low end and increased the mids to counteract this. Of course, if you love bass, then this step is unnecessary, but I wanted to get the most detail out of my music as possible.

I listened to ‘Fallen Alien’ by FKA Twigs, which is an atmospheric, layered track with immersive percussion and almost cinematic synths. The choral sections were clear and seemed to surround my ears. I could hear every piece of audio detail, from the inflections in the lead vocal to the discordant bass and mids. The $129 earbuds did a fantastic job of both separating the instruments and detail, and also making the track sound harmonious.

Afterwards, I switched genre. I played ‘3AM (LA LA LA)’ by Confidence Man, a track with an all-consuming, heady ‘90s synth and pulsing bass. The bass was insistent and strong, although there was a little tinniness in the mids. To fix this, I adjusted the EQ ever so slightly. This made the kick drum crackle a touch, but really not bad considering these are $129 earbuds.

To give the earbuds a thorough test, I wanted to play something really gritty and gristly. I opted for ‘Endless, Nameless’ by Nirvana, because what else? The bass growled in my left ear and the lead guitar screeched in my right. Neither instrument clipped or warped, and I could feel the raw vocal in my eardrums.

I’m sure you already know, but ‘Bad Guy’ by Billie Eilish has a really intimate, breathy vocal, where Billie’s voice feels like it’s right next to you. None of this detail was lost on the Method 360 ANC earbuds, and I could hear all the layers of bass that are often lost on inferior earbuds.

Where the Method 360 ANC earbuds excel is, of course, bass, but that doesn’t mean they lack detail. I was never left longing for missed detail, and I could discern multiple layers of instruments in quite immersive tracks.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Call quality

• 2 mics in each earbud
• ‘Clear Voice Smart Mic’ for AI-enabled noise reduction
• Clear and crisp voice

To test the Method 360 ANC earbuds, I tested them out on a work call. The earbuds have 2 mics within each earbud, so 4 overall, and Skullcandy’s ‘Clear Voice Smart Mic’, which is described as an ‘AI-enabled’ feature that isolates voices.

My colleagues reported that I sounded crisp and clear, very similar to how I sound when I wear my usual AirPods Pro 2. I think for just $129/£99, this is an incredibly affordable way to get excellent call quality.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: App

• Skull-IQ app, not Skullcandy app
• Range of features including ANC and EQ
• Even has a camera remote

Unlike the Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones ($199), which use the Skullcandy app, the Method 360 ANC earbuds are compatible with the Skull-ID app. This app is very pleasant to use: it has an attractive UI and it’s easy to navigate. There’s an easily accessible range of features on the homepage, including firmware updates. Here’s a screenshot from the app.

The Skull-ID app is one of the better budget companion apps. It’s more modern than the JBL app, but not as unique as the Soundcore app.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Battery life

• Up to 11 hours in the buds
• Up to 40 hours with the case
• Listened for 5 hours with ANC, at 75%

With ANC off, the Method 360 ANC earbuds will play for 11 hours, and then an extra 29 with the case, so 40 hours overall. With ANC off, the battery life reduces to 9 hours in the buds and another 24 in the case, so 33 hours overall.

In reality, I found that the battery was a little better than this. After listening for 5 hours, the earbuds only dropped to 75% battery. This battery life is the same as the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($99). While the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds are supposed to have 8 hours in the buds, in reality this was more like 5 hours. As a result, the Method 360 ANC earbuds are more reliable than the Soundcore offering.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Verdict

Considering the Method 360 ANC earbuds are just $129, I think they’re absolutely fantastic. Obviously they’re not perfect — hence the 4-star rating — but they perform well above their price tag.

On top of having thrumming, powerful Bose bass, the earbuds are capable of translating precise audio detail, too. Softer, airy vocals and high-frequency sound effects were still audible, and only improved by my custom EQ. I think Skullcandy has absolutely nailed the sound quality here, and for just $129? It’s a steal.

If you can look past the slight connectivity issues and overly large charging case, then there’s no reason why the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds can’t be some of the best value wireless earbuds on the market today.

Sitting atop our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones in Australia, Bose's excellent QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are now available at a record low price thanks to the audio company's EOFY sale and an additional special offer.

In our 4.5-star Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review, we gushed about its outstanding ANC performance, stylish design, improved battery life and immersive audio experience, stating that the QC Ultra is "as close to perfect as you’re going to get in the noise-canceling headphones category."

Right now, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are priced at AU$649 AU$399.95 on Bose's online store. However, you can score an additional 10% off on orders over AU$200 when you head to our Bose Promo Codes page and click the 'get unique code' button located up top.

Then, simply apply that unique code at checkout on the Bose online store to bring the final discounted price down to AU$359.95 — an epic saving of AU$289.05 on the RRP!

Alternatively, you could use that unique 10% off code on any other item on the Bose online store that's priced over AU$200. Here are some other Bose products that you can combine with our unique code to score some massive savings:

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: AU$1,499.95 AU$892.75

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: AU$449.95 AU$269.95

Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth Speaker: AU$499.95 AU$359.95

We wouldn't wait around too long, though — Bose's EOFY sale ends after June 30, 2025 and these products are only available while stocks last.

More from Tom's Guide

• EOFY sales 2025: best deals from Australia's end of financial year sales

A few months ago, when my dad asked me to recommend him a pair of the best headphones, I didn't hesitate. "Bose QuietComforts," I said. "They're pricey, but they're worth it."

He placed an order that day, and now I look forward to visiting my parents not just to see them (although, that's the primary reason, of course), but also to use my dad's Bose QuietComfort headphones.

As outlined in our Bose QuietComfort headphones review, the cans are extremely impressive. On top of ANC so good that no other brand even comes close, the headphones sound excellent in every single genre. And now? You can save a massive $100 on Bose QuietComfort headphones.

Music to my ears

I've personally used the Bose QuietComfort headphones, and I can admit that $349 is expensive for what you get. However, with $100 off, these headphones are competitively priced.

Considering that most excellent Bluetooth headphones hover around $400 these days (what has the world come to?), $249 is about as low as you're going to get for Bose.

What makes Bose gear so good is its ANC. My colleague Nikita described Bose's ANC better than anyone else: it's so good you feel lonely.

Thankfully, when music sounds this good you can overlook the fact you're the only one listening. The QuietComfort headphones are bass-driven, with loud, groovy thumps across most genres. I'd recommend these headphones for serious bass lovers, or if you listen to genres like rock, hip-hop, or house. While I've never thought the QuietComfort headphones sound anything but fantastic, they genuinely excel with bassy tracks.

However, you can also adjust and create custom EQs with the Bose Music app, should you want a little less bass in your listening.

The Bose QuietComfort headphones come recommended for a reason, and at just $249, they're an absolute steal. I convinced my dad to buy these and he loves them, but now I wish I'd bought them for Father's Day instead!

More from Tom's Guide

• Best headphones
• Bose QuietComfort headphones review
• WWDC 2025 — 7 biggest announcements that will actually make your life easier

I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I can’t stop thinking about a pair of Motorola earbuds. The Moto Buds Loop, which I had the chance to try on as part of an early preview of the Motorola Razr 2025 family, could be just the kind of tech accessory that makes me take the company seriously when it comes to personal audio products.

And I mean "accessory" literally, because the buds look like literal accessories. The flagship version comes iced out in rows of Swarovski crystals. I repeat: Swarovski. On earbuds.

The Moto Buds Loop are open-ear style, which means when you’re wearing them, your ears stay open and aware to the world. The earring-like design reminded me instantly of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which are some of the best earbuds in the market as far as I’m concerned.

But the connection to Bose doesn’t end there. The Moto Buds Loop feature Sound by Bose, with 12mm drivers and spatial audio support. In a perfect world, this will result in the Moto Buds sounding as good as they look, but I didn’t have the opportunity to gauge the performance so I can’t say quite yet if they’re all talk.

And even if they are, I’m not sure I’d mind all that much. These fashion-first cuffs are comfortable, lightweight — the fact that they sparkle is just a bonus. I love how they looked with the rest of the earrings in my stack (most of which are from Pavoi, an affordable jewelry brand on Amazon in case you’re curious.)

If the crystals aren’t your thing, there’s a more subtle Trekking Green option. But let’s be honest: you probably didn’t click on this story because you like things that are subtle.

While the glam is definitely distracting, there are some interesting specs worth noting. The Moto Buds Loop offer 8 hours of battery life on a single charge, with 37 hours total using the charging case.

That seems ample enough to get through the day, plus the dual-mic setup with CrystalTalk AI, should help filter out background noise for clearer quality during phone calls. As someone who likes to yap on the phone while getting my steps in, this would be a deal-breaker for me if it doesn't deliver.

You can use the Moto Buds Loop as standalone earbuds, but Motorola is trying to establish an ecosystem experience for those with Motorola phones. Moto AI voice commands are available via the earbuds when you have a compatible phone like the new Motorola Razr Ultra.

As someone who often struggles to find tech that matches my outfits, I appreciate Motorola’s dedication to fashionable gadgetry. The Moto Buds Loop are making a very convincing case for wearable tech as actual style, so I’m very eager to be able to use them in the real world. Motorola is not yet sharing a price or release date, but hopefully we’ll know more soon.

More from Tom's Guide

• I ditched my AirPods for these budget open-ear earbuds
• The Bose 700 are still the best noise-cancelling headphones ever
• I review phones for a living, and this is the budget phone I recommend

The Bose 700 set many standards for wireless headphones, including active noise cancellation, call quality, design, and multifunctionality.

Even ordinary contributions like distinctive colorways (the Apple-exclusive Eclipse version is a thing of beauty) showed how ahead of their time these headphones were. Not much has changed.

I can see why most consumers may overlook this six-year-old product. The 700 headphones were discounted about 2 to 3 years ago, and if you find them brand new, expect to pay the full MSRP ($379).

That's not to mention current category leaders – the Sony WH-1000XM5 and sibling QuietComfort Ultra – provide more performance at a similar price.

However, there is no denying the 700’s grandeur and their impact on the audio market.

The fact that Bose pressured competitors into releasing multiple flagship alternatives throughout the 700’s retail run says it all. And none of those offerings rivaled the 700’s craftsmanship or noise cancellation.

I recently pulled out my 700 headphones from the closet and was soon reminded of their greatness. Below you will find my compelling arguments for why the Bose 700 are still the cream of the ANC crop.

A true noise-cancelling feat

Bose took the QuietComfort 35 II’s critically acclaimed ANC technology and enhanced it for the 700 headphones.

The combination of an adaptive eight-mic array (six are used for ANC) and smarter algorithms results in nearly 95% noise reduction. That’s on a par with the latest QC Ultra headphones.

Personalized noise cancellation was also introduced on these cans. There are 10 levels of adjustable ANC, along with the option to create and save three favorite noise-cancelling levels that you can cycle through when pressing the Noise Control button. All of this was captivating and unheard of at the time.

Every tech critic and reviewer agreed that the 700 headphones were exceptional for silencing unwanted sounds across the frequency spectrum.

These were their go-to travel headphones before COVID shut down the world and their work-from-home headphones during quarantine.

I’ve been re-testing the 700 over the past few weeks, and they’re still highly effective against common distractions (e.g., household appliances, talkative pedestrians) and high-pitched sounds (e.g., crying babies, sirens).

The same can’t be said about many of the best noise-cancelling headphones, and I’ve tested ALL of them. Bose’s transparency mode (set to level 4 or lower) opens the mics up wide to capture ambient noise loudly and clearly. It’s just as good as the QC Ultra’s Aware mode.

The first to master touch controls on over-ear headphones

Touch controls on headphones were considered an experimental feature around the time Bose launched these bad boys. Few models offered it. Only one perfected it. That would be the 700.

These headphones deliver remarkable touch accuracy with minimal input space. There’s a small sensor on the left side of the right earcup that enables call management, notifications, playback, and volume through swipes and taps. Each input method is responsive and executes functions instantly.

Meanwhile, high-end models like the WH-1000XM5 continue giving me a hard time when trying to skip tracks via swipe gesture.

A work of art

The 700 headphones are an aesthetic masterpiece, at least when it comes to portable audio products.

They aren’t built from groundbreaking materials, nor are they indestructible, but the level of detail and innovation they display hasn’t been seen since Beats’ debut headphones (naysayers may respectfully disagree).

Let’s start with the unibody frame. It’s modeled entirely from one piece of metal and doesn’t expose one screw or thread.

The headband features a track system that each earcup is installed on for seamless adjustment. Simple details like the curved arc below each earcup, laser-etched branding, and multiple microphone holes are striking as well.

All materials look and feel premium. The plush leather cushions on each earcup are soft and pleasant to accommodate multiple hours of use, while the padding on the headband is gentle on the skull.

The only legitimate complaint is that the headphones don’t collapse. I don’t think it’s a big deal since you’re going to want to keep them well-protected when not in use. Bose’s leather carrying case is just as attractive as the headphones and has a built-in pocket with magnetic closure to store all essential accessories.

Anyone who calls the 700’s design outdated is delusional, especially when it looks sleeker than most recent luxury headphone launches.

The greatest calling headset ever

I wasn’t using headphones for phone calls until the 700 came along. The crystal-clear voice capture they produce makes conversations more engaging. Bose’s ANC technology eliminates as much ambient noise on calls as it does during music listening sessions.

Wind resistance is also peak Bose level. I use the 700 to call friends from my balcony and the mics put a kibosh on harsh-sounding effects created in gusty conditions. Nothing, to me, beats the 700’s call quality.

An ever-lasting legacy

The Bose 700 are the greatest noise-cancellers ever created. What they did for the noise-cancelling category is what the AirPods did for true wireless audio – they revolutionized it.

They took their predecessor’s ANC performance and raised it up to 10 (literally). Bose’s intuitive mic array continues to demonstrate superior speech recognition for calls and voice assistance. And that design…flawless.

I’m not going to talk up every single component of the 700. Battery life is some of the lowest in the category (20 hours). Features aren’t abundant, but there are enough perks (e.g., Bluetooth multipoint, touch controls, voice activation) that keep the headphones feeling fresh.

It’s a shame that Bose discontinued the headphones when they outperform every model, except the flagship QC Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5.

That speaks to their longevity. Buying the 700 brand new might be out of the question, though you can purchase a refurbished pair for nearly a third of their retail price (currently $159 on Amazon).

More from Tom's Guide

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: These mid-range earbuds reign supreme
• I just tested these new headphones and I like them more than Bose QuietComfort Ultra — and they're $200 cheaper
• The best noise-canceling earbuds in 2025

The Bose Smart Soundbar — released in 2024 — has a lot to live up to. The Bose Smart Ultra soundbar (from 2023) impressed us with its balanced sound and Dolby Atmos, so how does its more affordable cousin perform? Could it be one of the best soundbars?

The Smart Soundbar has one feature never seen before in a Bose hi-fi setup: it can link directly with Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for a (reportedly) fully immersive experience. But, that’ll cost you an extra $300 for the buds themselves. It’s nice to have, but perhaps not realistic for those limiting their soundbar budget to $500 in the first place.

Despite my cynicism about the open earbuds feature, the Smart Soundbar makes up (to some extent) for that with its mostly pleasant, balanced sound. It lacks proper thumping bass — a lack of subwoofer will do that — but it’s still a punchy yet compact soundbar that’ll suit beginner setups.

I’ll analyze every feature of this $500 soundbar in this Bose Smart Soundbar 2024 review.

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? All-in-one soundbar with smart home integration
• Who is it for? People who don’t want to splurge on a multi-speaker setup just quite yet
• What does it cost? $499 / £499
• What do we like? The small soundbar packs a punch
• What don’t we like? Bass performance is lackluster without the pricey extra subwoofer

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Specs

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Price & availability

The Bose Smart Soundbar is $499 from Bose U.S. and £499 from Bose U.K.. If you want to buy it with the open earbuds, it’s $798 from Bose U.S.. For the full Smart Soundbar setup, which includes the soundbar, two channel speakers, and a subwoofer, that’s $1,397 from Bose U.S..

If you’ve got a little extra money to spend, I’d recommend getting the $1,397 setup. It comes with two surround sound speakers for ‘true’ Dolby Atmos, and a subwoofer for ultimate bass. I’ve recently tested the $1,699 JBL Bar 1300X, which has a 11.1.4 channel system, and was blown away. If you want a fantastic home cinema setup and money is no issue, I’d definitely check out the JBL Bar 1300X and the $1,796 Sonos Arc Ultra Immersive setup.

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Design & controls

• Compact design
• Don’t lose the remote
• Minimal on-bar controls

The Smart Soundbar is pretty small — just 27 inches long. This means it’ll fit on even tight setups like mine. I was able to place the soundbar on my TV stand with no sliding around or stability issues.

The soundbar doesn’t look quite as beautiful as others I’ve tested, like the Polk Signa S4 ($399), which is frankly gorgeous. It’s sleek and stylish, but its casing looks quite plasticky, and the mesh covering on top isn’t the most appealing design I’ve ever seen.

Unlike Samsung’s remotes, the Bose Smart Soundbar remote looks flimsy and low-quality. The buttons are made of a tactile, dust magnet, silicone-type material, which I found to look aged quite quickly. However, that silicone-type material means the buttons are quite satisfying to press, so you win some, you lose some.

You’ll need the remote, though, so don’t lose it. The soundbar itself has only two controls — the on button, and the mic mute button. The mic is for smart home commands.

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Features & setup

• App integration
• AI dialogue mode
• Some features locked behind secondary purchases

A word of warning if you’re buying a Smart Soundbar secondhand: if it won’t connect to your home Wi-Fi network, it’s because the soundbar is already set up on the previous owner’s. You’ll need to factory reset before it will work. I learned this the hard way — I mustn't have been the first journalist to test out this specimen.

After that initial hiccup was dealt with, I connected to my home network easily. I’ll chat about this more thoroughly in the ‘App’ section below, but you can allow other members of your household to connect and control the soundbar with their phones, or you can block them for ultimate control.

The Smart Soundbar has Chromecast built-in, so you can easily stream music directly from your phone. I tested this with Spotify and it worked seamlessly. For Spotify users, the app links directly to your Spotify app.

However, with Spotify’s incredible jam and speaker sync features already, I found this one of the less impressive features. There’s also Airplay for Apple device owners — again, this worked perfectly with my iPhone 16 Pro.

It’s unfortunate that the key features require secondary purchases, like the open earbuds synchronization, and to make the most of the bass you’ll need a separate subwoofer. If you have other Bose speakers, you can link them directly in the app.

Other soundbar + subwoofer combos I’ve tested, namely the Polk Signa S4 and the Samsung HW-B650 ($249) cost a fraction of the Bose Smart Soundbar, and sound much better even without secondary purchases.

Bose Smart Soundbar review: App

• Must-have app
• Secondary speaker sync
• EQ control

I think the Bose app is a must-have with this speaker. I guess it does what it says on the tin — it’s a smart soundbar, right? Of course, you can use the soundbar analog-style, but I found it only great with the app.

On the app you can control things like the volume of specific channels. For example, you can increase the bass and decrease the treble for certain movies, or if you’re listening to music via the aforementioned Airplay or Chromecast. This is such a small complaint, but when you increase the volume, ‘1’ is ‘10’, and ‘2’ is ‘20’, etc etc. Why not just keep it as 1?

As with the JBL app, you can adjust audio delay if your soundbar and movie falls out of sync. I really like this feature, as sometimes technology just has a little hiccup like that.

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Sound quality

• Inconsistent Dolby Atmos performance
• Clear dialogue and good high-frequency performance
• Bass disappointing without subwoofer

As with all my soundbar reviews, I put the Bose Smart Soundbar through a series of tests. I watched movies, TV, and listened to a lot of music.

Movies

I watched ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ first. In the opening scene, the clinking of metal as the jets landed and took off were clear. These quiet, high-frequency sound effects were clearer than the Polk Signa S4. The Bose Smart Soundbar’s treble is super clear on default settings, and the whooshing of rope sounds were balanced and audible over ‘Danger Zone’.

Next, I watched ‘Alien: Romulus’. For this movie, I upped the bass to 100 and enabled AI dialogue mode. I found that the increase in bass overpowered the speech, even with AI dialogue enabled, so I put the bass back to 50 and disabled AI mode. Immediately the dialogue was a little harder to hear, so I quickly enabled AI dialogue again. Even with this mode enabled, some of the dialogue was a little muffled.

In the scene where a spaceship shoots off into the ether, I could hear the metal zooming through the air clearly. When I upped the treble to 100, it was a little pinchy at loud volumes, and some of the scenes grated on me a little. It’s a shame there aren’t genre-specific EQs in the Bose app.

Next, I watched ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’, which has a vast range of underwater scenes that are renowned for their Dolby Atmos performance.

In the opening scene, Sam’s voiceover was a little harsh, and the rustling of leaves pinched my ears. The treble was definitely too tinny, so I upped the bass and lowered the treble again. Throughout this movie, I was disappointed by the tinny speech — definitely a symptom of a poor central channel and no subwoofer.

The scenes where the characters are riding the flying creatures were quite immersive, and I could feel the disturbed air flapping around my ears. However, it wasn’t as impressive as the Samsung HW-B650’s 360° performance, which really blew me away.

When one of the sea clan characters walked out of the water, I could feel the dripping water and the waves caress my ears. It’s a little frustrating that the Dolby Atmos performance is inconsistent — some water scenes sounded fantastic, whereas others were disappointing.

For the full cinematic experience, you’d need some extra surround speakers and a sub, which is more $$$. If you want a Dolby Atmos setup on a budget, I’d recommend the Polk Signa S4.

TV

To test the TV audio quality, I watched ‘Toxic Town’ on Netflix. Surprisingly, I was much more impressed with the TV sound quality than blockbuster movie sound quality. Bose setups tend to be designed for TV crowds, so this checks out — TV series sound much better than movies on the Bose Smart Soundbar.

The soundtrack was clear, bassy, and tight. The opening credits’ ‘dust’ sound effect blew across the screen and across the soundbar with zest.

Speech was much clearer on TV series than movies, even without AI dialogue mode. I would recommend this soundbar for TV fanatics over hi-fi movie enthusiasts.

Music

I played music directly from my iPhone 16 Pro using Spotify Connect. I listened to ‘RWTD’ by Sleepazoid with Bose’s default audio settings. I was a little disappointed, so I upped the bass until I found something I was happy with, which happened to be 100.

The track was infectious and groovy, and the bass was considerably louder. However, it wasn’t as impressive as a sub + soundbar combo, of course.

Next, I played ‘Garden of Eden’ by Lady Gaga. In the second verse, the music shifted to the left side before floating back into the stereo mode. I really liked how this sounded, and the percussion kept shifting to the left and right right at the end of the track.

I was really impressed with music playback, especially considering how disappointed I was by the movies. However, you don’t buy a soundbar for music — you buy it for movies and TV. As I’ve said earlier, if you’re a hi-fi fanatic, the Bose Smart Soundbar won’t do you any good.

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Verdict

If you’re in need of a soundbar with awesome, pain-free smart home integration, the Bose Smart Soundbar could be a fantastic option. There’s built-in Chromecast, Airplay, and Spotify Connect, which links up with other smart home systems like Google and Amazon.

It’s a fantastic option for building a smart home system piece-by-piece, but if you’re a home cinema enthusiast, I don’t think this will impress you. Without the subwoofer and separate channel speakers, there’s little Dolby Atmos translation, and the bass is somewhat lacking.

Despite this, I still found the sound quality great for watching TV and listening to music. All I’m saying is that those looking for a top-of-the-range Sonos equivalent will be disappointed.

The budget wireless earbuds market is more popular than ever. Even luxury earbuds makers like Apple and Bose have gotten in on the action, offering low-cost alternatives to their flagship models.

As a cheaper alternative to the award-winning AirPods Pro 2, Apple launched two versions of the AirPods 4, one with active noise cancellation, which has outperformed expectations to become an industry favorite. Meanwhile, Bose went back to the beginning and upgraded its critically acclaimed QuietComfort Earbuds with modern specs, stronger ANC, and a brand-new look.

You’re looking at two excellent low-cost options, but only one is considered the better buy. Scroll down to find out which one it is.

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Specs compared

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Price & availability

Pricing is the same for both entries: $179. Currently, the AirPods 4 are on sale for as low as $148 on Amazon. There are no discounts or promotions for the QC Earbuds.

If this MSRP is too steep, we recommend looking at some of the best cheap wireless earbuds under $100. Two selections that come to mind are the $99 Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC and OnePlus Buds 3, which boast a plethora of features and premium sound technologies.

You can buy the AirPods 4 and QC Earbuds on their respective brand websites or at popular online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy.

Winner: Tie

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Design

The 2024 QC Earbuds are much smaller than the first-gen QC Earbuds. They provide pleasant comfort and take up far less ear real estate. Bose’s stability bands form a tight fit to ensure the buds don’t fall out. Each colorway is attractive. Furthermore, the charging case is about 60% smaller than the previous version. Only the buds are IPX4 sweat and water-resistant.

The AirPods 4 look no different than the AirPods 3. Each bud has the same fragile plastic frame with slim stem, force feed sensor, and mic grilles.

Apple made the charging case smaller and added a built-in speaker with Find My integration. This feature is only available on the AirPods 4 with ANC.

Comfort and fit haven’t changed: The open-ear design feels nice, but it doesn’t provide much stability. Both the buds and charging case have IP54 dust/water protection.

Winner: Bose QC Earbuds

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Controls

Nothing beats Apple’s true wireless control scheme. The AirPods 4 adopt the AirPods Pro 2’s multi-functional setup, which includes flawless “Hey Siri” voice assistance, spot-on wear detection, and tactile-precise force sensors.

Everything works exceptionally well across Apple’s ecosystem of products. Android users can’t use Siri or their native assistant (e.g., Bixby, Google Assistant), but they can manually activate functions via single/multi-press gestures.

Bose improved its controls to enhance usability on the QC Earbuds. Touch gestures and voice assistance (Google Assistant, Siri) are responsive. The mic array demonstrates remarkable speech recognition. There’s a new Voice Control setting that lets you assign specific voice-enabled commands, plus a Take Picture function to verbally access your phone’s camera, but both are very buggy.

Winner: Apple AirPods 4

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Sound quality

It's a tough call, but sound is more engaging and engrossing on the QC Earbuds. Bose’s 10mm dynamic drivers pump out crisp, warm sonics. Music has a nice thump to it, especially when indulging in contemporary genres (e.g., Alternative, EDM, Hip-Hop). Bass is punchy, while mids and highs remain steady for well-balanced frequency range. There’s an equalizer in the Bose QCE app to tweak sound to your liking, and it works very well.

It’s also worth mentioning that the QC Earbuds use Bose’s Low Latency mode that minimizes lag to prevent lip-syncing issues when watching videos on your phone. That said, we would have liked some hi-res codec support (e.g., aptX Adaptive, LDAC), too.

A dynamic range amplifier, high-excursion driver, and Apple’s H2 chipset work together to produce rich bass and wide frequency range on the AirPods 4. The open-ear design doesn’t allow for full audio consumption, but what you hear is still impressive. Adaptive EQ properly adjusts sound to your environment and Personalized Spatial Audio successfully creates an immersive 3D soundscape that enlivens movies and music performances.

Winner: Bose QC Earbuds

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Active noise cancelling performance

Do the QC Earbuds match the QC Ultra Earbuds' class-leading noise reduction? No, but they’re engineered to outperform many of the best noise-cancelling earbuds. Quiet Mode blocks out 90% of unwanted fracas and silences most sounds across the frequency spectrum. Aware mode is perfect for hearing conversations and surroundings clearly.

Noise cancellation on the AirPods 4 is better than anyone could have anticipated. Their open-ear design naturally lets in external sounds, but turning on ANC mode helps suppress some background interference. You’re still going to hear mid- and high-frequency noises when listening to music indoors or outdoors. Transparency Mode is terrific for increasing situational awareness.

Apple’s other listening modes come part of the package as well: Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Headphone Accommodations, Live Listen, and Personalized Volume.

Overall, though, Bose has the edge here in ANC.

Winner: Bose QC Earbuds

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Special features

Features are more abundant on the AirPods 4. Several have already been mentioned: Adaptive EQ, Find My, “Hey Siri,” spatial audio, and the numerous listening modes (e.g., ANC, Conversation Awareness).

Other notable features include automatic switching, audio sharing, head gestures, and direct pairing via charging case (double tap the front LED). Want a whole guide? Here’s a list of 10 hidden AirPods 4 features you should be using.

The QC Earbuds have their own set of unique tricks. Previously discussed features like EQ, Noise Control (Aware/Quiet), and Voice Control extend functionality across multiple verticals. Then come practical features like battery prediction, Fast Mute for calls, multipoint pairing to two devices simultaneously, and Low Latency Audio. This is sufficient for the price, but not best-in-class.

Winner: Apple AirPods 4

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Call quality

Call quality was disappointing on Bose’s two previous flagship models: the QC Earbuds 2 and QC Ultra Earbuds. However, the QC Earbuds have the company trending upward. Voices sound loud and clear on both ends, and ANC performs well for distraction-free voice and video chats.

The AirPods 4 are a serviceable calling headset. Vocal clarity is solid, but mostly when talking in quiet settings. Apple’s open-ear design lets in a lot of ambient noise. Turning on ANC doesn’t help much. Point to Bose.

Winner: Bose QC Earbuds

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Battery life

The QC Earbuds have the longest battery life of any Bose wireless earbuds. A full charge is rated at 8.5 hours. It’s really 7.5 hours with ANC off and 7 hours with ANC on. You get an extra 31.5 hours from the charging case.

Would you believe the AirPods 4 have less playtime than the AirPods 3? It’s true. A full charge generates 5 hours of usage. ANC use drops it down to 4 hours. Facetiming and spatial audio can suck up another 1 to 2 hours. The charging case maxes out at 30 hours.

Wireless charging is available on both models, along with quick charging, though the AirPods 4 power up at a faster rate. A 5-minute quick charge gives Apple’s buds 1 hour of playtime, whereas Bose’s buds net you 3 hours on a 20-minute charge.

Winner: Bose QC Earbuds

AirPods 4 vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Verdict

It’s clear why the QC Earbuds come out on top. Sure, the AirPods 4 are a noteworthy pickup for budget-conscious shoppers who want Apple’s upscaled wireless audio performance at an attainable price. Sound is some of the best in the series and the inclusion of ANC provides enough noise blockage to hear Apple Music tracks peacefully, depending on your environment. Most of the AirPods Pro’s bells and whistles are accounted for as well. It’s just unfortunate that the AirPods 4’s battery life is a category worst.

But that just doesn't beat the near-flagship ANC that crushes most competitors across all price points and superior audio, call quality, and playtimes. The redesign is sleek and keeps these buds locked onto your ears. Buggy smart controls and no hi-res streaming dock a few points, but the QC Earbuds are the closest you’ll get to enjoying Bose’s wireless audio experience without overspending.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best cheap wireless headphones for travel in 2024
• EarFun Air Pro 4 vs. EarFun Air 2 NC: Which budget ANC earbuds should you buy?
• Here's what happened when I swapped my AirPods for Status Audio's audiophile earbuds

I test audio products for a living, which means I've got a bastion of Bose alternatives under my belt. I’ve probably spent upwards of 500 hours testing, analyzing, and reviewing audio gear. But I haven’t only been testing audio gear, I’ve been enjoying it.

I’ve reviewed some of the best headphones, best earbuds, and best speakers. I’ve listened to the world’s first self-described ‘8K’ Bluetooth earbuds, some of the priciest audiophile wired headphones on the market, and speakers with enough bass to rattle my bones.

However, if I’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s that Bose is wildly overrated. Most people wax lyrical about Bose’s sound quality, ANC, and style. Don’t get me wrong, Bose gear is decent, but there’s much, much better stuff out there — sometimes for a fraction of the price. Let me walk you through some of the best Bose alternatives on the market today. What's even better is that three of these five alternatives are discounted in President's Day deals.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones alternative

This is it: the creme de la creme. The piece de resistance. The best of the best. Most people talk about the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones with some kind of gilded reverence. I'm not about to tell those people they're wrong, but they are. I said what I said.

Sonos Ace

When not on sale, the Sonos Ace headphones aren't cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. They're actually $20 more expensive. However, for that extra $20, you get hundreds of dollars worth of sound quality.

And thanks to President's Day, the Sonos Ace headphones are a huge $100 off, down to just $349.

Although Tom's Guide's review of the Sonos Ace was not written by me, I have personally used these headphones. I actually listened to them simultaenously with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for side-by-side comparison testing.

While the QC Ultras sounded muddled during heavy tracks, the Sonos Ace translated heavy, thick guitars with admirable detail. The 40mm drivers on the Ace are custom-designed by Sonos engineers, so you won't get this sound quality anywhere else. Most wireless headphones are bass-heavy (Bose included), but the Sonos Ace have superior clarity, perfect for those detail listeners. If you're a bass fanatic, though, you can easily amp up that bass EQ on the Sonos app.

The Ace cans might even impress some audiophiles, thanks to the aptX compatibility and 3.5mm aux connectivity. Unfortunately, the Aces don't have ALAC (Apple's lossless codec), but that's an Apple problem, not a Sonos problem. Only Apple headphones and earbuds have ALAC, which you can only use on Apple Music. For iPhone audiophiles, I'd recommend listening via the provided 3.5mm USB-C cable.

Bose QuietComfort headphones alternative

The cheaper version of the highly praised Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, QuietComfort headphones are $349 from Amazon. But you can get some over-ear cans that perform even better for only $199.

Soundcore Space One Pro

In my 4.5-star review of the Soundcore Space One Pro headphones, I praised the excellent (if bassy) sound quality, fantastic companion app, and supreme comfort. But there's so much more to the Space One Pro, if you just dig a little deeper.

The Space One Pro headphones do what no others can. How many times have you downloaded an audio companion app, just to immediately close it and never reopen again? I have so many times. Even JBL and EarFun apps are useless to me.

Soundcore's app, on the other hand, is a marvel. Once connected to your headphones, the app takes you on a sonic adventure as it creates a personalized EQ based on your listening preferences. If you've ever been for an eyesight test, it's basically the same thing. "Do you prefer lens A, or lens B?" On the Soundcore app, that's, "Do you prefer EQ A or EQ B?"

From your responses, the Soundcore app generates you a personalized EQ called HearID. Color me surprised, but HearID is actually astronomically effective. As you can see above, HearID generated me a bass-heavy EQ with a little increase in the treble. I could not get enough of this during listening.

Don't get me wrong — the Bose QuietComfort headphones are good. But for $150 less, the Soundcore Space One Pro offer something better.

Bose SoundLink Flex alternative

In my review of the Bose SoundLink Flex, I criticized the speaker's lack of customization and disappointing sound quality. But don't fret — there's a much better option on the market.

Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2

I have some fantastic news. When I wrote my review of the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2, it was $129, which I still thought was a reasonable price. However, in February 2025, the Rockster Go 2 has dropped down to an unbelievable $89. Yes, it is now $40 cheaper, with all the same sound quality.

Bose SoundLink Flex was majorly disappointing due to one critical reason: its sound quality. The nonexistent groove, and tinny mids paved the way for a mediocre listening experience. Bose claims to have fixed these issues with the Flex Gen 2, but I have yet to test the new version.

Regardless, no worries. Because I've got something better anyway. I've got something that doesn't just look the part, but sounds better, too.

Despite not having any hi-res 'lossless' Bluetooth codecs, I doubt you'd be able to notice. The Rockster Go 2 is a compact speaker that sounds like something much bigger. The mids and trebles are detailed, clear, and not lost in the melee of bass-heavy tracks.

While I wouldn't recommend it for floor-shaking house parties, the Rockster Go 2's IP67 rating makes it the perfect choice for beach get-togethers and intimate camping trips.

Bose SoundLink Max alternative

The behemoth of Bose's speaker lineup isn't as good as you'd think — especially not for the SoundLink Max's $399 asking price. I've got something with even more oomph up my sleeve...

Tribit StormBox Blast 2

I'll be the first person to admit that the Tribit StormBox Blast 2 doesn't look as objectively cool as the Bose SoundLink Max. But, oh heck, does it sound better. The Max is pretty lackluster, unless in stereo mode — which means you have to buy two.

You can save even more at the moment, too, thanks to this President's Day deal.

As I discussed in my Tribit StormBox Blast 2 review, the 80W subwoofer on this monster will make your bones shake. This is the ultimate party speaker. Nothing is too loud or too bassy for this beast. It'll make light word of even the dirtiest DnB tracks, the heaviest of all heavy metal, and the floor-filling house songs.

The StormBox Blast 2 has stereo mode, much like the Bose SoundLink Max, and mic input. Yes — the StormBox Blast 2 could even transform into a karaoke machine, should the moment be right. The SoundLink Max can do many things, but can it become a karaoke machine? Not unless you love the sound of silent karaoke.

Bose QuietComfort earbuds alternative

Tom's Guide's reviews team Nikita Achanta reviewed the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. We share a desk, so I watched her go through the testing process every step of the way. While she liked the earbuds, she commented that some affordable buds she tested previously were just as good.

EarFun Air Pro 4

In our 4.5-star EarFun Air Pro 4 review, my coworker Nikita lauded the budget buds' excellent sound quality, silky smooth comfort, and the range of hi-res audio codecs. While not massively discounted for President's Day, these earbuds are still discounted.

Despite being just $95, the EarFun Air Pro 4 are a serious contender for some of the best earbuds in general. And when you consider their budget price? It's almost a no-brainer. The Air Pro 4s have hi-res codecs like aptX and LDAC, which makes them some of the best cheap wireless earbuds we've ever tested. Do Bose QuietComfort earbuds have that? Nope.

While these buds don't have the personalized EQ I adored on the Soundcore Space One Pro headphones, the EarFun app still has a customizable EQ. Users can increase bass, mids, or trebles to their preference. You'd be surprised how detailed these earbuds are, considering their sub-$100 price tag.

One of the major improvements from the Air Pro 3 to the Air Pro 4 is the addition of wear detection. The wear detection on the Bose QuietComfort earbuds is a little janky, but the Air Pro 4's is smooth and seamless.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best wireless earbuds
• Best Bluetooth speakers
• Best headphones

When I first picked up the Soundcore Space One Pro headphones this week, I did not anticipate them being one of the best headphones I've ever tested.

I've tried a fair few headphones at this point — $4,000 audiophile open-back headphones that altered my perception of audio reality; $70 headphones that made me shrivel up my nose in disgust; $550 headphones that elicited nothing more than a 'meh'.

But when I started listening to the Soundcore Space One pro headphones, a kind of celestial, euphoric haze settled over me. I was blown away by the sound quality with respect to the mid-range, easily affordable price point. What do you mean, these headphones are under $200? I've tried headphones double the price that sound exactly the same!

Soundcore sound supreme

When I first tried the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, I thought they were decent. Not excellent, certainly not worth over $400, but decent. The QuietComforts are very bass-heavy, which I find is sometimes a symptom of headphones that don't quite have the audio prowess they think they do.

The Space One Pro are bass-heavy, too, but there's a way around the muddled sound quality that so often comes with that. Venture into the Soundcore app and try something called 'HearID'. It's basically just a personalized EQ (not a custom EQ, although they could arguably be interchangeable).

HearID takes you through a series of hearing tests and then a 'this or that' game to generate you an optimal EQ setting. If you're familiar with an eye test at the opticians, where they ask you which lens is clearer, it's basically just that, but with music.

Then, once you've completed the game, you're greeted with a personalized EQ suited to your tastes. If you like bass, you'll obviously lean towards a bass-heavy EQ, but if you like a little more detail in your tracks, you might want a treble-heavy EQ. Here's what I was generated.

As you can see, mine is a more gentle curve than a basshead might choose. This EQ brightened quieter sounds in tracks and pumped up the bass just a little, so it didn't overpower the rest of my music.

Choose your playback

Although the majority of headphones I've tested have this, I love that the Space One Pro have a 3.5mm jack. This means I can plug into my laptop or listening device and listen for hours without worrying about draining the battery.

Not that you'd need to worry — the Space One Pro battery lasts for a mind-boggling 60 hours with ANC turned off.

However, with wired playback, you can extend that battery life to eternity.

Not so budget anymore

Whereas the Space One — the previous iteration of the Space One Pro — was just $99, the Space One Pro headphones are over double, at $199. But this doesn't mean Soundcore has merely gotten greedy and decided to charge as much as they want for mediocre headphones — there's a reason for the price increase.

The Space One Pro headphones are not priced as budget cans, because they simply aren't budget cans. There's an audio finesse you wouldn't get on budget offerings; the app is user-friendly and intuitive; the multi-point connection means you can shift from phone to laptop to phone and the Space One Pro will follow you along like a loyal companion. No more going into settings and selecting the headphones on each device you switch to.

One of the main reasons why I'm such an AirPods Pro 2 fanatic is because of how seamlessly they switch from iPhone to MacBook to iPad. But really? The Space One Pro can do it too, now.

Is the sound quality as good as audiophile-grade headphones? No. But do the Space One Pro sound phenomenal for their sub-$200 pricetag? You bet.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best headphones of 2025
• I just tested these audiophile headphones that cost as much as my first car — and they sound like heaven
• Soundcore Space One Pro review: A masterclass in how to shuck off a ‘budget’ stereotype

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) are a fantastic pair of noise-canceling earbuds that don’t break the bank. Bose reigns supreme in terms of sound quality and active noise cancellation, and that’s very much the case with these mid-range earbuds too. You’re getting best-in-class sound quality and ANC — all for just $179.

The QuietComfort Earbuds are easily some of the best noise-canceling earbuds out there. Not only that, but they’re extremely comfortable to wear and they look minimalist and premium. And the long battery life is just the cherry on top of the cake. But they aren’t perfect, and lack in a couple of areas. For example, there’s no aptX or lossless, and the case is a little flimsy. For all the details, read my full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A mid-range pair of wireless earbuds with active noise cancelation
• Who is it for? For serious music enjoyers who don’t want to spend too much on other QuietComfort earbuds
• How much does it cost? $179 / £179
• What do we like? They’re designed well, very comfortable, boast incredible sound quality, super effective active noise cancelation and long battery life
• What don’t we like? They’re a little sensitive to voice commands, the case is a little plasticky, and there’s no aptX or lossless

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Specs

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Price & availability

The 2024 iteration of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds succeeds the original 2020 pair, and these entry-level earbuds are the cheapest in the brand’s QuietComfort lineup. They have a retail price of $179 at Amazon U.S. / £179 at Amazon U.K. and are half the price of the flagship Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($299). We’ve seen them drop to as low as $129 in the past too, although usually during deals events like Black Friday or Prime Day. You can get the QuietComfort Earbuds in one of three colorways: Black, Chilled Lilac, and White Smoke.

Bose’s offering occupies a unique place in the market where most of its competitors, like Sony and JBL, are pricier. The QuietComfort Earbuds, then, find themselves competing with the likes of the Apple AirPods 4 with Noise Cancelation ($179) and the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 ($180). But are they better? Definitely. At a similar price, they offer better ANC, richer sound, and come with a very detailed companion app.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Design & comfort

• Minimalist design with great finishing
• Extremely comfortable
• Case feels plasticky though

Unlike the AirPods 4 with NC and the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 which sport drop-stem designs, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) have a rounded design that fits very snugly in my ears. The buds are very light too, each weighing just 0.29oz, so I never felt weighed down and I even took a nap with them and forgot I had them in.

There’s a rubber ‘stability band’ that aids the secure fit, of which you’ll find different options in the box to dial them in to suit your ears. I stuck with the default options and was very comfortable for eight hours straight. That ‘Comfort’ moniker is no lie.

It’s worth noting, though, that the case feels a little plasticky — the exact opposite of the premium-feeling earbuds. This is disappointing as you’re still paying $179 which isn’t a small amount. It’s a letdown to see such a cheap-feeling case from Bose.

I tested the Chilled Lilac colorway which looks stunning. As an emo kid at heart, I’m usually partial towards darker colors but I’d be lying if I said the QuietComfort Earbuds’ light purple hadn’t won me over. The earbuds have a matte finish too which gives them a premium edge over the glossy competition from Apple.

The QuietComfort Earbuds are IPX4 rated which means they’re resistant to water only at a splash level, so don’t go swimming with them. You can wear them to the gym though as they’re sweatproof. I wore them when it was raining and the earbuds were fine. In comparison, the AirPods 4 with NC are IP54 rated while the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are IP55 rated, which means both pairs are dust resistant, giving them an edge over Bose’s offering.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Connectivity

• Multipoint connectivity
• No aptX or LDAC

Similar to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) utilize Bluetooth 5.3 and they support the AAC and SBC codecs. However, there’s no aptX lossless or LDAC, which I’ve seen even in cheaper earbuds like the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($89), so audiophiles may be left feeling shortchanged.

Thanks to multipoint connectivity, the entry-level earbuds can seamlessly connect to three devices simultaneously, which is great as I keep my earbuds connected to both my MacBook Air M2 and Google Pixel 7 Pro at work. The QuietComfort Earbuds also feature wear detection so playback will automatically pause when a bud is taken out and resume when it’s put back in.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Controls & app

• Simple touch controls
• Detailed app for customization
• A little too sensitive to voice commands

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) don’t house any physical controls, so everything is done either via touch or voice commands. Pressing either earbuds pauses/resumes playback, while pressing twice jumps tracks. You can also toggle between Quiet and Aware noise cancelation modes, and you can remap all the commands via the app.

The Bose QCE companion app, available on iOS and Android, is perhaps the most detailed app I’ve seen for any product I’ve reviewed so far. You name it and the app does it. This includes choosing the level of noise cancelation, assigning voice commands and remapping touch controls, updating firmware, pairing devices, and even using the earbuds to take remote selfies. You can also customize the equalizer or choose an EQ preset, like bass boost or treble reduction.

One of my gripes with these earbuds though is just how sensitive the voice commands are. I noticed that when I was on a busy bus and the earbuds kept telling me that the noise cancelation mode had been changed without me having done or said anything. This did not happen in quiet environments though, like my home or the office. I ended up disabling voice control altogether because of how frustrating it was.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Sound & performance

I used to own a pair of the original Bose QuietComfort Earbuds back in 2021, and I always said they were the most fantastic sounding earbuds I’d ever owned — and I feel similarly about the 2024 model. I was using the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 before, and I don’t want to go back. Like I do with other audio peripherals, I played my trusty playlist on Spotify Premium on my Google Pixel 7 Pro with ANC enabled to put the earbuds to the test. I played a variety of genres and I’m pleased to report that they all sounded phenomenal.

The earbuds are equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers which offer an outstanding listening experience. Mika’s high notes in ‘Grace Kelly’ sound controlled and never like they’re piercing your ears. I also noticed the very subtle clapping in the bridge that I’d missed the hundreds of times I’ve listened to the song, speaking to the fidelity of the QuietComfort Earbuds.

Lows, mids and highs are balanced very well, as I found while listening to Linkin Park’s ‘Two Faced.’ Emily Armstrong’s vocals in the bridge and breakdown sound clear as she goes from whispering to screaming and changes frequencies. The scratching of the turntable in the background is clear too and something you may not notice otherwise.

I then turned to softer tracks, first playing ‘Agatha’s Theme’ from the TV show Agatha All Along, and I could very clearly hear each guitar string being plucked as the violin dipped and became sharper. Meanwhile, Lana Del Rey’s vocals in ‘A&W’ sound soothing and almost like a lullaby.

I love playing with the equalizer when I’m testing earbuds or speakers, and bass boost is always the one I gravitate towards. It works exceptionally well on the QuietComfort Earbuds too. I enabled this via the app and listened to bass-heavy tracks like Pink Floyd’s ‘Money,’ MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ and Twenty One Pilots’ ‘No Chances.’ In all three tracks, it never felt like the bass was overpowering the vocals or the other instruments. Listening to a not-so-bass-heavy track with bass boost on, like Porcupine Tree’s ‘Buying New Soul,’ enhanced the bass just how I wanted it to and it sounded very rich. There was no audio bleeding either — top-notch all around.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: ANC

• Stupidly good ANC
• Aware mode works really well
• Block out most sounds

As we noted in our original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review, Bose has been hard to beat in terms of active noise cancelation (ANC) for some years now. That hasn’t changed as the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds also offer mindblowing ANC, so much so that you start feeling lonely. While not as customizable as the Ultras, you can set the ANC to off, Quiet and Aware. Quiet, as you can guess, blocks out most sounds while Aware is great if you want to be aware of your surroundings while walking down a street, for example.

I take the bus to and from work and I was so happy with how well the buds blocked out loud chatter on a packed bus, and even drowned out the vehicle’s rumbles and rattling. Loud action sounds from the TV were effectively blocked as well. The ANC feels superior compared to the OnePlus Buds Pro 3’s which I’ve often found a little lacking.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Battery life

• Better battery life than competitors’
• Wireless charging
• Up to 31.5 hours of listening time

Bose claims that the QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) can last 8.5 hours on a single charge with ANC on, and the charging case can provide two and a half additional charges, resulting in a total of 31.5 hours of listening time. With ANC on, I was able to get nearly 9 hours of playback time before I got the low battery warning — that’s amazing. Also, the case can be charged wirelessly, and it takes just under an hour and a half to go from zero to 100%.

It’s actually better than the pricier QuietComfort Ultra’s battery life which is a measly six hours. The QuietComfort Earbuds also outclass the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 (six-hour) and the Apple AirPods 4 with NC (five-hour).

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) review: Verdict

I love the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024). If you’re looking for outstanding sound quality and effective ANC, you won’t go wrong with these. The Quiet and Aware modes work very well and the earbuds drown out most sounds. Sound quality is where these earbuds really come into their own as most genres sound balanced, and you can customize the EQ as you like via the very detailed companion app. The earbuds themselves are extremely comfortable to wear, and the long battery life means you don’t have to constantly worry about running out of juice.

That said, there are a few things that keep these earbuds from earning the coveted Editor’s Choice award. The charging case feels plasticky, and the earbuds are a little too sensitive to voice commands. They don’t support aptX or lossless either which may disappoint audiophiles.

Overall, though, testing the QuietComfort Earbuds has been one of the best things I’ve done this week. It might be a while until another pair comes along and replaces them.

The perfect pair of wireless earbuds doesn’t exist. Sure, there are near-flawless releases like the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5, but both sets of buds still have their fair share of flaws. The same goes for every flagship model from the industry’s top audio manufacturers.

Some companies manage to fix their issues, while also creating new ones in the process. Others continue to neglect criticisms in key performance areas. Then there are those who make matters worse by drastically changing things that were already impeccable.

If Apple, Bose, Sony and numerous others want to improve their upcoming true wireless creations, they should start by addressing their biggest imperfections. Here is the top issue for each major audio brand that they must fix on their next-gen wireless earbuds.

Sony

Biggest problem: 3D audio setup

The Sony WF-1000XM5 might be the closest thing to perfection in the true wireless space. Most criticisms about these buds were fixed via software updates, which brought new features and stronger connectivity into the mix. There’s only one problem, and it’s a problem that remains present on all Sony wireless headphones and earbuds: the 360 Reality Audio setup.

Sony’s spatial audio technology delivers convincing immersive sound. It isn’t better than Apple’s or Bose’s spatial audio formats, but it’s respectable and works well with most Sony products that support the Headphones Connect app (recently rebranded as Sound Connect).

If only the setup was as simple as other spatial audio alternatives that require scanning your ears to create a sound profile. The feature struggles to capture selfies of your head and ears. Even worse is the head-tracking test that requires several tries to register movements. We request that Sony develop a more effective solution for the rumored WF-1000XM6.

Apple

Biggest problem: Battery life

Apple’s kryptonite remains battery life. Yes, it has increased ANC playtime on the AirPods Pro 2 by about 1.5 hours and total playtime by 6 hours. However, that has been the industry standard for battery life on wireless earbuds for the past three years. Meanwhile, the class-leading Sony WF-1000XM5 boast up to 10 hours per charge and budget noise-cancellers like the JLab JBuds Sport ANC 4 generate up to 14 hours on a single charge. Apple’s battery management is terrific at optimizing performance and squeezing out every bit of juice from the MagSafe charging case, but the playtime complaints won’t stop until the AirPods start matching their competitors.

Bose

Biggest problem: Call quality

It’s a controversial take, but the call quality on current Bose wireless earbuds has not lived up to the brand’s legendary reputation. The first-gen QuietComfort Earbuds are still some of the best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls and they outperform newer rivals with stronger mic arrays and wireless technologies, including the AirPods Pro 2 and the Bose’s recent releases. Performance has dipped with every new QC model. ANC on the QC Earbuds 2 wasn’t as strong on calls. Additions like adaptive filters, dynamic microphone mixing and more intelligible voice pickup didn’t strengthen voice calling on the QC Ultra Earbuds. Going back to the beginning might do Bose some good to get things right.

JBL

Biggest problem: Buggy companion app

JBL is one of the few brands that check almost every box. Adequate battery life. Endless features. Great sound. Reliable call quality. Strong noise cancellation. Unfortunately, the company has yet to develop a reliable companion app. Every version of the JBL Headphones app tends to be plagued with bugs, as we witnessed firsthand when testing the Tour Pro 3. If it wasn’t crashing several times, it would display the wrong battery life or would not connect to the buds. These are issues that should have been fixed several generations back.

Samsung

Biggest problem: The Cybertruck design

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro were some of the sleekest oval-shaped buds ever made and provided IPX7 protection for top-level waterproofing. However, Samsung felt inclined to follow every other AirPods wannabe and make both the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro long-stem buds. The slimmer and more angular stems are eye-catching, but the buds’ overall appearance is a weak true wireless impression of the Tesla Cybertruck. Furthermore, the lower IPX5 rating and standard-looking case are huge downgrades compared to the previous flagship, which our Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro comparison breaks down in detail.

Sennheiser

Biggest problem: Lack of spatial audio

No audio brand is more under-appreciated than Sennheiser. The German sound specialist has released several excellent flagship buds under its Momentum True Wireless imprint, while also developing top-tier personalization features that elevate sound performance. For all its ingenuity, the brand can’t seem to add spatial audio to its wireless earbuds.

Sennheiser’s Ambeo 3D sound technology is used in loudspeakers and soundbars and “translates an original immersive or surround mix into two channels of audio that deliver a spatial experience far beyond stereo.” Netflix’s spatial audio is also powered by it. Not having it on the Momentum True Wireless 4 has hurt the product’s appeal. Sennheiser can steer its true wireless ship in the right direction by making Ambeo available on the Momentum True Wireless 5.

Beats

Biggest problem: No wireless charging

Why is it that all AirPods models come with wireless charging, yet the technology has been excluded from every Beats true wireless SKU? As huge fans of the flagship Fit Pro, this is incredibly frustrating, especially when we’re wirelessly charging several devices at work throughout the day. This makes Beats’ buds look inferior from a functional standpoint. More so, it’s a disservice to not allow Beats users the right to power up their case by dropping it on a wireless charger or the Apple Watch charger.

Google

Biggest problem: Gemini AI integration

Wireless earbuds with artificial intelligence will be a huge trend in 2025. Google tried getting ahead of the competition this past year with the stellar Pixel Buds Pro 2, which featured the company’s generative AI assistant called Gemini. The results were somewhat mediocre. It doesn’t always produce the most accurate answers and can often misinterpret requests. Gemini is a noteworthy glimpse of the future, but for now, don’t expect Gemini to replace your favorite chatbot (*cough* ChatGPT *cough*) until Google makes several improvements.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 ways Apple could have improved the AirPods Max – but didn't
• I tried these earbuds specifically designed for sleeping and I love them — but there's just one big problem
• Best Apple AirPods alternatives: Top picks of 2024