Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: Fantastic ANC, but missing one big feature for travelers

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) aim to deliver premium noise cancellation and comfort for commuters and frequent flyers. Sitting in the premium mid-tier of the category, they replace the first-generation QuietComfort Headphones and bring over standout features like Immersive Audio, from the pricier Ultra series.

But it's a crowded market, and I can’t confidently say these are the best headphones $350 or so can get you when the Sony WH-1000XM5 are permanently discounted for less. The lack of wear detection means you have to manually power them down to save juice, and a 24-hour battery life is merely middle of the pack.

On the positive side, Bose absolutely nails the comfort and ANC, providing 10 levels of highly effective noise isolation and plush padding that makes wearing them for hours a breeze. The addition of a color-matched 3.5mm-to-USB-C cable for lossless audio input is also a massive win for the variety of ways you can enjoy these cans.

Find out more in my full Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: Price and availability

• $359 MSRP but expect discounts
• Competes closely with higher-end Bose models on sale

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) costs $359 at Amazon, direct at Bose, and other major retailers. While this still feels like a steep initial asking price, it is highly likely that it will eventually settle closer to $299 during sales events. For context, the original QC Headphones have dropped as low as $229.

Bose's higher-end QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Headphones have also been on sale for as low as $369. Meanwhile, the first-generation QuietComfort Headphones are still available and often discounted to around $250. You have to weigh the price against the newly added features, which I’ll elaborate more on now, starting with design.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: Design

• Supremely comfortable with plush padding
• Intuitive physical buttons
• Folds into a convenient carrying case

Aesthetically, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) maintain a familiar, somewhat plasticky build, but they are offered in a massive color selection. I tested the light green (officially, Eucalyptus Green) and it adds a fun, seasonal pop to an otherwise traditional frame.

Bose has become a master at the color game recently, regularly doing splashly color drops across its lineup of audio products, so I’d expect an even greater selection of options coming soon.

What these headphones might lack in premium metal flair, they more than make up for in sheer wearability. They fold up conveniently into an included carrying case, though I’ve already resorted to hooking them around my luggage when traveling to save space.

The headphones are not IP-rated for weatherproofing. This means there is absolutely no guaranteed protection against water or dust. I generally hate when people wear over-ear headphones to the gym, (specifically, AirPods Max) and it's especially risky here. They are not safe for workouts or getting caught out in the rain. Waterproofing over ears is difficult, so typically you need to spend more on something like the $899 Noble Audio FoKus Artemis or $1,250 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 to get an IP-rating.

Comfort

Comfort is where these headphones truly shine. The earcups feature just the right amount of plush padding, and Bose extended the padding almost fully around the headband, whereas the previous generation only padded the top quarter.

There are no clamping issues here; speaking from experience on my recent cross-country flights, they are genuinely comfortable to wear for 8-plus hours without experiencing pressure or fatigue.

Controls

I love that Bose stuck with physical buttons, as they are overall intuitive and highly satisfying to touch. All playback and volume controls sit on the right earcup, while the power, Bluetooth, and ANC toggles are on the left. Because they are physical, there is no risk of accidentally changing the volume when I brush my hair out of the way or lean against a plane pillow.

But there is a major downside: they lack wear detection. With no on-head detection, you have to physically turn them off, or the battery will just continue to drain. Call me crazy, but I firmly believe $300+ headphones should have some version of this feature.

Connectivity

These headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, a notable step up from the previous model's Bluetooth 5.1. It’s still behind the latest Bluetooth 6.0, though, which other mid-range headphones like the JBL Live 780NC launched with in 2026.

Multipoint connectivity works flawlessly; I enjoyed great auto-playback detection while seamlessly switching between my iPhone and iPad.

While they do not feature LDAC, they do support USB-C lossless audio input up to 24-bit/48kHz, and Bose thoughtfully includes both color-matched 3.5mm-to-USB-C and USB-C-to-USB-C cables nestled inside the carrying case.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: Sound quality

• Bose’s Immersive Audio added
• Lossless USB-C support
• Warm bass but slightly capped treble

Bose hasn't upgraded the actual drivers here, yet these headphones somehow manage to sound better than the original QC Headphones. The biggest addition is the Immersive Audio feature with head tracking, which was previously exclusive to the Ultra series.

When listening over Bluetooth, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)’s overall profile is warm and engaging. To test the bass and soundstage, I played Milky Chance's Stolen Dance. The intro beats were incredibly punchy. While the soundstage isn't the absolute largest I've heard, the depth and separation during the bass drum build-up in Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car hits beautifully, offering a controlled, thick low-end.

Moving to the mid-tones, I cued up Bon Iver's Wash. to see how the headphones handled instrumental separation. The contrast between the layered vocals and the piano had a haunting, distinct clarity. Mid-tones are powerful and well-defined, and listening to David Bowie’s Heroes revealed excellent instrumental distinctions that kept his voice sounding true to the original recording.

However, the treble and higher vocals can feel a bit restrained. When testing Michael Jackson’s P.Y.T., the high notes were slightly capped, reinforcing the fact that the highs here don't have quite the same sense of openness. Tracy Chapman's angelic voice on Fast Car has definitely sounded a bit brighter on other high-end models, establishing that while these cans offer great bass, they are somewhat limited on the highs.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: App

• Clean and easy to navigate
• 10 levels of ANC adjustment
• Controls for Immersive Audio

The companion Bose app is simple, professional and essential for getting the most out of these headphones. Available on iOS and Android, it allows you to tweak connections, check battery life, and apply basic EQ tailoring.

I also found a little easter egg that suggests inventive names for your headphones based on the color, if you’d like them labeled as something other than the comparatively-sterile product name.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: ANC

• Incredibly effective isolation
• 10 adjustable levels
• Immersive audio modes

Bose continues to be one of the best in the business when it comes to ANC, and the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) easily earn their name. The ANC here is next-level effective. While testing on flights, I felt completely tuned out from the roaring engines and cabin chatter. I even switched between these, the Sony WH-1000XM6, and the Apple AirPods Max 2, and found the Bose to be noticeably stronger at blocking out environmental noise.

While the app offers Bose’s signature 10 levels of ANC adjustment, the implementation is so subtle that I rarely wanted anything less than full effectiveness.

The added Immersive Audio feature offers excellent "Still" and "Motion" modes, providing a spatial audio experience that acts as a fantastic alternative to standard stereo listening. People are usually torn on this kind of feature, but I’ve personally liked Bose’s implementation of it since I tested the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: Call quality

• 24 hours maximum
• Drops to 18 hours with ANC and Immersive Audio
• Middle of the pack performance

Bose rates the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) battery life at up to 24 hours on a single charge, which drops to up to 18 hours if you have both noise canceling and Immersive Audio activated. In real terms, this means you can get through a few days of commuting or a very long international flight, but it sits squarely in the middle of the pack.

For comparison, the Ultra version gets up to 30 hours, and rivals like the Marshall Monitor III or CMF Headphone Pro can reach up to 100 hours.

In my testing, the battery drained exactly as expected based on Bose's claims. I used them heavily with full ANC and Immersive Audio engaged, and the resulting 18 hours of playback felt a bit limiting if you're someone who often forgets to charge their devices. The lack of wear detection exacerbates this issue, as leaving them powered on while fumbling to disembark will quickly eat through whatever juice you have left.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review: Verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are an incredibly comfortable set of travel cans that successfully integrate the excellent Immersive Audio feature from the brand's flagship lineup. They provide some of the absolute best noise cancellation on the market, easily hushing noisy plane cabins, and the tactile physical buttons are a joy to use when you need to make quick adjustments on the fly.

But the lack of wear detection is a frustrating omission that requires you to babysit the power button, and a 24-hour battery life feels quite average given the $359 price tag when compared to modern stamina champions. Additionally, the lack of an IP rating means you'll want to keep these strictly for commuting and desk work rather than gym sessions.

Ultimately, if you prioritize wearing comfort, physical controls, and world-class ANC over battery longevity, these headphones are a solid travel companion.