Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Best noise cancelling earbuds
Pros
- Comfy to wear
- Very good noise-cancellation
- Excellent wireless performance
- Engaging audio quality
Cons
- Average call quality
- Noise-cancellation seems slightly diminished compared to previous gen
- More expensive than previous model
Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II has been replaced by the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which boast new features in Immersive Audio 3D tech and aptX Lossless support.
These additions do come at a higher price (£299 / $299). We regarded the QC Earbuds II as the best in the business for noise-cancellation, and while we feel the QC Ultra Earbuds aren’t quite as good, they’re still ahead of the rest. Just.
They’re still the best in a range of situations, but the gap between it and the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM5, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and Jabra Elite 10 Geb 2 is not as big as it was before.
Much like the previous model, while not every sound is removed, they do an impressive job of quelling sounds, reducing ambient noise and blocking out people’s voices. However, there is wind noise in blustery conditions and while it’s a minor issue we expected better.
The Aware mode is just as good as the ANC in letting the surrounding noises with clarity. Bose’s ActiveSense technology works like the AirPods Pro 2 in automatically reducing background noises when in transparency mode. It also works well at suppressing sudden spikes in sounds around you.
The sound quality is remains the same with the top end of the frequency range brighter and bass is bigger and punchier than older QuietComfort true wireless earphones. Vocals carry more weight too, and there’s a better sense of depth and width than there is on the original. It’s not as finely-balanced as the WF-1000XM5, but if you enjoy plenty of bass wallop to your trucks, the Bose is better than the Sony.
Features-wise, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have been upgraded to aptX Lossless/Snapdragon Sound to transmit higher quality audio over Bluetooth. The wireless performance is excellent, consistently reliable with not dropouts.
There’s also the Immersive Audio feature which offers a wider soundstage and more depth, but isn’t as detailed or as sharp as listening in stereo mode. The head-tracking is a neat effect, maintaining the illusion of sound following you when you move.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
