Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Review

Pros	Cons
Excellent sound and best-in-class noise canceling	No wireless charging or multipoint Bluetooth
Fit Kit ear tips and stabilizer system for secure, comfortable fit	Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life
Immersive Audio for a different listening experience
Slightly improved voice-calling

Bose surprised the market with the release of their new flagship wireless headphones, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, shortly after the QuietComfort Earbuds II were introduced just over a year ago. The sudden launch of the Ultra Earbuds raised eyebrows, as it seemed to replace a relatively new model. Now, the question arises: do these new earbuds live up to their predecessor’s legacy? Let’s delve into it.

Price:

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are priced at £300 / $299 / AU$450, representing a slight increase compared to the QuietComfort Earbuds II. In the competitive landscape of high-end wireless earbuds, they face tough competition from models like the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Pro 2, both of which have been discounted during sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday.

Design & Comfort:

The design of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds closely resembles that of the Earbuds II, with a few minor modifications. The outer stems of each earbud now feature a new metallic finish, aimed at providing a sleeker and more luxurious appearance. Additionally, there’s a small notch on the top edge of each bud to facilitate easier attachment of the stability bands, ensuring a more secure fit.

Comfort-wise, the Ultra Earbuds maintain the high standards set by their predecessors. The super soft tips offer excellent comfort without compromising on seal, ensuring a secure fit without causing discomfort. Users can easily adjust the earbuds for optimal fit, and during testing, they were found to be more comfortable than the Sony WF-1000XM5.

Apart from these tweaks, the Ultra Earbuds retain the premium build quality and touch-sensitive controls of their predecessors. The glossy plastics used exude a sense of quality, while the touch controls allow users to manage playback, switch listening modes, and adjust volume with ease.

Spatial Audio

Bose introduces the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds featuring Bose Immersive Audio, which incorporates spatial audio technology.
Immersive Audio offers two modes: Still and Motion. Still mode maintains fixed sound positioning, while Motion mode utilizes head tracking for dynamic sound positioning.
During testing, the Immersive Audio mode provides a sense of spaciousness and immersion, although some tracks exhibit delay and phase issues in Motion mode, affecting the overall experience.

Features:

The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds boast improved call quality with enhanced noise filtering and prioritization of the mic with minimal noise.
Battery life remains around six hours, but usage of Immersive Audio mode significantly reduces playback time to four hours.
Multipoint Bluetooth and wireless charging are absent, but users have the option to purchase a wireless charging cover for the case separately.

Noise Cancelling:

The earbuds excel in noise cancellation, effectively reducing environmental noise in various settings.
CustomTune calibration technology adjusts sound based on the surrounding noise environment.
Different levels of noise cancellation can be preset and cycled through using touch controls.
The ‘Aware’ mode balances music with ambient noise for situational awareness, although certain loud noises may be emphasized.

Sound:

The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer a familiar rich and full sound with a slightly punchier and clearer delivery compared to their predecessors.
While not as transparent as competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5, the sound maintains a sense of musicality and entertainment.
Tracks like Futures by Jimmy Eat World showcase dynamic presentation with well-defined instrument separation and vocal clarity.
Bass-heavy tracks like Bad Guy by Billie Eilish exhibit depth and weight without sacrificing clarity or agility, preserving the entertainment factor of the previous model.

Verdict

The Bose QC Ultra Earbuds offer a marginal improvement over the QC Earbuds 2, making them a solid choice for new buyers but not necessarily worth upgrading for current owners. They boast excellent noise cancellation, possibly the best available, and feature a natural-sounding transparency mode with the new ActiveSense feature, similar to the AirPods Pro’s Adaptive Audio.

With a slight enhancement in sound quality, including increased clarity and a more open soundstage thanks to the Immersive Audio feature, the QC Ultra Earbuds deliver an enjoyable listening experience. They also provide a comfortable fit for most users.

However, drawbacks such as the lack of multipoint Bluetooth pairing and the need for a separate $50 accessory for wireless charging may deter some buyers. Despite these limitations, the QC Ultra Earbuds remain among the top true-wireless earbuds on the market, competing favorably with offerings from Apple and Sony.