Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless NC Earbuds Review

The release of these new earphones attempts to compensate for the sound quality that the old model left behind. Without any other explanation, this is my own goal. They are similar to the new Bose flagship, QuietComfort 2022, the best noise-canceling earpieces on the market.

If you are going for a design upgrade to achieve a new Ultra edition within only a year since the launch of the old model, meanwhile, other than the side of the stems’ shells, which now look shinier, a few alterations were made to the four-mic-per-bud array to enable more explicit calls. However, this time, some tuning of the array from the four mics per bud to promote better calls. They are certainly clearer and better this time, everywhere. The grooves on the earpieces make molding the stability bands very easy now.

• Immerse yourself in deeply immersive spatial audio that places sound directly before you.
• Enjoy custom-tailored noise cancellation with CustomTune technology that adapts to each ear individually.
• Swap between nine soft ear tips and stability bands for a customizable fit that ensures all-day comfort.
• Choose from three listening modes: Quiet Mode, Aware Mode, and Immersion Mode for Bose Immersive Audio.
• Experience up to 6 hours of listening time with Bluetooth connectivity (4 hours with Immersive Audio).
• Fast charging provides up to 2 hours of additional playtime with just a 20-minute charge.
• Make clear calls with noise-rejecting microphones and control volume, song selection, and call handling with intuitive touch controls.
• Use both buds for stereo sound or switch to single-ear mode for flexibility during calls or music playback.
• Experiment with different ear tips and stability band sizes for a personalized, comfortable fit.

• Enjoy enhanced sound quality and clarity with Snapdragon Sound Certification.
• Stay connected with Bluetooth 5.3 for a robust and stable connection within 30 feet of your device.
• Manage settings and customize your listening experience through the Bose Music app.
• Snapdragon Sound Certification ensures an enhanced listening experience for Android users.
• Enjoy enhanced sound quality and clarity with Snapdragon Sound Certification.
• Experience world-class noise cancellation with CustomTune technology.
• Easily adjust settings and access battery life information through the Bose Music app.
• Customize EQ settings and access shortcuts for seamless control.
• Mix and match ear tips and stability band sizes for the perfect fit.
• Benefit from a strong, continuous connection with advanced Bluetooth 5.3 technology.
• Enjoy clear calls and easy control with intuitive touch gestures.
• Stay connected and in control with the Bose Music app’s comprehensive features.

Although sometimes you might just put them directly in your ear, I recommend downloading the Bose Music app (android and iPhone) for your smartphone to pair the earpieces and run the seal test. Like the AirPods ear tip fit test, the earphone seal will check whether the tip sizes you selected fit your ears. A good seal is essential for the user’s sense of comfort and for achieving effective sound cancelation.

I am already smitten with the small-stemmed shape. I love it, but the metallic finish on the outward-facing control pads makes them more aesthetic. A few buddies of mine complimented me on their appearance. They particularly mentioned how the shine undergoes slight modifications depending on where the sun hits it.

The Bose earpieces even survived the most challenging conditions. I was aware of their IPX4 water-resistant rating, which they were likely to withstand when the moisture from the inside-out wind went through my cheap umbrella. The above means they could also be among the sports headphones for those with an active lifestyle. These earpieces can be the best running headphones within the same brand.

The limitation of this headphone is that you can only pair to one source simultaneously, which is not its advantage as I switch my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook many times a day. However, the app may drop in between modes if one selects immersive audio settings. You may decide to select your speaker’s audio mode between “still” mode, which helps maximize audio quality in stationary or inactive situations. Meanwhile, “motion” mode is an ambient sound that moves with you. Instead of going through the whole menu, I activated a long press on my left earbud to cycle the modes of incredible immersive audio (e.g., aware, quiet, and other modes) using my earbud’s menu.

I gave the right earbud a custom shortcut to trigger my voice assistant, Siri, for any time control or a quick response to a question. Sure enough, the headphones have intuitive touch controls – on their body. I can adjust the volume using a horizontal slider, whereas a double tap progresses the piece.

Beyond the touch settings, the Bose music application can set up the buds’ sound profile with a customizable equalizer. These are just a few presets, like the bass boost and the treble boost, but you can greatly tune the bass, mid, and treble according to your taste and liking. So, for example, imagine you create a profile with a V-shaped EQ that is not to your taste. The Bose app enables you to reset anytime.

Bose has much to show off with the noise-cancellation upgrade of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which goes beyond noise-canceling by using advanced digital signal processing software to create a 3D soundstage. Therefore, apart from whether you are listening to music on a streaming platform or a music source, you will receive a virtualization listening experience that may be unusual either at a desk or in motion.

Regarding the “still” mode, the audio experience is just as immersive and superb as what I previously thought was the best audio I’ve ever heard with headphones. When I was listening to Portugal the Man’s “Feel It Still” with my favorite band, that was a moment I had been waiting for. I hear the music from the floor as the bass line drives us all to the dancefloor while different horns join above our heads.

The delicate vocals shot in from the microphone and sounded like an extension of me, making me notice the perfect blend of the retro rhymes that maintained a 360-degree balance without being a distraction. I can imagine myself among the crowd during the “Motion” mode, with the spatialized audio and the environment created when I walked in a city or park.

Through all the head movements, I could hear Ballerini’s sensitive singing without losing one cheer and the amusing banter of the audience, including the expletive spoken out at the song’s subject.

The other advantage is the sound quality, as Bluetooth codecs are ahead of SBC and AAC. Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive, which uses Bluetooth 5.3 to play audio wirelessly, improves the playback quality by dynamically scaling the data rate from 279kbps to 420kbps. You can enjoy better sound quality with a lossless streaming service like Apple Music or Tidal.

Bose, having a long presence in the market, is well recognized as the leader, and the latest products, such as Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, solidify its status. Although some competitors might get close regarding design, including AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5, only Bose still stands out as a pro offering outstanding personalized performance. Unlike the many ANC earphones that implement a binary “on or off” ANC protocol, Bose earbuds feature an EQ feature, which allows users to customize their sound profiles across ten isolation levels.

This customization will be of great importance in several cases, such as during an air flight when the noise canceling is set to ‘maximum’ to help block out the excessive noise of engines. First, the soundscape “urban travels” is favorable because it reduces traffic noise while keeping the user aware of the situation. Indeed, this adaptability stresses and underlines Bose’s devotion to providing a tailored listening experience uniquely suitable for each user’s tastes and current spot.

Also, with Aware mode or Transparency Mode in augmented reality, the user experience goes to the level where organic sounds are the central aspect that helps him with orientation in space. Moreover, Activesense has put comfort at the forefront by including intelligent technology custom-tuned to adapt to environmental changes, closely resembling the AI of AirPods Pro’s Adaptive Transparency. In general, if the noise-canceling earbuds from Bose, which are their pioneer ANC ear devices, are evaluated, they can easily compete with the most advanced ANC earphones currently available and give users the most customizable and immersive listening experience.

The distortion in the observed voice quality started to be more noticeable after a while, obliging us to speak loudly for recipients to understand what was being said. It did restrict me; earrings in public, for sure, are extra trouble when discretion is essential. Also, the noise cancellation performance for calls was found to be one of the mediocre features against the competing models’ earbuds, which negatively affected the call experience.

In its magnetic charging case, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra can provide continuous playback for up to 24 hours (16 hours when deep music mode is enabled). You can use them for several hours without an additional charge. Thus, the users can stay connected for intervals during which they usually don’t have to be bothered by recurring recharging. While this is the case, it’s essential to observe that extended usage of certain features could be the reason behind the reduction of the device’s battery life over the period then it was intended to be.

However, the magnetic Qi-wireless charging case will only be useful to users who appreciate tidiness and prefer to have something other than standalone wireless chargers around their space. Even if the case can be charged using traditional methods, moving away from the option for wireless charging can be problematic for users already accustomed to this technology. Yet, the availability of flexible charging methods means compatibility with innumerable widely available accessories.

• Impressive Active Noise Cancellation
• Adjustable EQ

• Crisp Audio with Rich Bass
• Immersive Audio Modes with Spatial Effects