About the Bose QuietComfort® Ultra Earbuds
The best earbuds for canceling noise — now with spatial audio
The best earbuds for canceling noise — now with spatial audio
I had already crowned Bose's previous-generation in-ears as "the best wireless earbuds for canceling noise." The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds boast the same powerful noise-canceling circuitry as their predecessor, along with Bose Immersive Audio technology. It creates a spacious 3D soundstage in which music and other audio sources come at you from all sides, behind you, and even above your head. And it works with any type of music (or music service).
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds offer noise cancellation powerful enough to silence loud industrial sounds.
Plus, these compact earbuds can silence external distractions as well as the finest over-ear noise-cancelers. Headphones this small — earbuds — simply aren't supposed to cancel noise this well.
Ultra-portable design for traveling light
The QC Ultra Earbuds sit flat in your ears and don't protrude like the older, larger Bose earbuds. They're also sweat-proof and pack up neatly into a pocket-sized charging case, making them a convenient choice for work, exercise, and travel. Music plays wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3 — a newer, reliable version of the popular wireless technology.
And since they are so easy to bring along, I consider them a game changer for travel. I haven't auditioned these earbuds yet, but I'm very familiar with the latest Bose noise-canceling circuitry. I wore their previous-generation earbuds on both a plane and Amtrak train, and they succeeded in those two noisy, yet very different environments.
Airplane engines have a louder rumble, while the train is more of an across-all-frequencies whir and whistle. But in both cases, I enjoyed a blanket of silence before I even hit play on my music or podcasts.
Renowned Bose comfort with redesigned ear tips
These earbuds use soft, silicone ear tips that sit a little further in than traditional Bose StayHear tips. They rest securely and comfortably inside the ear, but not as deep as some other earbuds. It's a wonderful compromise, creating a better seal for blocking out noise, while upholding Bose's reputation as the "in-ears for people who don't like in-ears."
Three sizes of ear tips are included, along with three sizes of optional flexible wings. They help stabilize the earbuds, keeping them in place as you move your head. Bose tweaked their design so that they fit in your ears easier with less adjusting.
Touch control for noise cancellation, "Aware," and "immersive" modes
You have touch control over music, calls, volume, and noise cancellation. "Quiet" mode delivers the maximum level of noise cancellation, while "Aware" mode lets in external sounds, so you can hear your surroundings. Hold either earbud to select full cancellation, full awareness, or a blend of both. You can create additional modes in the Bose Music app, a free download for Apple® and Android™, by assigning a certain level of noise cancellation or awareness.
The earbuds offer up to six hours of battery life, and the charging case banks enough power to recharge them three times.
The app also lets you choose between two different settings of immersive audio. In one setting, the enhanced soundstage moves along with your head. But you can also activate and use the earbuds' built-in headtracking — that keeps the sound presentation fixed and centered, as if you were listening in a room with speakers.
Solid battery life with charging case
You get more battery life from over-ear headphones for sure, but the QC Ultra earbuds offer six hours of battery life — easily enough to cover a short flight.
When they need more juice, just snap the earbuds into the included charging case. I can palm this small case in my hand, but it packs enough power to recharge the earbuds three times. And just 20 minutes inside the case gives you two hours of playback with noise cancellation.
Product highlights:
- Featured in our articles: Best true wireless earbuds for 2024 and Best Bluetooth headphones for 2024
- 100% wire-free headphones
- no connecting cord between left and right earbuds
- built-in Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless music listening and phone calls with compatible smartphones
- aptX® Adaptive automatically adjusts to prioritize audio quality or low latency, depending on the listening situation
- two immersive audio modes for 3D sound
- extends the size and width of the sonic presentation
- dynamic head-tracking helps emulate the sound of speakers in a room
- detailed, well-balanced sound with depth and presence
- IPX4 sweat- and weather-resistant
Advanced Bose noise cancellation:
- active noise cancellation uses internal circuitry to block out external distractions
- earbud controls let you select full-strength "Quiet" mode or "Aware" mode to hear external sounds
- noise cancellation and awareness levels available via the mobile app
- CustomTune technology calibrates sound and noise cancellation to your fit and surroundings
Controls and mobile app:
- touch controls on each earbud let you answer calls and control music, noise cancellation, and volume
- choose between standard listening and immersive audio options
- access Siri or Google Assistant voice controls assistants from your phone
- built-in microphone array for taking calls
- mic system designed to better capture your voice in noisy or windy conditions
- sensors automatically stop music and switch to "Aware" in either earbud when removed
- earbuds can be used one at a time or as a pair
- free, optional Bose® Music app for Apple and Android
- customize your sound settings, touch controls, and noise cancellation
- store up to two noise cancellation "modes" to toggle through with touch controls
General information and accessories:
- three sizes of soft silicone ear tips provide a stable, comfortable fit
- three sizes of flexible wings keep earbuds secure during movement
- improved design for easier removal and replacement
- voice prompts provide information on battery life, device connection, and caller ID
- built-in rechargeable batteries offer up to 6 hours of listening with noise cancellation
- included carrying case banks up to 18 hours of power to wirelessly recharge headphones
- 20 minutes inside case provides enough power for 2 hours of listening with noise cancellation
- USB-A to USB-C cable included for charging case
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # 882826-0010
What's in the box:
Bose QuietComfort® Ultra Earbuds owner's manual
- Left and right wireless earbuds (black)
- Charging case (black)
- 3 Pairs of silicone ear tips
- 3 Pairs of silicone stability bands
- 12" USB charging cable (USB-A on one end and USB-C on other end)
- Important Safety Instructions
Customer reviews for Bose QuietComfort® Ultra Earbuds
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More details on the Bose QuietComfort® Ultra Earbuds
Features & specs
General | ||
---|---|---|
Fit Style | True Wireless | |
Earcup Type | Closed | |
Earcup Width x Height | 1.192" x 0.677" | |
Noise-canceling | Yes | |
Bluetooth | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | |
Single-earbud Operation | Yes | |
Mic For Taking Calls | Yes | |
Voice Assistant Access | ||
Amazon Alexa | No | |
Google Assistant | No | |
Siri | No | |
Connectors | ||
3.5mm | No | |
1/4" | No | |
Lightning | No | |
4.4mm balanced | No | |
XLR4 balanced | No | |
2.5mm | No | |
Other | None | |
Specs | ||
Frequency Response | Not Given | |
Sensitivity | --- | |
Impedance | --- | |
Weight | 0.5 ounces | |
Cord Length | N/A | |
Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
Labor Warranty | 1 Year |
Product Research
Features
Overview: The Bose QuietComfort® Ultra Earbuds feature the world's most effective noise-cancelling technology and Bose's CustomTune™ Technology that helps adapt the earbuds to your unique ears and ear canals. The individual left and right wireless earbuds come with soft silicone eartips for all day comfort, and stability bands for a more secure fit. The QuietComfort Ultra come with a sleek charging case, USB-C charging cable, three pairs of eartips, and three pairs of stability bands.
Bluetooth 5.3: The QuietComfort Ultra feature Bluetooth 5.3 and operate at a range of up to 30 feet from your paired device. They support SBC, AAC, and aptX adaptive codecs. Users with Android devices can enjoy simple, fast pairing with Google Fast Pair. When you turn on the headphones, a Google Fast Pair pop-up window appears for rapid setup of the devices.
aptX Adaptive: AptX Adaptive helps to maintain the best sound quality and provide a solid wireless connection. When the Bluetooth connection is less than ideal, the earbuds will slightly lower the audio quality in order to obtain a stronger wireless connection to your device, thus avoiding audio dropouts. When you have a strong wireless connection, the QC Ultra earbuds boost the sampling rate from 44.1kHz to 48kHz for higher audio quality and lower latency. Android users can take advantage of Snapdragon Sound on certain certified devices for superb audio quality.
Fitting the Earbuds: The QuietComfort Ultra come with three pairs of soft silicone ear tips. The ear tips rest at the opening of the ear canal to create a comfortable seal for optimal noise cancelling and audio performance. Stability Bands rest against the ridge of the ear for better stability. The eartips come in small, medium, and large sizes, while the Stability Bands are marked Left and Right with sizes numbered as 1 (small), 2 (medium), and 3 (large). The medium ear tips and Size 1 Stability Bands are installed on the Earbuds at the factory. An ear tip sizing tutorial in the Bose Music App helps you to find the correct size of ear tip.
CustomTune Technology: QuietComfort Ultra features CustomTune technology which optimizes the earbuds to your ear shape. Once you have chosen the best fitting ear tips and Stability Bands, you should run the CustomTune procedure to analyze and learn your ear canal's unique shape. The buds send out a chime which bounces back and gets picked up by the built-in microphones. The Earbuds auto-adjust the noise cancellation and sound performance based on the shape of your ear.
Immersive Audio: Bose's new Immersive Audio makes your music sound as if it's coming from beyond the earbuds. It gives it a wider sound stage in the front and on the sides for a more spacious listening experience. You can choose from two Immersive Audio Settings. The Motion setting makes your audio sound as if you're listening to two stereo speakers in front of you, and the sound stays in front of you, even when you turn your head. This setting works best when you are moving or have to turn your head or look down frequently. The Still Setting sounds like two stereo speakers that don't move with you--they stay in place. This setting is best suit to when you are sitting stationary. Immersive Audio shuts off temporarily when a phone call comes in. It can be turned on or off as you choose.
Water/Sweat Resistance: The Bose QuietComfort Ultra have an IPX4 rating for their resistance to sweat and splashing water from any angle. The inside cavity of the Charging Case is also resistant to water and sweat that may remain on the earbuds after use. The earbuds and charging case are not waterproof, and should not be submerged.
Listening Modes: Bose QuietComfort Ultra have the same noise-cancelling performance as their best over-ear headphones. It starts with a high degree of passive noise reduction from the soft silicone ear tips that conforms to the contours of your ear canal for a gentle seal. A strong airtight seal not only blocks outside noise, it enhances the bass so your music is more full and vibrant. The earbuds' microphones pick up ambient sounds in your environment. An equal, but opposite signal is produced in the earbud to cancel out this unwanted noise, leaving only your music content or phone call. The following Listening Modes are offered:
- Quiet: The earbuds use full noise cancellation with Bose-optimized audio to block out distractions.
- Aware: The Aware mode lets you enjoy your audio while providing full transparency, allowing you to hear your surroundings. ActiveSense™ technology helps protect your hearing by reducing sudden or loud noises.
- Immersion: The earbuds are set to full noise cancellation with Immersive Audio set to Motion, allowing you to enjoy an immersive listening experience without distraction.
- Custom: Using the Bose Music app, you can create up to seven custom noise cancellation modes that are somewhere between full noise cancellation and full transparency, based on your listening preferences and environment.
Bose Music App: The Bose Music App helps you to enjoy your Quiet Comfort Ultra even more. The app aids you in setting up and controlling your earbuds from any smartphone or tablet. In the app, you can select an action, such as checking the battery level or skipping a track, and save it as a Shortcut. The Bose Music app makes pairing easier and faster, lets you choose your voice prompt language, and manage your earbud settings. You can use the app to easily browse your favorite music sources. An equalizer in the app lets you adjust the bass, midrange, and treble to suit your listening preferences. The app is available from the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch running iOS 15 or later, and from Google Play for Android devices (version varies with device).
Touch Controls: Each earbud has a large touch surface area for controlling music playback and phone calls. Tapping or swiping the touch surface of either earbud lets you play/pause your music, skip to the next or previous track, increase or decrease the volume, and answer/end/decline a phone call.
In-ear Detection: Sensors in each earbud identifies when you're wearing one or both earbuds. In-ear Detection is used for automatically triggered actions:
- Auto Play/Pause: During music playback, the audio pauses when an earbud is removed. Reinserting the earbud resumes music playback.
- Auto Answer Call: You can answer an incoming phone call by inserting the right earbud. This feature is enabled/disabled in the Bose Music App.
- Auto Transparency: When listening with Noise Cancelling enabled, removing an earbud causes the remaining earbud to adjust to full transparency. When the earbud is reinserted, both earbuds return to the previous noise cancelling level.
SimpleSync: Bose's SimpleSync technology lets you connect the earbuds to a Bose Smart Soundbar or Bose Smart Speaker to listen in private. SimpleSync uses Bluetooth to connect, giving you a range of up to 30 feet. You can control the headphone volume independently of the Smart Soundbar or Speaker. Compatible products include Smart Soundbar (models 900, 700, 600), Smart Speaker 500, Home Speaker 500 and 300, and Bose Portable Smart Speaker or Portable Home Speaker. You can also connect the headphones and speakers using the Bose Music app.
Power Options: The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are equipped with Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries which provide up to 6 hours of playback time on a full charge. The Charging Case also has a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery that can recharge the earbuds an additional three times for a total of 24 hours. The earbuds charge in the Charging Case in approximately 2 hours. A 20-minute Quick Charge provides up to 2 hours of playback time. The Charging Case battery charges in about 3 hours when plugged into a USB power source via the included USB-C cable. LED status lights on the front of the Charging Case indicate the charge status and battery level of the case. You should only charge the earbuds and case when they are at room temperature (46°F-102°F).
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Customer Q&A
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Amazing sound quality and great noise cancellation. Very comfortable and secure fit The touch controls are a bit of a problem because they are so sensitive that when trying to adjust the volume or pausing play you end up changing the noise cancelling settings and vice versa
Steven from Ossining, NY