Bose QuietComfort Ultra 890101-0100

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is a top-tier wireless noise-canceling headphone with best-in-class ANC, exceptional comfort, and a fun Immersive Audio mode. Sound quality is good but not class-leading, and the touch controls can be finicky. If you want the best noise cancellation and all-day comfort, this is the one to get, especially at the lower end of its price range.

The headline feature here is the hybrid ANC, and it delivers. Our database puts it in the 95th percentile for noise cancellation, which means it's right up there with the best you can buy. The CustomTune tech adapts the sound and ANC to your ear shape, and in practice that means the noise floor just drops away. Owners rave about it on flights and in open offices. The Immersive Audio mode is Bose's take on spatial audio, and it's genuinely fun. It takes music out of your head and places it in front of you, like speakers in a room. Some people love it for movies and games, others leave it off for critical listening. Either way, it's a nice party trick that doesn't ruin the sound when you turn it off.

Battery life is rated at 30 hours, which lands in the 81st percentile. That's solid, not class-leading, but the 15-minute quick charge giving 2.5 hours is handy when you forget to plug in before a flight. Sound quality sits at the 59th percentile, which is about average for this price tier. It's rich and clear, with that classic Bose warmth, but it won't out-resolve a Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 or Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. The mic setup uses 12 mics total, and call quality ranks in the 84th percentile, well above average for noisy environments. Connectivity is where this thing shines, hitting the 100th percentile. Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, and a wired USB-C audio mode for lossless playback. That's as future-proof as wireless headphones get right now.

Against the Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B, the Bose wins on comfort and ANC refinement, but Sony's bass-heavy tuning and lower price will appeal to a different crowd. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 is the one to beat for pure sound quality. It's more detailed and dynamic, and it's often cheaper. But its ANC isn't as strong, and the Bose is more comfortable for most head shapes. The Apple AirPods Max Midnight is the ecosystem play. If you're deep in Apple land, the seamless pairing and spatial audio integration are hard to ignore. But the AirPods Max is heavier, the case is a joke, and it costs more. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is the luxury option with better materials and a more refined sound signature, but you'll pay a premium for it. The Technics EAH-A800 is a sleeper pick with great battery life, but it doesn't have the Bose's ANC chops or brand recognition.

Pricing is all over the place right now. In the US, we're seeing listings from USD 317 to USD 449 across 8 vendors. That's a USD 132 spread, which is wild. If you're shopping in the US, the best deal we're tracking is at the lower end of that range, so don't pay full price. In Canada, the spread is even bigger, CAD 547 to CAD 909 across 4 listings. That CAD 362 gap means you could save a serious chunk just by checking a different store. For the features you get, the QuietComfort Ultra is a strong buy at the low end of those ranges. At full retail, it's harder to justify against the Sony ULT WEAR or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4, which undercut it on price while offering comparable or better sound.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) sits at the top of Bose's over-ear lineup, and it's priced like it. This is a wireless noise-canceling headphone aimed at people who want best-in-class ANC, spatial audio tricks, and all-day comfort for travel, work, or just zoning out at home. We're looking at Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, a 30-hour battery, and that new Immersive Audio mode Bose keeps talking about. It's not cheap, but Bose rarely is.

So is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra good for travel? Based on our data, yes. The ANC ranks in the 95th percentile, which puts it among the absolute best on the market right now. Owners consistently mention airplane noise and office chatter just disappearing. The foldable design and included case help too, though a few people find that case tighter than it needs to be.

How does the Bose QuietComfort Ultra compare to the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max? We'll get into that below, but the short version is Bose wins on pure noise cancellation and comfort for most people, while Sony and Apple have their own strengths in sound tuning and ecosystem lock-in.

Skip the Bose QuietComfort Ultra if you're an audiophile chasing the best possible sound quality. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 both out-resolve it in the sound department. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and want seamless device switching, the AirPods Max is the better fit, assuming you can stomach the price and the ridiculous case. Gamers should also look elsewhere, as the latency even when hardwired makes these a poor choice for competitive play. And if you're on a tight budget, the Sony ULT WEAR or Technics EAH-A800 offer solid ANC and sound for less money.

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra? If noise cancellation and comfort are your top priorities, yes. This is the headphone to beat for blocking out the world, and it's comfortable enough to wear for an entire workday or a cross-country flight. The Immersive Audio mode is a nice bonus that actually works, and the connectivity is as good as it gets. Just know that sound quality is good, not great, and the touch controls can be annoying. If you're an audiophile chasing the best possible sound, look at the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 or Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 instead. But for most people who want to disappear into their music or podcasts, the QuietComfort Ultra is an easy recommendation, especially if you can find it at the lower end of that price spread.