The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are Bose’s flagship over-ear ANC headphones, with the same noise cancellation technology that made the QuietComfort name famous over the past two decades. The 2023 release added Bose Immersive Audio, CustomTune calibration that adjusts the sound to your ear shape, and multipoint Bluetooth for switching between a phone and a laptop. Battery life runs about 24 hours per charge with Immersive Audio off, or 18 hours with it on. The headphones come in Black, White Smoke, and Lunar Blue.
Over-the-ear headphones that block out all the noise of the world
Noise cancellation is what put the QuietComfort line on the map, and the Ultra model represents the most aggressive ANC Bose has shipped in a consumer pair of headphones. Quiet Mode runs full noise cancellation, which works well for plane engines, train rumble, open-plan offices, and the general low-frequency hum of urban life. Plus, ActiveSense is a smart Aware Mode that lets ambient sound through while selectively dampening loud spikes, like a passing motorcycle or a coffee grinder firing up next to you.
Bose Immersive Audio is the spatial audio implementation on the Ultra Headphones. The feature converts stereo music into a sound field in front of you and to the sides, rather than directly in your head. Two modes are available: a fixed Still mode that locks the sound stage in place even when you turn your head, and a Motion mode that lets the sound bubble move with you. The trade-off is reduced battery life (about 18 hours instead of 24), but the spatial audio works on any music source.
Comfort is one of the main reasons the QuietComfort name has been around since 2000. The Ultra Headphones use soft faux-leather cushions, a band that evenly distributes pressure across the top of your head, and a gentle clamping force that doesn’t squeeze your skull. Sleek metal arms also give the headphones a more refined design than the plastic-heavy QuietComfort 45. Plus, the Ultra Headphones fold flat for transport in the included carrying case.
Multipoint Bluetooth lets the Ultra Headphones connect to two devices at once, switching between them when calls come in or audio starts. CustomTune calibration runs each time you power on the headphones, playing a tone and measuring how your specific ear shape modifies it. The Bose Music app handles EQ adjustments, custom noise modes, and firmware updates. The headphones also include a 3.5mm-to-2.5 mm audio cable for wired listening.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are typically priced at $449, putting them in the same price tier as the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Apple AirPods Max. The deal drops the price from $449 to $269, which puts them closer to budget ANC options. For frequent flyers, anyone working in an open-plan office, or audiophiles upgrading from a pair of older Bose or Sony headphones, the discount makes the Ultra Headphones a much easier upgrade.
