- Bose has just unveiled second-generation QuietComfort Headphones
- Introduces two-way USB-C audio, better ANC, Bose Immersive Audio and more
- Costs less than 2023 model, brings not one but two Shrek-y color options
It’s been three long years since the Bose QuietComfort Headphones arrived (which were themselves an update on the iconic Bose QuietComfort 35 II, initially released way back in 2017).
And now, the brand has finally updated the series as its more affordable option to the flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).
These are, as naming experts can probably guess, called the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). They bring a range of upgrades over the original pair and, most importantly, a lower price. That’s right: 2026, aka the year of price hikes, has just thrown us a bone.
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We know the Bose QC Headphones (2nd Gen) will cost £299 (which converts to around $400, AU$600, though I’d expect the actual prices to be a little lower). For context, the first-gen model cost $349 / £349.95 / AU$549.95, so the discount isn’t just mere pennies.
The new headphones will go on sale on August 13, and we’ll start testing them soon to see how they stack up in a congested market. The thing is, this aesthetic is highly desirable: when I take public transport I see countless pairs of the older model, despite their relative age.
Anyway, let’s look at some key upgrades!
What’s new in Gen 2
By the sounds of things, the new Bose cans match their predecessors in terms of audio chops. The older siblings had a 40mm driver, though the company hasn’t confirmed what size (and type) of driver the 2nd Gen set are packing.
However, there’s now Bose Immersive Audio, a feature previously exclusive to the Ultra lineup, which offers some useful presets. One, which Bose highlights, is a Cinema Mode that aims to create a wide soundstage and boost dialogue.
There’s now also support for USB-C wired audio, so you can listen to lossless audio from your phone, and boosts to the ANC. Given that the ‘Quiet’ part of ‘QuietComfort’ is a pledge of noise cancellation prowess and the fact that Bose essentially wrote the book on ANC, it’s good to hear (or, more appropriately, not hear).
Bose has made a few design tweaks on the QCH(2G) too, with comfier cushions and more ovular earcups. The brand also says the sliders are smoother to use, and presumably that refers to the headband sliders or small Bluetooth slider on the top plate of the right ear cup, because the first-gen. model didn’t have any kind of on-ear volume slider.
And, because you read it in the headline, there’s one more change we should discuss. Beyond black and white color options, three limited-edition models are being unveiled. Rosewood Mauve is a bold purplish option — see our glowing Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review for reference — while Eucalyptus Green, pictured in the main image, will make you look like you’re wearing Shrek ears. The third is Dewdrop Mint, with a two-tone pale and dark green. To my eyes this particular finish looks like the hue a pair of kids’ headphones would come in.
I imagine that most people might prefer to pick up the black or white models, but Shrek fans out there might differ.
The best noise cancelling headphones for all budgets
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tom.bedford@hotmail.co.uk (Tom Bedford)
