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The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (€449) are Bose’s answer to losing the noise-cancelling crown to Sony. They get most of it back: ANC is back to best-in-class on low-frequency drone (planes, trains, server-room hum), comfort beats every over-ear Bose has shipped, and the new Immersive Audio mode is the first time a Bose headphone has felt sonically distinctive rather than just neutral. Where they still trail the Sony WH-1000XM5: app, multipoint robustness, and call quality.
Our rating: 4.6/5. Check current price on Amazon:
Check price on Amazon →Official Bose product overview
Official Bose product walkthrough covering controls, Immersive Audio modes, the Aware Mode (transparency), and Snapdragon Sound. Watch the controls section — the physical volume slider on the right ear is the small detail that sets these apart from the touch-gesture controls most rivals use.
The QuietComfort Ultra is Bose’s flagship over-ear, sitting above the QC45 (now QC SE) in the lineup. It launched in late 2023 and went through a 2024 firmware update that materially improved Immersive Audio and multipoint behaviour. The 2026 model on shelves today is functionally the same hardware as the 2023 release, but firmware-revised.
Three things make it different from a QC45: a new Snapdragon Sound chip that enables aptX Adaptive, an Immersive Audio mode that adds a head-tracked spatial layer, and a physical volume slider on the right ear cup. The earpads are slightly thicker and the headband uses denser foam.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Driver | 35mm dynamic |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive (Snapdragon Sound) |
| Battery life | 24h (ANC on), 18h (with Immersive Audio) |
| Quick charge | 15min = 2.5h playback |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, multipoint (2 devices) |
| Active noise cancelling | Yes, adaptive |
| Weight | 253g |
| Microphones | 6 (beamforming for calls) |
| Folding | Yes, foldable + case included |
| Price (EU, 2026) | €449 |
This is the headline. Bose and Sony have traded the top of this category for years, and the QC Ultra is Bose's answer to the Sony WH-1000XM5. Both are flagship ANC designs; which one edges the other depends on the noise you are actually cancelling, and the honest answer is that the two are close enough that fit and comfort should decide it. If you can, try both.
The adaptive ANC adjusts based on what it detects in your environment. In practice, this means it ramps up when you board a plane and ramps down when you re-enter a quiet office — you don’t notice the transition, but the result is less ear-pressure than fixed-strength ANC at maximum.
Bose’s Immersive Audio takes any stereo source and adds a head-tracked spatial layer that makes the audio feel like it’s coming from a fixed point in front of you, rather than inside your head. Turn your head: the sound stays where it was.
It works on any source. Bose rates the headphones at 24 hours with Immersive Audio off and 18 hours with it on, so the mode costs you roughly a quarter of your battery. Whether the spatial layer improves a given source is a matter of taste — it alters the mix, which some listeners like on film and dislike on music. It is a toggle; try it on your own library.
| Headphone | ANC strength | Comfort | Sound signature | Battery | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QC Ultra | Best on low-freq | Best-in-class | Neutral + Immersive | 24h | €449 |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Best on mid-freq | Very good | Bass-leaning, V-shaped | 30h | €349 |
| Apple AirPods Max | Excellent | Heavy (385g) | Apple house sound | 20h | €579 |
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 | Good | Excellent | Detailed, balanced | 60h | €299 |
| Bose QC45 (older) | Very good | Excellent | Neutral | 24h | €229 |
The QC Ultra’s closest rival is the Sony WH-1000XM5 we reviewed separately. Pick the Bose for: pure noise-cancelling on flights, all-day comfort, Immersive Audio for podcasts/films. Pick the Sony for: pure music listening (richer sound), best-in-class call quality, smarter app, longer battery (30h vs 24h). At €100 more than the Sony, the Bose is the comfort-and-ANC choice, not the value pick — see the full field in our best noise-cancelling headphones of 2026 roundup.
Buy the QC Ultra if you fly often, work in open-plan offices, or value comfort over every other variable — these are the headphones we’d recommend to a frequent business traveller without hesitation. Skip them if your primary use is music listening and you don’t value Immersive Audio: the Sony WH-1000XM5 sounds better for music, costs €100 less, and has a smarter app.
Our rating: 4.6/5. Drops 0.4 only on value — the actual product is a 5/5.
Check current price and availability on Amazon. Our rating: 4.6/5.
Check price on Amazon →FutureFavs earns a small commission when you buy via these links. We don’t accept payment from Bose or any manufacturer for positive reviews. Full affiliate disclosure.
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