Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs QC Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): which noise-cancelling buds are better?

A new pair of Bose noise-cancelling wireless earbuds is always big news, especially when they're the follow-up to the best noise-cancelling earbuds around, the five-star QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (now known as the 1st Gen).

Bose's new flagship – the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) – may sound like a refresh rather than an entirely new model, but there are plenty of reasons to stay excited for the new premium buds.

Improvements include more advanced noise cancellation, better call quality and the addition of wireless charging.

We've now reviewed the new pair – so how do they compare to the old? And which are more deserving of your money?

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): price

The original QC Ultra Earbuds launched at £300 / $299 / AU$450 in September 2023, but have since come down in price to around £200 / $229 / AU$299. During Prime Day, they dropped as low as £189.

The next-gen sequel has the same launch price, and it's very welcome to have no price rise after two years for a new product.

For even better news, we would expect the original pair's price to drop even further now that the 2nd Gen models are available, especially around sales time. Eyes. Peeled.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen)**

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): design and build quality

The first thing you notice about the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) model is the new colourway. A rather natty 'Deep Plum' limited edition finish joins the existing Black and White Smoke of the 1st Gen model.

But it's not the only design change.

The ear tips now feature a guard to prevent a buildup of earwax, "making it easier to capture and remove earwax after prolonged use." Not only will this stop it from harming the sound quality, says Bose, but it will also be more hygienic.

Other than that, the earbuds are unchanged from the originals. Which is no bad thing. We called the originals "first-rate" in terms of comfort and fit, with super soft ear tips with support bands among the most comfortable and unobtrusive models around.

One slight niggle: we would have liked more sizes of eartips, as both pairs only have three sizes. But it's a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)**

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): features

You get a couple of new features to go with the new finish and the new wax-catching ear tips on the Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).

Wireless charging is now supported, which was one of our main criticisms of the original QC Ultra Earbuds. And you can toggle the capacitive touch controls off in the app, so you won't accidentally activate them when adjusting your glasses or brushing a strand of hair behind your ear.

The active noise cancellation (ANC) is also more sophisticated, which we'll cover in the next section.

Other than that, you get the same feature set as the original, including Immersive Audio, which is Bose's own take on spatial audio.

There is Bluetooth multipoint for seamless switching between two connected sources, and the same Bluetooth 5.3 brings the same suite of codecs, including SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive, as well as Google Fast Pair with compatible devices.

Battery life is also the same between the two generations of Ultra Earbuds: you get six hours (four with Immersive Audio activated) on a single charge, plus three extra charges from the charging case.

The accompanying Bose app lets you access Custom Modes, EQ adjustment, customisable shortcuts and more for both earbuds.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)**

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): ANC and call quality

The original QC Ultras were the best noise-cancelling earbuds we've tested, but the Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) take the ANC performance one step further.

Thanks to an updated algorithm, ActiveSense (which optimises the noise cancellation depending on your surroundings) now adjusts more smoothly when compensating for sudden loud noises – so a passing siren shouldn't drown out your music.

There's also a new AI-powered noise suppression system that should improve call quality. It uses Bose's audio augmentation tech originally found in hearing aids to reduce background noises to focus on the speaker's voice.

Those promises stand up to scrutiny. The 2nd Gen 'buds adapt to whatever hand they're dealt with barely a shrug – they soften harsh sounds while muting low-level rumbles.

For the ultimate in ANC, opt for the Quiet mode (Aware and Immersion are also available). This completely isolates you from your surroundings – some might prefer a more natural ANC performance, but if it's silence you want, Quiet is the closest you'll get to it.

It's effective across a range of sounds.

"Noises across the sonic spectrum, be they clacking keyboards, chattering colleagues or cars beeping their horns on the street, simply dissolve into near-insignificance, with harsher and more intrusive sounds shut out even more effectively than before," we wrote in our review.

Voice calls are equally impressive. Voices sound clear and weighty, while background sounds are dispensed with effectively. Voices can sound a tad synthetic at times, but only if you're looking for faults.

The 1st Gen Ultras perform very well on both counts, too.

Again, their ANC is excellent. "They’re able to take the noisiest environments, whether it's the rumble of heavy machinery as you walk past a building site or the loud chatter and sound system of a crowded pub, and reduce their impact quite dramatically," we noted in our review.

But we did find that the earbuds occasionally enhanced sudden noises rather than suppressed them. We've had no such issues with the Gen 2 model.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)**

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): sound quality

Bose promised the "same iconic performance" from the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), and while it has stuck with the same driver as their predecessors, it has tweaked the tuning to improve the bass response and smooth out high-end frequencies.

It's enough to earn another five-star review. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ Song For Bob shows their new depths of bass without sacrificing any agility in the low-end.

"Mournful strings plunge deeper than before, but across all frequencies there’s satisfying body and texture to notes that goes beyond what the original QC Ultra Earbuds could muster," we wrote in our review.

"It’s a clearer performance, too, and improved levels of crispness help to delineate where each note starts and finishes with a sharper, keener focus."

The presentation overall is richer and more authentic than the 1st Gen, and compellingly controlled and organised.

But the 1st Gen certainly aren't lacking in richness themselves. They sound fuller, punchier and a little clearer in their delivery than the older QuietComfort Earbuds II that they replaced.

Listening to Futures by Jimmy Eat World, we found the Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen) put their foot to the floor. "The drums and electric guitar burst onto the scene with a real sense of purpose and drive," we wrote.

"There’s a good sense of openness and spaciousness to the whole presentation and the lead vocal slots neatly in the middle. The edges of drum thwacks are clearly defined, and there’s a real sense of dynamism as Zach Lind makes his way around his kit."

Notes have sufficient depth and weight to really hit home, which makes for a musical, entertaining performance. That the 2nd Gen model can build on this is nothing short of impressive.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)**

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Ultra Earbuds (1st Gen): verdict

With more advanced noise cancellation, wireless charging, boosted call quality, even more advanced noise cancellation and upgraded sound quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the clear winners over the previous Ultra Earbuds model.

But the original pair are still quality, and could be the wiser buy for those on a tighter budget, especially if the price continues to fall as expected.

**Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)**

MORE:

Read our original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

And our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

Here is our wishlist for the upcoming Sony WF-1000XM6

Our guide to the best wireless earbuds you can buy right now