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The original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones remain an appealing choice if you want over-ear headphones with Bose’s Immersive Audio and noise-cancelling feature set. Their main drawback is the buying decision: Bose’s 2025 QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) successor adds features and longer stated battery life, so the original makes sense only if its current local price is meaningfully lower and you specifically want that model.
What this review covers
This is the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones announced by Bose on September 14, 2023—not the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), announced September 10, 2025. Bose lists the original as sold from 2023, while current Bose product pages represent the successor. Check the model name carefully when comparing listings or accessories. Bose’s 2023 announcement and 2025 successor announcement distinguish the generations.
What makes the original Ultra distinctive?
Immersive Audio adds a spatial listening option
The original Ultra generation introduced Bose Immersive Audio alongside noise cancellation and CustomTune audio calibration. Bose describes two Immersive Audio settings: in Still, audio seems to stay in place as you move your head; in Motion, it follows you, which Bose positions as better for use on the go. It is a feature to consider if you want a spatialized presentation, not a reason to assume every track will sound better or that the effect is equivalent to a particular surround-sound format.
Controls combine buttons and touch
Bose’s original product description places a power/Bluetooth button, capacitive touch strip for volume and shortcut access, and multifunction button on the right earcup. The left earcup has the status LED, 2.5 mm audio jack, and USB-C charging port. This mix gives you physical controls as well as touch access; whether the strip is convenient depends on your preference for touch gestures over dedicated buttons. Bose’s launch description documents the layout.
#1 Best Overall
- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
How long does the battery last?
Bose rates the original for up to 24 hours of playback with Immersive Audio off and up to 18 hours with it on. These are Bose’s maximum claims, not independent test results; actual playback time can vary with use and settings. Bose Support says a full charge takes up to three hours. A 15-minute charge is rated for up to 2.5 hours of playback with Immersive Audio off, or up to two hours with it on. Bose Support’s charging guidance provides the charge-time and quick-charge figures.
Original versus 2nd Gen: the differences that affect the decision
The successor is not just another name for the original. Bose’s 2025 announcement lists lossless USB-C audio, an updated adaptive-noise-cancellation algorithm, Cinema Mode, and longer stated playback for the 2nd Gen. The figures below are Bose claims for their respective models, not results from a common comparative test.
Rank #2
- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
| Feature | Original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Immersive Audio off | Up to 24 hours, per Bose | Up to 30 hours, per Bose |
| Immersive Audio on | Up to 18 hours, per Bose | Up to 23 hours, per Bose |
| ANC off | Not stated in the cited Bose material | Up to 45 hours, per Bose |
| Other named additions | Immersive Audio, CustomTune, and the original control layout | Lossless USB-C audio, updated adaptive-noise-cancellation algorithm, and Cinema Mode, per Bose |
Source for successor features and figures: Bose’s September 2025 announcement. Do not attribute the 2nd Gen’s USB-C lossless audio, Cinema Mode, updated algorithm, or battery claims to the 2023 model.
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Is the original worth buying?
It can be, if a retailer still has the exact 2023 model at a substantial discount to the 2nd Gen and its features suit you. Compare the actual local selling prices rather than relying on an old launch or review price. If the gap is small, the successor’s stated additions make it the more future-facing purchase on paper; the available Bose figures alone do not establish how the two compare in real-world battery testing, comfort, or noise cancellation.
Rank #3
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Effortlessly combines noise cancellation technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- COMFORTABLE HEADPHONES: Plush over-ear cushions softly hug your ears, while a secure and comfortable padded band gently keeps your studio headphones in place for those extra-long listening sessions
- 2 LISTENING MODES: These wireless Bluetooth headphones feature Quiet and Aware Modes that let you toggle between full noise cancelling or full awareness of your surroundings for seamless sound control
- HIGH-FIDELITY AUDIO/EQ CONTROL: Supercharge your favorite tracks with high-fidelity audio and Adjustable EQ that puts you in control of the bass, mid-range, and treble for unmatched bold sound
- ALL DAY BATTERY LIFE: Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones provide up to 24 hours of battery on a single charge, plus a 15-minute charge via USB-C gives you up to 2.5 hours of additional play time
For a third-party perspective on the successor’s value, RTINGS’ review updated June 23, 2026 says the 2nd Gen is slightly better than the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), while judging the differences potentially too small to justify the cost for most people. That is RTINGS’ evaluation of that comparison, not a universal verdict or a direct test of the original Ultra. Read the RTINGS review.
If you are also considering premium alternatives, What Hi-Fi?’s November 26, 2025 review placed the Sony WH-1000XM6, Sennheiser HDB 630, and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 in the same market context. Its cited review-time prices were £400 / $450 / AU$699 for Sony, £399 / $499 / AU$999 for Sennheiser, and £399 / $449 / AU$699 for Bowers & Wilkins. Those are historical publication-market prices, not current offers; check local listings and compare noise cancellation, long-session fit, battery with spatial audio enabled and disabled, device connectivity, and control preferences. What Hi-Fi?’s review supplies that market context.
Rank #4
- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
Replacement cushions: check the generation
Bose lists a cushion kit for the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and a separate kit for the 2nd Gen. Match the product generation before ordering replacement pads; the shared Ultra name does not establish that the kits are interchangeable. Bose Support’s product page lists original-model support and accessories, while Bose’s accessory listings separate the two cushion kits. Original-model support · Bose headphone accessories.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- SPATIAL AUDIO HEADPHONES: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones with spatial audio give you an immersive experience that makes music feel more real; CustomTune technology offers personalized sound, shaped to you
- NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES: These wireless noise cancelling headphones feature Quiet Mode, Aware Mode and Immersion Mode, which combines full noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio
- HEADPHONES WITH MIC: Microphones focus on the sound of your voice and the bluetooth headphones with microphone filter out background noise for the clearest phone calls of any Bose headphones
- COMFORTABLE HEADPHONES: Soft ear cushions hug your ears, the band spreads pressure evenly and elevated materials let you make a statement with these noise cancelling over-the-ear headphones
- WIRELESS HEADPHONES BLUETOOTH: Advanced Bluetooth 5.3 offers connection within 30 feet of your device; SimpleSync allows you to sync with a Bose smart soundbar so you can listen to TV at your own volume
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
