Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs. Earbuds (2nd Gen): Which One to Buy

July 19, 2026

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at $369 and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) at $249 both cancel noise well. The right pick comes down to how you actually wear them.

Same noise cancellation, two different products

Bose sells both the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in second-generation form, and both are on sale right now: the headphones at $369 (18% off) and the earbuds at $249 (17% off). They share Bose's noise cancellation engine and similar app features, so the choice isn't about which cancels more noise. It's about how you want them on your head for six-plus hours at a stretch.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — $369 (18% off)

These follow the same over-ear blueprint Bose has used for years: lightweight plastic build, padded headband, angled drivers, all at 253 grams. SoundGuys measured the original Ultra headphones cutting real-world external noise by about 87%, and the 2nd Gen keeps that bar. Battery life runs up to 30 hours with noise cancellation on, well past a full workday. The tradeoff for that comfort and battery is portability: these fold flat but still take up bag space, and Bose gives them no IP water resistance rating, so keep them away from rain and sweaty workouts. If you work from a desk or fly often and want the deepest possible noise cancellation for hours at a time, this is the pick.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling with Mic, Up to 30 Hours of Play time, Black

18% OFF

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling with Mic, Up to 30 Hours of Play time, Black

$369.00$449.00Save 18% ($80.00)Historic Low

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling with Mic, Up to 30 Hours of Play time, Black — now $369.00, down 18% ($80.00 off) from $449.00 on Amazon. Ships free with Prime. This electronics deal is verified against Amazon's price history; price and availability can change without notice.

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) — $249 (17% off)

The 2nd Gen earbuds carry an IPX4 water resistance rating, the headphones' one clear gap, which makes them the choice for runs, gym sessions, or anywhere rain might catch you outdoors. Bose's own comparison data puts the sound performance ahead of most competing earbuds in the same price range, and this generation adds microphone upgrades and a wireless charging case over the first Ultra Earbuds. Battery life caps around 6 hours per charge, extended by the case, well short of the headphones' 30-hour run. They're also the easier grab-and-go option: no headband, no fold-flat case, just two buds and a pocket-size charging case. If workouts or commuting on foot are the main use case, the earbuds win on practicality even though they trail on raw battery life.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging, Up to 6 Hours Battery, IPX4 Rating, Black

17% OFF

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging, Up to 6 Hours Battery, IPX4 Rating, Black

$249.00$299.00

You save $50.00Historic Low

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Mic, Immersive Audio, USB-C Charging, Up to 6 Hours Battery, IPX4 Rating, Black — now $249.00, down 17% ($50.00 off) from $299.00 on Amazon. Ships free with Prime. This electronics deal is verified against Amazon's price history; price and availability can change without notice.

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Which one to buy

Buy the headphones if most of your listening happens at a desk, on a plane, or anywhere you're seated for hours and want the longest possible battery life between charges. Buy the earbuds if noise cancellation needs to survive a run in the rain or if you'd rather not carry a full headphone case in a bag. Neither is the wrong choice at these prices; the wrong choice is buying the one that doesn't match how you actually spend your day.

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Frequently asked questions

Do the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds cancel noise as well as the headphones?

Both share Bose's current noise cancellation engine and perform similarly in real-world testing. The headphones have a slight edge from the larger ear cup seal, but the difference is small enough that most buyers won't notice it outside side-by-side testing.

Are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds waterproof?

They carry an IPX4 rating, which handles light rain and sweat from workouts but isn't rated for submersion. The over-ear headphones carry no water resistance rating at all, so the earbuds are the safer pick for exercise.

How long does the battery last on each?

The headphones run up to 30 hours with noise cancellation on. The earbuds run about 6 hours per charge, extended further by the wireless charging case included with the 2nd Gen model.

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