Bose has announced a second-generation version of its QuietComfort Ultra wireless headphones that it introduced nearly two years ago. The name is the same, but the new one finally adds support for listening to lossless audio over a USB-C cable, while still carrying forward the 2.5-millimeter analog headphone jack for those who don’t always want to go wireless.
The headphones are available for preorder starting today through Bose’s online store, Amazon, and Best Buy for $449 — a small bump from the original’s $429. They’re expected to be available starting on October 2nd. They’ll launch in four color options, including black, white smoke, driftwood sand, and midnight violet.
Battery life has been increased to up to 30 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC), with an improved Aware Mode that’s better at automatically boosting the ANC to filter out sudden loud noises like a passing bus. That will drop to up to 23 hours with head-tracking Immersive Audio turned on, but Bose will now let you push the Ultra’s battery life to up to 45 hours by completely turning ANC off in the mobile app.
A new Cinema Mode delivers what Bose describes as a “movie-like experience” by spatializing and balancing background sound effects to create a wider sound stage, making dialogue easier to hear. The company recommends using it for podcasts and audiobooks. The new QuietComfort Ultra also feature better bass performance at higher volumes, while background noise generated by the ANC system is reduced in quieter settings and won’t drown out “finer details” in what you’re listening to.
Bose has improved the Ultra’s on-head detection so the headphones will automatically power up and connect to a paired device as soon as you put them on. When removed, laying the headphones flat or folding them into their included carrying case will put them into a low-power standby mode that Bose says will keep them powered for months.
The QuietComfort Ultra now support Bluetooth 5.4 and carry forward features like multipoint connectivity and compatibility with the SBC, AAC, and Qualcomm AptX Adaptive codecs. Android users can streamline connectivity with their devices using Google Fast Pair, and Spotify Tap is also supported.