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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review: Comfort Kings Return

The QC Ultra headphones deliver the best in-class comfort and a genuinely improved ANC system — but the price requires justification.

Reviewed by

Charles

Expert tested
No sponsored rankings
Independently written
Real hands-on testing
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8.8/10

The Verdict

The most comfortable headphone we have tested, period. The improved ANC still trails Sony, but for all-day wearers, the comfort difference more than compensates.

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Review

Quick verdict

The most comfortable headphone we have tested, period. The improved ANC still trails Sony, but for all-day wearers, the comfort difference more than compensates.

Hands-on testedBest for: Long-haul travel & extended sessionsPrice: From $329
Check Best Price
8.8

What stands out

  • Best comfort of any headphone tested
  • Improved ANC vs QC45
  • Spatial audio works well
  • Excellent call quality

Watch-outs

  • More expensive than Sony XM5
  • ANC doesn't match XM5
  • Microphone pickup in wind

Bose has long owned the comfort crown in the noise-cancelling headphone market. The QC Ultra retains that reputation while closing the gap on Sony’s ANC performance and adding new spatial audio features that work surprisingly well.

Comfort

These are the most comfortable over-ear headphones we have worn. The pressure distribution is exceptional — even after 8-hour sessions, there is no ear-pad fatigue. The headband padding is generous without feeling bulky.

Noise Cancellation

In our standardised test, the QC Ultra achieved 34dB attenuation — behind the Sony XM5’s 38dB, but meaningfully improved over the QC45. The noise floor is exceptionally low with no perceptible pumping artefacts.

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