Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

What each outlet scored it

Star ratings are doubled to reach a ten-point scale; outlets already scoring out of ten are unchanged. The average above is the mean of this column.

Who it suits

Best if silence is what you are buying

The highest consensus on this page, and the only pair with two full five-out-of-fives for noise cancellation specifically. TechRadar's headline calls it the best noise cancellation in earbuds to date; Tom's Guide says the same in different words. Wireless charging on the case is new this generation and fixes the old model's most-complained-about omission.

Where it falls down. Battery is the weak point every outlet raised — around six hours against eight on most rivals — and the buds are physically large. Tom's Guide, the low mark of the three, went further and said it is not enough of an upgrade to replace a working first-generation pair.

Specifications

Type

In-ear, active noise cancelling

Battery

Up to 6 hours with ANC on

Charging

USB-C, with wireless charging on the case

Noted strength

Noise cancellation, which every outlet here rates at the top of the class

Noted limitation

Shorter battery than most rivals, and physically large buds

Where this sits against the alternatives

This product is one of the picks on The Best Wireless Earbuds, According to the Reviews, which compares it against the others that cleared the same three-outlet bar.