Jabra Evolve2 85 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
Jabra Evolve2 85 (#2, best premium) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) (#5): in our Over-ear Headphones for Conferencing scoring the Jabra Evolve2 85 totals 8.9/10 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) 8.6/10. At $460 versus $449, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) costs $11 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Jabra Evolve2 85 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $460 | $449 |
| Driver Size | 40mm | Bose proprietary |
| Microphones | 10 (6 digital + 4 analog MEMS) | Multi-mic beamforming array (no boom) |
| Battery | 37hr (ANC off) | 30 hours |
| Certifications | Microsoft Teams, Zoom | — |
| Range | 100ft wireless | — |
| Weight | ~286g | — |
| Mute | Retractable boom mic with physical mute | Software only (no hardware button) |
| Audio | — | Lossless USB-C |
| Dongle | — | None (Bluetooth only) |
How they differ in real use
Built from our over ear conferencing scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Jabra Evolve2 85 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) made our Top 5 Over-ear Headphones for Conferencing, at #2 (best premium) and #5. The enterprise workhorse with a 10-microphone system and retractable boom that delivers the most consistent voice isolation in noisy open offices. Built-in busylight and Teams/Zoom certification make it IT-friendly. At $460 it's expensive and the hardware dates to 2020, but nothing matches its mic system for extreme noise environments. Included for those who prioritize comfort and ANC above call quality. Best-in-class noise cancellation and legendary all-day comfort, but beamforming mics without a boom trail every other option here. No dongle, no certification, no hardware mute. Buy this for music/travel and accept 'good enough' call quality—not as a dedicated conferencing headset.
We score over-ear headphones for conferencing on Microphone Quality (35%), ANC Performance (25%), Comfort (20%), Connectivity (10%) and Battery Life (10%). On that basis the Jabra Evolve2 85 totals 8.9 out of 10 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) 8.6. The widest gap is Microphone Quality, where the Jabra Evolve2 85 scores 9.9 against 7 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) — voice clarity and noise isolation. Comfort also separates them: 10 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) versus 7 for the Jabra Evolve2 85. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) claws back ground on ANC Performance.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Driver Size — 40mm on the Jabra Evolve2 85 versus Bose proprietary on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen); Microphones — 10 (6 digital + 4 analog MEMS) on the Jabra Evolve2 85 versus Multi-mic beamforming array (no boom) on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen); Battery — 37hr (ANC off) on the Jabra Evolve2 85 versus 30 hours on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen); Mute — Retractable boom mic with physical mute on the Jabra Evolve2 85 versus Software only (no hardware button) on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen).
Pricing as of February 8, 2026: $460 for the Jabra Evolve2 85 and $449 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), a $11 difference in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)'s favor. Owners praise the Jabra Evolve2 85 for 10-microphone system for voice isolation and retractable boom mic; the most common complaint is expensive at $460 (launched 2020, aging hardware). Owners praise the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) for class-leading ANC blocks virtually all background noise and legendary all-day comfort (best in this list); the most common complaint is no boom microphone—beamforming mic trails dedicated UC headsets.
Jabra Evolve2 85
- 10-microphone system for voice isolation
- Retractable boom mic
- Built-in busylight
- Microsoft Teams/Zoom certified
- Expensive at $460 (launched 2020, aging hardware)
- Heavy for all-day wear
- Overkill for home-only workers
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
- Class-leading ANC blocks virtually all background noise
- Legendary all-day comfort (best in this list)
- Lossless USB-C audio for music between calls
- 30hr battery
- No boom microphone—beamforming mic trails dedicated UC headsets
- No USB dongle (Bluetooth-only can cause issues on Windows)
- No hardware mute button (must mute in software)
Which should you buy?
The Jabra Evolve2 85 is the better fit for enterprise professionals in open offices and those needing maximum voice isolation — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Microphone Quality and Connectivity. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is the better fit for those wanting one headphone for music AND calls and noisy environment workers prioritizing ANC over voice quality, and the stronger choice if Comfort and ANC Performance matter more to you than the overall score. If the $11 saving matters more than Microphone Quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is the better value. The Jabra Evolve2 85 is a poor fit for budget shoppers; the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is a poor fit for those needing best call quality (get Poly or Jabra instead).
Choose the Jabra Evolve2 85 if
- Enterprise professionals in open offices
- Those needing maximum voice isolation
- IT-managed environments requiring certifications
Skip it if
- Budget shoppers
- Home-only workers (Poly Focus 2 is better value)
Choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) if
- Those wanting one headphone for music AND calls
- Noisy environment workers prioritizing ANC over voice quality
- Comfort prioritizers on all-day calls
Skip it if
- Those needing best call quality (get Poly or Jabra instead)
- Enterprise IT environments requiring certifications
Common questions
Is the Jabra Evolve2 85 better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)?
In our Over-ear Headphones for Conferencing ranking the Jabra Evolve2 85 scores higher overall, 8.9 to 8.6, with the biggest advantage in Microphone Quality. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is stronger on Comfort and ANC Performance, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Jabra Evolve2 85 cost than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)?
$11 more as of February 8, 2026: $460 for the Jabra Evolve2 85 against $449 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen). Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Microphone Quality — 9.9 versus 7 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Jabra Evolve2 85 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)?
The headline spec difference is Driver Size: 40mm on the Jabra Evolve2 85 versus Bose proprietary on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen). In use, the gap that matters most is Microphone Quality (9.9 vs 7 in our scoring): voice clarity and noise isolation.