
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
A consumer ANC headphone that doubles as a decent conferencing option—not purpose-built for calls. Class-leading ANC blocks office noise, but the lack of a boom mic, USB dongle, and hardware mute means it trails dedicated UC headsets for voice quality.
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Our Verdict
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.
Score Breakdown
Pros & Cons
Pros
- •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
- •Also excellent for music and travel
Cons
- •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)
- •Not Teams/Zoom certified
- •Expensive at $449 for a non-dedicated conferencing headphone
Specifications
| Driver Size | Bose proprietary |
| Microphones | Multi-mic beamforming array (no boom) |
| Battery | 30 hours |
| Audio | Lossless USB-C |
| Mute | Software only (no hardware button) |
| Dongle | None (Bluetooth only) |
Who Is This For?
Best For
- Those wanting one headphone for music AND calls
- Noisy environment workers prioritizing ANC over voice quality
- Comfort prioritizers on all-day calls
Not For
- Those needing best call quality (get Poly or Jabra instead)
- Enterprise IT environments requiring certifications
- Windows users with Bluetooth reliability issues
Where to Buy
Appears In
Customer Reviews
Alternatives to Consider
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