Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) Review: A Real 2.0 Product - CNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. With the latest version of the Bose QC Headphones, the gap between them and the flagship Ultras has narrowed. Article updated on August 18, 2026, 1:37 am EDT Back in 2023, when Bose released its flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, it kept its older QuietComfort 45 headphones around, rebranding them as the numberless QuietComfort Headphones. The move not only allowed Bose to create a less expensive step-down model; it left fans of Bose’s iconic headphone design with the option to stick with that design. However, because the QC Headphones were so similar to the QC45 Headphones and not really a new product, I didn’t give them a full review. Instead, I discussed the tiny differences in a mini review on my list of the best noise-canceling headphones. I felt the same way about last year’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), which weren’t much of an upgrade from their predecessor. Thankfully, Bo