Bose · Updated July 2026
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: price, specs & release date
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, released 2023-10. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: headphonecheck.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is listed at $449 on headphonecheck.com as of 2026-07-28, #8 cheapest of 15 over ear headphones (median $449); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 47/100 pay-blind standing, #16 of 25 in class.
Verified Jul 28, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
Cheapest over ear headphones: Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 — $179
- Best for Class-leading active noise cancelling; Comfortable, lightweight foldable design.
- Skip if High $429 price versus rivals is a dealbreaker.
Price history
$449Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones a good buy?
At $449, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is #8 cheapest of the 15 over ear headphones we track, where the median is $429. On the spec sheet, its battery hr of 24 is below the median of the 25, its weight of 250 g is below the median of the 21, and its bluetooth of 5.3 is at the median of the 24.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 1
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 2
- Outlets on record1 tested · 2 mention-only
- 3
One independent lab measured this product across 2 physical metrics — battery and noise. These numbers rest on a single hands-on source so far; 2 other outlets have it on record by mention only.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Three whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, Tom's Guide, What Hi-Fi) reviewed the original 2023 QC Ultra Headphones. All three rate the ANC best-in-class, comfort excellent and sound entertaining, while flagging the $429 price. SoundGuys measured 27h37m runtime and ~87% real-world noise reduction and praised battery; Tom's Guide and What Hi-Fi call the 24h battery only decent, not class-leading. Immersive Audio splits opinion.
Based on 3 reviews · 1 lab-tested · 2024-02-20–2025-12-02
Tested by SoundGuys, Tom's Guide, What Hi-Fi
Consistently praised
- Class-leading active noise cancelling · 3 sources
- Comfortable, lightweight foldable design · 3 sources
- Rich, entertaining sound quality · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- High $429 price versus rivals · 3 sources
- Only-decent 24h battery, not class-leading · 2 sources
- No USB-C wired audio listening · 2 sources
- Immersive Audio feels gimmicky / cuts battery · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree Immersive (spatial) Audio divides the testers: Tom's Guide called it a 'phenomenal first impression' and lists an 'Effective Immersive Audio experience' as a pro, while SoundGuys and What Hi-Fi found it unconvincing, hit-and-miss, and noted it shortens battery life.
The sources (3)
Battery life (continuous playback): 27 h 37 min · Real-world noise reduction (loudness): ~87%
the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones lasted for 27 hours and 37 minutes of continuous playback
noises like bus engines, train screeches, and airplane whines will have their loudness reduced by about 87%
No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown
There's no doubt about it, these have the most impressive noise-canceling performance I've encountered.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the brand's most premium cans yet, packing improved audio and best-ever noise canceling performance.
Middling battery life for a flagship design
The ANC is better than that of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e and we think the Bose actually have the edge over the Sony WH-1000X5 in this department, which is no mean feat.
What strikes you from the off is they're a hugely entertaining pair of headphones.
Immersive Audio remains unconvincing and reduces battery life
Specifications
| Price (US) | $449 — current on record (was $429) |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bose |
| Released | 2023-10 |
| ANC | Yes |
| Driver (mm) | — |
| Battery hr | 24 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Wired option | Yes |
| Weight (g) | 250 |
Source: headphonecheck.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by bose.com. Specs (BT 5.3, SBC/AAC/aptX Adaptive, ANC, 24hr, 250g, 3.5mm wired, includes 3.5mm-to-2.5mm cable) from headphonecheck.com. Driver size not stated in review — set null. Price of $429 is the October 2023 US launch MSRP from launch press coverage; Bose.com currently shows only the 2nd Gen. battery_hr=24 is the ANC-on rated figure.
Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones worth it vs cheaper over ear headphones?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones against its closest cheaper and pricier over ear headphones on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 15 ranked
| Product | Price | ANC | Battery hr | Bluetooth | Codecs | Wired option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones this | $449 | Yes | 24 | 5.3 | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | Yes |
| Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 | $399 | Yes | 50 | 5.4 | AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3 | Yes |
| Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) | $549 | Yes | 20 | 5.3 | SBC, AAC | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
Three whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, Tom's Guide, What Hi-Fi) reviewed the original 2023 QC Ultra Headphones. All three rate the ANC best-in-class, comfort excellent and sound entertaining, while flagging the $429 price. SoundGuys measured 27h37m runtime and ~87% real-world noise reduction and praised battery; Tom's Guide and What Hi-Fi call the 24h battery only decent, not class-leading. Immersive Audio splits opinion. Praised: Class-leading active noise cancelling; Comfortable, lightweight foldable design; Rich, entertaining sound quality. Flagged: High $429 price versus rivals; Only-decent 24h battery, not class-leading; No USB-C wired audio listening; Immersive Audio feels gimmicky / cuts battery. (From 3 tester reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
How much does the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones cost?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones has a US price of $449, as of 2026-07-28.
How does the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones compare on price?
At $449, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is #8 cheapest of the 15 over ear headphones we track, where the median is $429.
Has the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones's price dropped?
No — since 2026-06-27 the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones has risen 4.7%, from $429 to $449; the lowest we have recorded is $229 (2026-07-26).
What is the lowest price the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones has been?
The lowest we have recorded for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is $229 on 2026-07-26.
Is now a good time to buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is currently $449; the lowest we have recorded is $229 (2026-07-26). Every price is dated, so you can judge it against its own history.
When was the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones released?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones was released 2023-10.
What are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones's key specs?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Bose): anc Yes, battery hr 24, bluetooth 5.3, codecs SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, wired option Yes. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $449 at headphonecheck.com, 2026-07-28. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar over ear headphones
Nearest in price — swipe to browse. Every pick sourced and dated.
All over ear headphones ranked · Open data & methodology · Queryable via MCP
Compare with
Head-to-head
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM6
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Beyerdynamic Aventho 300
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Beats Studio Pro
Cheaper over ear headphones
Step up
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