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Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) Win Praise for Sound, but Reviewer Says Wait for a Discount

A TechRadar review concludes Bose's second-generation QuietComfort Headphones deliver excellent sound and comfort, but faults a cheap-feeling build, 24-hour battery life and the $359 asking price.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-19 19:13

According to TechRadar, the headphones sound exceptional. The reviewer described detailed and precise treble paired with energetic, punchy bass, and said the spatial audio feature adds an immersive quality to already strong performance. Comfort drew similar praise: soft protein leather on the ear pads and headband, and a weight of 241 grams, allowed the reviewer to wear them for hours without ear or head discomfort. TechRadar noted that the driver setup appears unchanged from earlier models and that the companion app's equalizer gives users very little control over the sound.

The review's criticisms center on physical quality and battery life. TechRadar said the headphones feel surprisingly cheap, rattle when handled and show odd gaps in the body. The 24-hour battery figure, which the reviewer called poor for 2026, is listed in the published specifications alongside Bluetooth 5.4 and USB-C connectivity; no waterproofing rating is given, and Bose does not specify the drivers.

On noise cancellation, TechRadar reported that Bose positions the new model as matching the more expensive QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). The reviewer was not fully convinced after testing the headphones on flights, trains and in several cities, writing that they remove background sound well but are not flawless, that other brands have closed the gap, and that similarly priced competitors beat them in some respects.

The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) cost less than the Ultra Gen 2, which launched at $449 / £449 / AU$699 and has not seen steep discounts. TechRadar said the new model undercuts the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 and the Sony WH-1000XM6, though the newer Sony WH-1000XM4C is cheaper in most regions. Compared with the previous generation, the US price is higher, the UK price lower and the Australian price unchanged.

Bose announced the headphones on August 6, 2026, three years after the first-generation QuietComfort Headphones and a year after the Ultra Gen 2. They come in five colors — black, white, mauve, mint and green — and ship with a protective carry case, a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to 3.5mm cable.

TechRadar's verdict was that it enjoyed using the headphones and would recommend them if shoppers find a price that makes sense, describing them as a must-buy on discount while questioning whether they justify their premium price tag at full retail. The testing impressions described here come from that single review.