Bose QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen: spatial audio and upgraded ANC at $359

Bose has refreshed its mainstream QuietComfort headphones for the first time in three years, adding features that previously sat behind the pricier Ultra line. The QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen go on preorder August 8 at $359 in the US (£299.95 in the UK) and ship August 13 — putting them well below the Sony WH-1000XM6 ($450 / £400) and the Apple AirPods Max ($549). If the headline upgrades hold up in independent testing, this could be the most competitive pair Bose has made at this price.

The new kit

The biggest addition is TrueSpatial, Bose's spatial audio system, offered in three modes. Still locks the soundstage in place when you turn your head. Motion tracks your head movement to shift the audio naturally — useful for movies or gaming. Cinema widens the stage while keeping dialogue anchored in the center. Battery life runs to 24 hours with standard playback, dropping to 18 hours when Immersive Audio is active; the pricier Ultra model still leads with 30 hours.

The USB-C port now does double duty: it charges the headphones and carries lossless audio at up to 24-bit/48kHz for anyone who prefers a wired connection over Bluetooth. Bidirectional data through the same port also improves microphone capture during video calls, and the headphones keep working while plugged in.

ANC has been reworked with a six-microphone setup using adaptive feedforward — Bose calls it QuietControl — that compensates for seal gaps caused by glasses frames, longer hair, or hats. The Aware Mode (transparency) has also been smoothed out to handle sudden sharp sounds, like a siren or a slamming door, without jarring volume spikes.

Comfort and colors

Softer synthetic-leather ear pads and a retuned headband clamping force make for a better fit on longer listening sessions, per Bose. The oval earcup shape is new and designed to improve the acoustic seal. Standard finishes are black and white smoke; three limited-edition colors — Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint, and Rosewood Mauve — round out the lineup.

Pricing and availability

Preorders open August 8; shipping begins August 13, per SoundGuys. US price is $359, UK price is £299.95, confirmed by T3. The headphones come with a soft carry case. MyBose members in some regions got early preorder access from August 6.

TrueSpatial's real-world performance is still unverified — no independent reviews have published yet. At $359, the value case is strong on paper, but spatial audio and ANC quality are the two specs worth waiting on review scores for before committing.