1 hour ago
2
Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.
Battery beingness and powerfulness absorption are important yet overlooked strengths, but they've ever been Bose's weaknesses. Its 2019 flagship headphones, the NC700, delivered astir 20 hours of artillery life, and its 2023 QuietComfort Ultra headphones maxed retired astatine 24 hours.
Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2)
Bose's latest QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) get 1 of the AirPods Max's champion powerfulness absorption features -- but execute it better. Although the caller headphones' expanded 30-hour artillery capableness is great, their ratio is much valuable.
Aside from Bose's undeniable spot successful producing best-in-class sound cancellation and comfort, the caller low-power diagnostic whitethorn beryllium the astir important and utile betterment Bose has implemented successful its latest flagship headphones. Here's why.
Intuitive auto-standby for the win
Most premium headphones diagnostic gyroscopes oregon question detection systems that alteration their deterioration detection capabilities. Wear detection pauses audio contented erstwhile the headphones observe that you've removed them from your head, and resumes contented erstwhile you enactment them backmost on.
Apple's AirPods Max and Bose's QC Ultra 2 execute this diagnostic champion by pausing contented erstwhile you region the headphones and disconnecting them from your phone's Bluetooth. This allows you to power audio from the headphones to your telephone without pressing a button. Both headphones participate a low-power mode erstwhile idle for a specified period.
However, Bose's QC Ultra 2 participate a low-power authorities faster than Apple's AirPods Max, and you don't request to enactment them successful a lawsuit to execute it. Simply laic the QC Ultra 2 level -- earcups face-up oregon face-down -- and they'll statesman conserving battery.
Conversely, the AirPods Max person Find My compatibility, which requires the headphones to stay connected to find their real-time location. This diagnostic indispensable beryllium disabled for AirPods Max to conserve arsenic overmuch powerfulness arsenic possible.
As a result, the AirPods Max yet participate the aforesaid low-power authorities arsenic Bose's headphones, but that doesn't hap until either 72 hours extracurricular of the Smart Case oregon aft 18 hours wrong of it. Apple allows you changeless entree to your headphones' adjacent location, but this comes astatine the outgo of dilatory draining their battery.
To powerfulness button, oregon not to powerfulness button
The AirPods Max's deficiency of a powerfulness fastener was a blistery taxable soon aft their 2020 release, arsenic galore radical similar to person afloat power implicit their devices. Bose noticed this diagnostic gap, offering users an intuitive auto-standby mode and a dedicated powerfulness button.
The specs besides amusement Bose's powerfulness advantage, promising 30 hours of playback with ANC connected and 45 hours with it off. On the different hand, Apple's headphones person a maximum artillery beingness of 20 hours, careless of the audio mode.
The QC Ultra 2's contiguous low-power mode, coupled with its generational artillery beingness improvements, means you'll apt walk less days retired of the week plugging them into the wall. For commuters, in-office headphone wearers, and predominant flyers, this smarter power-saving plan could beryllium a game-changer.
The auto-standby diagnostic is my favourite happening astir some the AirPods Max and the Bose QC Ultra. I emotion taking my headphones disconnected and answering a telephone telephone without having to fiddle with the powerfulness button.
Bottom line
I'll admit that I'm impressed by Bose's execution of this diagnostic -- I've ever appreciated Bose's marque aesthetically much than I've ever applauded the institution for its bundle and firmware prowess. But the diagnostic works well; there's a little hold aft a fewer hours of idling and a somewhat longer 1 aft a fewer days.
Also: Should you bargain AirPods Max successful 2025? A long-awaited upgrade volition entice professionals
Although Bose doesn't connection easy accessible precocious Bluetooth codecs similar Sony oregon arsenic galore convenient instrumentality features arsenic Apple, the 2nd procreation of the QC Ultra headphones and earbuds demonstrates the company's strides successful producing much applicable flagship products. What's astir awesome is that it does truthful without imposing a azygous instrumentality ecosystem barrier.
English (US) ·