headphones on

Bose Announces New QuietComfort Headphones, Bringing Flagship Features to a Lower Price Point

The latest headphones are up for preorder on Aug. 8, and feature improved noise-canceling, as well as better audio and call quality

By Jonathan Zavaleta

Jonathan Zavaleta

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August 6, 2026

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Bose

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Bose is adding a new pair of headphones to its lineup. The new QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are the successor to the 2023 model, and the more affordable alternative to the flagship QuietComfort Ultra headphones. Announced today, the headphones cost $359 at launch. They’ll be available to buy on Aug. 8 and ship on Aug. 13, and they come in black, white smoke, eucalyptus green, dewdrop mint, and rosewood mauve.

While we haven’t gotten our hands on them yet, the images indicate a pretty substantial design overhaul. The headband now features a sliding design, and the earcups themselves have been redesigned with a “pill-shaped” look.

new release

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

$359.00

preorder at bose

Preorder Aug. 8

The controls have also been rearranged to be more intuitive, the brand says, but still feature physical buttons, rather than touch controls. They will no longer have a 2.5mm-to-3.5 mm cable; instead, they use wired USB-C audio, which also powers the battery. As for battery life, you get 24 hours, which is unchanged from the last generation.

Some of the bigger changes are under the hood, with Bose adding features from its flagship model to this more budget-friendly pair. You now get new “Immersion” and “Cinema” modes, which were previously only available on the Ultra model. The QuietComfort Headphones also now have ActiveSense, which turns up noise-canceling when there are sudden loud noises.

Bose also claims it has improved the sound quality, with “TrueSpatial” technology for a more immersive experience. Call quality has also been improved, a common complaint with the previous iteration. The audio brand also says it improved the noise-canceling, specifically for glasses-wearers, thanks to a six-microphone system that compensates for imperfect fits.

You’ll be able to preorder the new headphones on Aug. 8. Meanwhile, the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra headphones are currently discounted to $399. And it’s likely that the first-gen QuietComfort headphones will also get a discount once the latest iteration hits the market.