Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review: the quiet, comfortable pair to beat

The covering on the pads and headband stays cool for a good while. Wear them for hours and the only complaints are some warmth around your ears and your ears touching the inside of the pads. They fold into the included carry case.

Music sounds spacious, detailed and lively, and the tuning is mostly even with a small lean toward bass, so it's warm and slightly dark, which most people will like. How they sound depends on the seal, so it can change if you wear glasses or have a smaller head.

Immersive Audio spreads any source around you, with a Still setting and a Motion setting that follows your head. Cinema Mode is made for movies.

With noise canceling on, you get up to 30 hours by Bose's count, and up to 45 with it off. Immersive Audio costs you, cutting the 30 hours to 23 by Bose's count, so leave it off when you need the battery to last.

The Bose app is easy to get around and sets up custom modes, shortcuts and updates. The 3-band EQ is too simple if you like to fine-tune your sound. You can skip the app and pair from your phone's Bluetooth settings.

The microphones are good enough for everyday calls. Multipoint keeps them connected to two devices at once, so you can move from your laptop to your phone without pairing again. Plug in a USB-C cable for lossless listening from a source that supports it. Android phones get Google Fast Pair, and phones with Snapdragon Sound also get aptX Adaptive, while an iPhone uses AAC. For games, a USB-C cable gives you low-latency audio; over Bluetooth, Gaming Mode lowers latency only with a Snapdragon Sound source.

Controls sit on the right ear cup: a power button, a multi-function button and a touch strip for volume and a shortcut. Put them on and they power up and connect to your paired devices. A 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable comes in the box for a headphone jack. Bose says to keep them out of situations where they may get wet, so they're not for rain or the gym.

Against the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Bose is the better pair. Both get up to 30 hours with noise canceling on, but only the Bose plays over USB-C, and it lasts longer with canceling off. Get the Sony if you use an Android phone that plays LDAC. The Beats 360 is rated IPX4 for sweat and water, so it's the one for workouts, while the Bose is lighter and plays wired. The Nothing Headphone (a) lasts far longer on a charge and has a splash rating, but the Bose is lighter and its spatial audio follows your head.