I tested Boses new QuietComfort headphones, and one upgrade stole the show

I’ve long been a fan of Bose headphones and earbuds, even giving the brand’s open-ear design a chance.Bose launched the previous generation of its standard QuietComfort Headphones in 2023.The brand followed those with the Ultra, a more luxe upgrade to the originals, but at the time, the Ultra was the only Bose headphone pair with spatial audio for a more immersive listening experience.Not anymore.

The newly released Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) bring that immersive audio experience to the standard QuietComfort line at a much lower price point.The headphones are available in five colors, with the Dewdrop Mint shade commanding plenty of attention on e-tailers.I got them in my favorite shade from Bose, the pink Rosewood Mauve.Colors: 6 | Battery life: Up to 24 hours; up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio | Noise-canceling: Yes, adjustable ANC with QuietControl | Case included: Yes | Weight: 0.507 pounds | Warranty: 1-year Bose limited warrantyStarting with the basics, I love the case and foldable design.

The Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen headphones are also extremely lightweight, weighing just over half a pound, so they feel like nothing when they’re on your head.That said, the earcups are a little smaller, which I was initially worried about, but surprisingly, I haven’t experienced any sound leakage.To get these headphones working to your liking, especially if you’re a bit of an audiophile like me, you’ll need to download the Bose app and connect them through there.

For some reason, I had to do this process a few times before the app finally registered the headphones.Once you’re in, you can toggle noise cancellation, Aware Mode and the new Immersion Mode, which wasn’t previously available on the first-gen QuietComfort Headphones.Immersion is my favorite part about Bose headphones, so I was excited that it was finally available on the standard QuietComfort line.Instead of feeling like the music is being piped directly into each ear, Immersion Mo...