Watch out, Apple – Bose is back to tempt you away | Tech News

Wireless earbuds are some of probably the most common sights on UK streets as of late. Headphone jacks have disappeared from smartphones, so people have had to invest in Bluetooth buds to keep the tunes and podcasts coming. The Apple AirPods have been one of the primary to popularise the tech once they launched in 2016 and stay favourites for iPhone customers.

One Apple rival taking the battle to the high-end AirPods Pro 2 is Bose, the US audio company famed for its over-ear headphones that pioneered noise cancellation technology. In current years Bose has managed to shrink down this tech into tiny wi-fi earbuds, and now there is a model new pair to take the battle to Apple.

Bose has jusrt introduced the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, boasting improved noise cancellation, audio high quality and skill to modify your tunes relying on the ambient sound round you. They’ve received IPX4 water resistance and contact controls on the surface, identical to older fashions.

They are out there to pre-order from in the present day, June 12, for £299.95, and are on full sale on June 26.

“Like its predecessor, the QC Ultra Earbuds feature Bose’s proprietary CustomTune sound calibration technology personalising audio and noise cancellation performance to the unique shape of a listener’s ear and adapting the experience as the listener’s environment changes,” Bose said.

“An updated AI algorithm layered on top of this technology improves the buds’ ActiveSense experience when in Aware Mode. Changes in noise cancellation levels are now smoother than before when the system is adjusting to filter out sudden spikes of noise, preventing audio content from being drowned out by the sound of a passing train or a nearby siren — resulting in a more refined noise cancellation experience.”

I reviewed the first Ultra Earbuds in 2023 and found them superb, so I’m interested to see just how improved these new buds are. Bose’s noise adjustment when in Aware Mode is very good already, though I feel Apple does a slightly better job with the AirPods Pro 2 as they are quicker to react. It’s handy if you’re in the transparency mode and you’re boiling the kettle, say – this tech cranks the volume so you can still hear.

The QC Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen look identical to the originals, which themselves were similar to the QC Earbuds 2 from 2022, so you won’t be able to show off you have the newest of the new unless you opt for the limited edition Deep Plum colourway (you can also get them in Black or White Smoke).

Bose says call quality is also improved thanks to a “new AI-powered noise suppression system”, but perhaps the nicest upgrade here is wireless charging. Bose annoyingly has not included this on the QC Earbuds range until now, rather opting to sell a case to add the function for £50. No thanks.

The firm also doesn’t hold back with describing its hygiene updates, saying it has equipped each new bud with an “embedded earbud wax guard to prevent wax build-up and audio degradation.” Good to know!

The £299.95 asking price is a considerable chunk more than the £229 AirPods Pro 2. But there are several reasons you might want to opt for the Bose, most obvious of all if you have an Android telephone, as AirPods don’t let you use all their features until you have an iPhone.

Secondly, Bose’s companion app lets you modify EQ, in contrast to AirPods, and the Ultras have Bose’s very intelligent Immersive Audio characteristic that turns any audio into spatial, encompass sound audio. When it really works, it’s great, however I’ve discovered it hit and miss.

Bose says the new buds will final six hours on a full charge, or 4 with Immersive Audio on, which isn’t the best longevity. The case holds three further full prices.

Lastly, the Ultras assist Qualcomm’s hello-res audio codec known as aptX Adaptive, which suggests if you have a suitable Android telephone, you can stream or playback hello-res music.

Whether or not these further options are well worth the premium price tag is up to you.

Bose in the present day additionally introduced a new addition to its Bluetooth speaker vary, the SoundLink Plus, a £249.95 speaker that sits between its SoundLink Micro and SoundLink Max. Also introduced and out there “later this summer” is the SoundLink Micro 2nd Gen, for £119.95.