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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Soundcore Space One
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on noise cancelling, call quality. Soundcore Space One wins on battery.
The biggest complaint about the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is bluetooth pairing and connection trouble; for the Soundcore Space One it's callers hear you poorly. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Soundcore Space One | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in noise-cancelling headphones | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $ |
| Type | Noise-cancelling | Noise-cancelling |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 13% | 8% |
| Overall score | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Sound | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Noise cancelling | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Comfort | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Call quality | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Battery | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Durability | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $150 · $$ $150–300 · $$$ over $300. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Bluetooth pairing and connection trouble
SoundGuys lists 'some connection issues' as a con and says pairing can need manual steps when Fast Pair fails. Amazon's summary says some owners have connection issues with non-Apple devices. Low-star Walmart reviews (syndicated from bose.com) call the Bluetooth 'terrible' and a 'nightmare', describe constant pairing prompts, and report a pair that wouldn't connect or power on after a week.
- Frustrating controls and a basic app
Tom's Guide lists 'woeful touch controls' as a con. SoundGuys calls the controls a bit confusing and the in-app EQ too simplistic. A 1-star Walmart review complains there's no mute button for Teams calls.
- Expensive, and not built for weather
Tom's Guide lists the price hike as a con. SoundGuys says the headphones are 'not even water-resistant' and scores build 6.9. Amazon owners disagree on value, with some calling them overpriced. A few low-star Walmart reviewers say ANC wasn't strong enough for office use or that a thumping noise appeared while traveling on roads.
Soundcore Space One
- Callers hear you poorly
Wirecutter says voices sound compressed, distant and 'reedy', and get ducked in strong gusts. Tom's Guide lists weak call quality and found voices muffled indoors and out. SoundGuys disagrees, saying the mics do an excellent job of blocking background noise.
- Plastic build, and some units fail
Amazon's summary says durability is mixed, with some owners reporting them breaking almost immediately and some saying the ANC doesn't work at all. Low-star Walmart reviews describe cheap materials that broke, a pair that stopped powering on after four months, and random static. SoundGuys scores build 6.5, and there's no water-resistance rating. Wirecutter, by contrast, hasn't seen build complaints and notes an 18-month warranty.
- Fiddly buttons and a jumpy wear sensor
Wirecutter says the buttons are small and take practice to find by feel. Tom's Guide calls the control scheme outdated and the design very cumbersome. Low-star Walmart reviewers say music stops with the slightest movement at the gym.
Who should pick which
Pick the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if
Long flights where ANC and all-day comfort matter most
Glasses wearers (Amazon owners say the cushions don't pinch)
Wired lossless listening over USB-C
Skip it if: You want detailed EQ control; You need any water resistance; You already own the first-gen QC Ultra (SoundGuys and Tom's Guide say it's not worth upgrading)
Pick the Soundcore Space One if
Strong ANC on a roughly $100 budget
Charging about once a week (40 hours with ANC)
Glasses wearers (pliable foam keeps the seal)
Skip it if: You make lots of calls in noisy places; You want workout headphones (no water resistance); You want a hard carrying case
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