(checked 2026-10-10)
Tom's Guide calls it the best noise cancelling you can get in earbuds. But the buds are large, battery life is only about 6 hours, and about 1 in 5 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars.
Top complaints
- Big buds that don't fit everyone
Wirecutter says the earbuds are very large, so people with medium or small ears will likely feel discomfort over several hours. SoundGuys advises against them for small ears. Amazon calls fit mixed, with some owners saying they fall out. A Walmart side-sleeper compared them to 'a tiny brick' in the ear.
- Short battery life
Tom's Guide calls battery the weak point at 6 hours, unchanged from gen 1. SoundGuys measured 5 hours 34 minutes, and Bose says Immersive Audio cuts it to 4 hours. Amazon owners are mixed, with some saying it doesn't last 6 hours.
- One earbud failing, connection drops, noise
Amazon's summary mentions an earpiece that stopped working after a week and constant disconnections. Low-star Walmart reviews describe a right bud that wouldn't charge, poor laptop and app connections, and static or popping noises after a couple of months.
What owners love
- Class-leading ANC
Tom's Guide calls the ANC the best around. Wirecutter says it is superlative at reducing airplane noise. SoundGuys measured about 85%.
- Comfortable for those it fits
Tom's Guide finds them extremely comfortable and secure with the fins; SoundGuys scored comfort 9/10 for larger ears.
Source: Tom's Guide, SoundGuys review - Better calls than gen 1
Tom's Guide lists clear call quality as a pro, and Wirecutter says Bose fixed the original's call-quality problems.
- You have small ears or sleep on your side
- You need more than 6 hours per charge
- You want detailed EQ control
- Frequent flyers who prioritize ANC above all
- People with medium-to-large ears
- Wireless-charging and multipoint users
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide: Best for noise cancelling (4.5 stars). The cons are that the buds are still quite large and battery life didn't improve.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Not a pick: superlative ANC, but very large. Worth $300 only for people with large or pressure-tolerant ears.
- SoundGuys: A 'boring update': excellent ANC and comfort for larger ears, poor EQ options, and battery measured at 5 h 34 min.