Latest news with #QuietComfortUltra
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I'm going on a European vacation this summer — here's 10 essential items I'm packing
I have a long-awaited (and long-needed) summer vacation coming up, where I'll be traveling overseas. I don't want to pack too much — got to save room for souvenirs — but being the techie that I am, I can't resist bringing along a few gadgets and some gear. From chargers and smart glasses to apparel and headphones, here are the 10 things I'm packing for my summer trip. Oh, and if you can wait, I recommend holding off until Prime Day, as many of these items are likely to go on sale. As part of my trip involves an overnight overseas flight, I put a premium on noise-cancellation over other features, and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra headphones are the best at what they do. I just want to strap them on my head, put on some movie I may have missed in the theaters, and tune out everything while I'm winging away. While the Bose aren't our favorite headphones overall — their battery life could be longer — we did rate them the best for noise-cancellation, which is my number one priority. The Bose QC Ultra are at the top of our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones. They're simply the best at blocking out noise, and they're exceedingly comfortable to wear. They're also available in a variety of colors. I suggest waiting for Prime Day to buy these, when they're likely to go on sale. I'm bringing these open-ear earbuds with me for one specific reason: Anker has added free live AI translation to these buds, and it can interpret more than 100 languages. While I can reasonably get by in France, Italy, and to some degree Spain, Portuguese is like Greek to nice about Anker's buds is that, when used with the app, they can also translate English to Portuguese, so I can make myself understood as well. Because of their open-ear design, they feel a bit different than the best wireless earbuds. They're not as comfortable to wear when you have sunglasses — but their small charging case means I can keep them tucked in my pocket for when I need them. The Soundcore Aerofit 2 open-ear headphones feature 20mm × 11.5mm racetrack drivers, up to 10 hours of battery life plus an additional 42 hours in the case. They can translate more than 100 languages, and come in four colors. As I'll be traveling to a foreign country, I was really interested to see how the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses would work as an interpreter. They can translate English, Spanish, French, and Italian — which unfortunately won't come in handy where I'm going. But, the shades have more functions than that. While their cameras aren't the highest quality, I do like that I can simply ask them to take a photo or video without having to pull my phone out of my pocket. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are far more than just a pair of specs with a camera. Meta AI features give them all the smarts to answer any questions about the world around you. All of this is underpinned by a stellar-looking set of specs that feel great to wear all-day round. Plus, boasting water resistance always helps. Multiple styles are available from $299. If I'm bringing the Meta Ray Bans, then why am I bringing a second pair of sunglasses? I've been using the Smith Lowdowns for more than a year, and I absolutely love their ChromaPop lenses, which make colors — especially reds — really stand out. It's like someone turned on the Vivid setting in your eyes. You can get these shades in a variety of colors and finishes, and for this year, the company also launched a pair with photochromatic lenses, so that they'll automatically darken in sunlight. After wearing these, everything else just looks dull. The Smith Lowdown 2 sunglasses are available in a variety of frames and lenses, and come in three sizes (look for Lowdown Slim and Lowdown XL if you have a smaller or larger head). You never know when it's going to rain, but neither do you want to pack a bulky jacket that you might not use. Outdoor Research's jacket fits the bill for me. It packs down really small, and is also very light and breathable, so I don't feel icky and sweaty if I get caught in one of those really humid summer rainstorms. I got mine in green, but it's available in a variety of colors and sizes. The Stratoburst rain jacket is made of 100% recycled materials, weighs just 8.47 ounces, has an adjustable hood, zippered vents under the arms, and can be packed into its left-hand pocket. It's always important to pack a pair of long pants, even if you're going to a hot climate; you never know when you'll need a pair to go out to a formal dinner, or if you're visiting a holy site that requires you to cover your legs. There's no way I'm bringing a pair of jeans — they're much too heavy — but these Stio Vallis pants are super light and breathable, and pack down into almost nothing. Plus, they have a bunch of pockets, and come in four colors. They're so comfortable, they're the pants I'm planning to wear on the plane. The Stio Vallis pants are made of 4-way stretch fabric that resists wrinkles and creases, and has a PFAS-free water-resistant finish. The pants have zippered back pockets, weigh 10.6 ounces, and come in blue, green, gray, and coral. One of the issues when travelling with tech means carrying a lot of cables. The standardization to USB-C is helping, but I still have a variety of cords for my older iPhone, as well as backup 3.5mm audio for my headphones — not to mention my various chargers. Thule makes a few small travel pouches that make it easy to organize and store all your cables, so they're within easy reach if you're crammed in an airline seat. The Thule Aion is about twice as expensive as the company's other bags, but it includes a detachable RFID-blocking 2-in-1 pouch for your passport and other documents. Thule's Aio travel organizer is made of 100% recycled waxed canvas, has three small mesh compartments, a zippered pouch, and a removable RFID-safe pouch for all your documents. I try to avoid checking bags wherever I go, but even for my carry-on suitcase, an Airtag is essential if I have to gate-check a bag, or worse, if it gets lost or stolen. Because I have an iPhone, the AirTags are the best keyfinders for my use case, but others might want to check out the Tile Mate or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2. Save $25 on a 4 pack of Apple's AirTag trackers in this early Prime Day deal. Once you have them, it hopefully means you won't be losing track of your keys, wallet or luggage anytime soon. I'm lucky enough that the place I'm heading to for vacation has a private pool for me and my family, and the UE Miniroll Bluetooth speaker is just what we need for some water-side tunes. I like that it's compact and waterproof, yet it delivers really good sound for its size, and lasts a while on a charge. It's one of the best Bluetooth speakers around. The Miniroll is the ultimate musical companion. It's a super small Bluetooth speaker, so it'll fit into a backpack without a problem. It's sturdy too, which will let it survive even the most traumatic of outdoor mishaps. The small but mighty device is a great deal at its original price, but if you can, wait until Prime Day to see if it goes on sale. As I'll be out touring the sites, taking lots of pictures, and probably using navigation on my iPhone, I know battery life is going to take a hit. Since I don't want to be without a charge, I'm also bringing along the Anker 633 Magnetic battery. It has a capacity of 10,000 mAh, so it should easily keep my iPhone topped off. I also like that it has a small kickstand, so I can keep my phone propped up while charging. The Anker 633 has a 10,000 mAh battery with a 20W USB-C port, as well as a Magsafe-compatible dock that will work with the iPhone 16/15/14/13/12 series. It's available in black, blue, or white.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Here are the 3 settings you should change for every pair of Bose headphones
Your Amazon parcel has arrived — it's your brand new pair of Bose headphones! Congratulations, you're now the proud owner of some of the best wireless headphones available today. That could be a pair of the QuietComfort Ultra headphones or earbuds, some QuietComfort headphones, or even some QuietComfort Earbuds. Either way, there are some settings in the Bose app that you're going to want to adjust to make sure that you get the best experience possible. From some slight sound changes to making sure that your controls are all in order, here are the settings that you need to change to get the best performance possible out of your Bose headphones and earbuds. Before you go any further, make sure that you've got the Bose app installed on your device. Without it, you'll be using the headphones as they come out of the box with no customizations at all! The Bose QuietComfort Headphones sit at the top of our list of the best noise-canceling headphones thanks to their excellent ANC. There is good sound to be found inside as well, and they're some of the most comfortable headphones I've ever had perched atop my head. First off, Bose has a habit of over-egging the low end in its over-ear headphones. Both the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the QuietComfort Headphones have bass-heavy sound profiles that have a habit of drowning out the highs. To compensate, we can use the EQ settings in the Bose app to further enhance the sound quality. Find the 'EQ' menu in the Bose app, and from there, we can dial in the perfect sound for your lovely new ANC headphones. Here you'll find the 3-band EQ that you can manipulate. To deal with the all-encompassing bass, we're going to crank it down a couple of notches. -2 will do. If you prefer a bassier sound, bring it down to -1. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. We're going to leave the mids as they are, but we want to dial in some more high-range frequencies to make sure you can hear more detail in your music. My preference is +3, although some might prefer +2 if the sound becomes a little too piercing. With those settings adjusted in the Bose over-ears, you're going to get a more well-rounded sound signature with less pervasive bass and more detailed highs. For in-ears, things are more refined already. There's still lots of bass, but you don't need to adjust it anywhere near as much as with the over-ear options. Here, the bass can remain the same, but for some more vocal body, we want to bring the mids up a notch. Then, for some more detail and high-range response, we can raise the treble by +2 to make those cymbals and highs sing. And there we go! Bose headphones and earbuds dialled in for sound. Out of the box, your Bose earbuds and headphones are going to feature some epic noise canceling. After all, Bose makes the best noise-canceling earbuds and the best noise-canceling headphones at the moment — it might even be why you bought them. However, did you know that there are certain settings in the Bose app that you should check to ensure everything is functioning properly?Hop into the 'Modes' tab of the Bose app to find the noise-canceling and transparency settings. Here you'll find the standard noise-canceling modes, with Quiet, Aware, and Immersion. The latter features immersive sound with noise cancellation, in case you were wondering. You'll also notice a little 'plus' button at the bottom of the list — this is what we're looking at. Tap that, and you can create a new noise-canceling mode for a different use case, like working out, working, or any other activity you can think of. Choose one of the options, and from there you can set the noise canceling level depending on where you'll be (less noise canceling, more battery), and whether you want the Immersive sound mode to turn on. If the three main modes aren't quite enough customization for you, this is one setting you have to change. On the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, there are two controls that cannot be changed — the power/Bluetooth button and the multi-function playback button. You can, however, change the function of what Bose calls the 'shortcut'. If you tap and hold the touch-sensitive volume slider, the headphones will tell you how much battery you've got left, and you can change what the gesture does. In the 'shortcut' menu in the Bose app, you can change the function of the touch gesture between volume level, Spotify tap, and more. Choose the best option for you, and you're good to go. There are also touch shortcuts on Bose's earbuds, and you can change what they do depending on the left and right earbuds. You could set the left to change between your noise canceling modes, and then the right to change between your connected devices. The shortcut settings are a valuable way to customize your headphones and earbuds, making them easier to use in the long run.
The Verge
12-06-2025
- The Verge
Bose upgraded the adaptive ANC on its new QuietComfort Ultra earbuds
Bose has announced upgraded QuietComfort Ultra wireless earbuds with better adaptive ANC that can more smoothly adapt to sudden spikes in noise. The QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) are expected to be available through Bose's online store starting later this summer for $299 in black, white smoke, and deep plum color options. The new earbuds carry over the original version's calibration technology, which personalizes the audio and ANC to the shape of your ear, but enhances it with an updated AI algorithm that makes changes in ANC levels subtler while using the awareness mode. The ANC will more gradually increase in response to the sounds of a passing siren, for example, so it doesn't drown out what you're listening to. Bose says the upgraded QuietComfort Ultra earbuds leverage technology originally developed for hearing aids to improve call quality by reducing background noises like wind or the murmur of a busy office. Battery life remains the same at up to 24 hours when paired with the charging case, which can now be topped up with a wireless charger. The earbuds also introduce a new guard that reduces wax build up and makes them easier to clean, and you now have the option to disable capacitive touch controls to prevent accidental inputs. The company is also upgrading its SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker with a 2nd gen model that's expected to be available later this summer for $129 in black and blue dusk color options. Its most welcome upgrade is a USB-C charging port, but existing users could be tempted by a big bump in battery life from six to 12 hours, clearer sound at higher frequencies, and compatibility with Bose's mobile app for customizing the function of its shortcuts buttons and adjusting its sound profile using an EQ. Additionally, Bose is announcing an entirely new portable Bluetooth speaker called the SoundLink Plus that will be a more premium offering when it launches on June 26th. It's already available for preorder for $269 in black and blue dusk color options, while a new citrus yellow color can be preordered starting on June 18th. The speaker features a single subwoofer and tweeter paired with four passive radiators that can be enjoyed for up to 20 hours between charges. It has an IP67 waterproof rating which means it can be submerged a few feet for up to 30 minutes but can float so it will survive indefinitely if it ends up in the drink.
Stuff.tv
12-06-2025
- Stuff.tv
2nd gen Bose noise cancelling earbuds add the one feature I missed on the old ones
Commuters craving the sound of silenced have a new saviour. Bose has updated its QuietComfort Ultra wireless earbuds to a second generation, with even better ANC along with a bunch of other welcome upgrades. It's not like the firm isn't also afraid to get loud, though – it's also updating one of its most popular portable speakers, and adding an all-new model to the line-up. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) might be a mouthful to say, but improved adaptive noise cancelling promises to more smoothly filter out sudden loud noises than the original QC Ultra in-ears. Hopefully that means no more obnoxious muscle car exhausts or subway trains ruining that album you've had on repeat. It's rocking Bose's tried-and-tested sound calibration tech, which personalises audio and noise cancelling based on your environment and the shape of your ear. The ear tips have been redesigned to stop yucky wax built-up, too. Bose has tapped AI to help the Ultra 2nd Gen's eight microphones (four for each ear) reduce background distractions at the same time as keeping your voice clear for phone calls, whether you're using both buds at once or just one. Capacitive control haters will be happy to hear you can now disable the touch buttons completely through the Bose companion app, to guarantee you don't get any accidental presses when adjusting the fit – or your hair. Wireless charging is the other new addition, saving you from hunting around for a cable when it's time to refuel. You had to pay extra for an optional case with the first-sen pair. Battery life hasn't changed between generations, so you're still looking at six hours of listening (or four with Immersive Audio switched on). The case can hold three full charges, and will give you two extra hours of listening after twenty minutes. It uses the same Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity as the first-gen Ultra Earbuds, with aptX adaptive streaming, Snapdragon Sound low-latency, and Google Fast Pair. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd gen are set to go on sale from June 26, and are up for pre-order right now directly from Bose. You'll be able to snag a pair in Black, White Smoke, or the limited-run Deep Plum colour. They'll set you back $299/£299. Joining them is the new SoundLink Plus, a rugged Bluetooth speaker that promises big sound from a relatively compact case. It weighs in at under 2kg, but finds room inside for a bass driver, tweeter, and four passive radiators – along with a battery good for 20 hours of play time. It can double as a portable power bank for your other tech, too. There's no danger of losing it if you get the limited edition Citrus Yellow model. Black and Blue Dusk colours are also on the way. All three have the same powder-coated steel grille and soft-touch silicone finish as the rest of the SoundLink range, and are IP67 water resistant. They also float, and have a rugged nylon wrist strap for easy lugging. Get two together and you can pair 'em in stereo, or pop it into party mode with any other SoundLink speaker. It's launching on June 26 for $250/£250. Finally, Bose has given its diddy SoundLink Micro speaker the 2nd Gen treatment. New for 2025 is a removable nylon strap to make it easier to clip the compact speaker onto your bike or bag. USB-C charging also makes the grade, and battery life has been boosted to twelve hours between top-ups. There's a single driver and dual passive radiators inside, and the whole thing is IP67 resistant. It's not due to arrive until later in the year, where it should set you back $120/£120 in black or blue dusk colours.
Gizmodo
12-06-2025
- Gizmodo
Bose's New Bluetooth Speaker Looks Like a Solid Way to Annoy Everybody at the Beach
The only thing I love more than foisting my music on other people at the park is doing it with a speaker that delivers solid or above-average sound quality. While I haven't had a chance to use Bose's new portable Bluetooth speaker, it seems like it could be a great option for doing just that. Bose's SoundLink Plus is a midrange Bluetooth speaker that is very clearly designed for outdoor excursions since it can float and has an IP67 rating that makes it damn near waterproof and dustproof. Per Bose, the portable speaker is 'ready for anything' and is small enough to fit comfortably in a backpack or a duffel bag. I'd agree with that assessment—the speaker is nine inches wide and weighs a manageable 3.29 pounds. Despite that compact size, it still has a subwoofer, a tweeter, four passive radiators, and an estimated 20 hours of battery life, though that depends on how loud your beach neighbors' competing music is and whether you need to crank the volume or not. It also has a nylon strap attached, which isn't exactly the most high-tech feature for a wireless speaker, but is pretty nice if you're carrying this thing around or want to attach it to your backpack or something. There's a new color, too, which Bose calls Citrus Yellow and gives what would otherwise be a pretty boring-looking speaker a nice pop. It falls pretty solidly in the midrange price category at $269, which sits between Bose's SoundLink Flex and the Max. Preorders launch June 12, with general availability coming June 26. While the SoundLink Plus is the newest thing Bose is introducing today, there are also second-gen updates to a couple of other audio products: the QuietComfort Ultra wireless earbuds and the SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker. Highlights for the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds include new and improved algorithms for adaptive noise cancellation and call quality, better battery life, and also a case that charges wirelessly. The SoundLink Micro gets some major quality-of-life upgrades with the addition of USB-C charging, a major battery life bump from 6 hours to 12 hours, and, according to Bose, 'improved sound performance.' Both are expected to be released later this summer at $299 and $129, respectively. As for the new SoundLink Plus speaker, we'll have our hands on one soon enough, so make sure you report back for my full review about whether Bose's newest Bluetooth speaker is worth the price. Apologies in advance to all my park neighbors; I'm annoying you for science.
