Wi-fi headphones had an enormous yr in 2025, with Sony and Bose updating their flagship active-noise canceling (ANC) over-ears. Plus, different opponents just like the AirPods Max and Sonos Ace are nonetheless going robust, so there’s loads of room for client selection. Apple even got here out with the AirPods Professional 3, a pair of wi-fi earbuds with ANC ok to rival the most effective over-ear headphones. There has by no means been a greater time to put money into an important pair of headphones, however which one must you purchase?
I examined all the most effective headphones and earbuds in 2025, totaling over 20 fashions. Whereas there’s no fully excellent pair, one mannequin stands out in comparison with the remainder: the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2. They supply the proper mixture of consolation, portability, ANC, and, in fact, sound high quality. At $449 (and infrequently promoting for much less), the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 headphones are my favourite over-ears of the yr.
What I search for in a pair of wi-fi headphones
And what I like greatest concerning the high choices from Bose, Sony, Apple, and others
Coming into the yr, the AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace had been the 2 pairs of over-ear headphones I used most. Nevertheless, they’re each flawed headphones, therefore why I turned to a mixture of the 2 pairs for my audio wants. AirPods Max sound nice and have the most effective ANC energy, conquering flights and lowering strain with ease, but they’re ridiculously heavy — to the purpose the discomfort practically negates the advantages, and many folks say they’re not worth buying.
The Sonos Ace isn’t significantly better. Though the consolation is top-notch and the sound high quality is nice, the ANC energy leaves one thing to be desired. They appear to be incapable of dealing with airplane journeys with out letting crackles and pops via. As somebody who suffers from ear ache and complications on flights usually, that’s a dealbreaker for me. Moreover, neither the Sonos Ace nor the AirPods Max sports activities a folding mechanism, permitting them to break down for simple storage, which is irritating for journey.
Sonos Ace Review: Expensive, but a True Sony and Bose Competitor
Sonos’ first try at making headphones has been a hit.
It takes quite a bit to make a implausible pair of wi-fi headphones, however there are some things I at all times search for. First, a stellar set of headphones must ship nice sound, with both a balanced profile out of the field or a user-customizable EQ. In addition they have to have nice ANC. For me, which means blocking out undesirable noise with ANC on and the quantity set to 50%. It’s additionally essential that I can maintain a quick dialog in transparency mode with out eradicating the headphones. Lastly, consolation is paramount — I ought to have the ability to put on them throughout a cross-country flight with out discomfort.
By these requirements, I’ve discovered the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 to be essentially the most full pair of wi-fi headphones but.
What’s nice concerning the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2
Consolation, sound high quality, customization, and portability are glorious
Bose is competing with Sony’s WH-1000XM6 for the title of greatest ANC headphones launched in 2025. These had been the top headphone models launched this yr, and so they’re solely priced $10 aside. Surprisingly, the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 take very related approaches in difficult Apple’s AirPods Max. The Sony and Bose headsets are lighter, extra suitable, and simpler to stow, and each supply energetic noise-canceling and transparency modes that are not fairly pretty much as good as Apple’s.
Sony meets audiophiles the place they’re with assist for its LDAC audio codec, whereas Bose solely helps the SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs. Some won’t just like the Bose assortment of customization settings for the QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2, however I like them. There is a easy EQ if that you must modify the sound — I discover the tuning to be near-perfect out of the field — in addition to assist for customized ANC modes.
I significantly benefit from the “immersion” mode on the QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 headphones, which is successfully a mixture of ANC and spatial audio. Nevertheless, for the reason that headphones are dealing with the spatial really feel themselves, your supply content material would not have to be mastered in Dolby Atmos or something of the type. You’ll be able to join just about something to the Bose headphones, and it will add a spatial really feel to the content material you are listening to.
When it comes to sound high quality and ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 got here with me on a number of cross-country flights, and it was a succesful AirPods Max substitute. Positive, the AirPods Max’s noise canceling is perhaps a bit stronger, however the Bose headphones had been extra comfy to put on. And with the QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2’s collapsible design and included case, it is simple to hold in my journey bag.
I might describe the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2’s sound as balanced, with a bit of additional punch within the low-end. The bass is not overpowering, however it’s deep and full. Bose managed to offer this booming sound with out overpowering the mids and highs, which I get pleasure from. If the bass is an excessive amount of, there is a Bass Reducer EQ profile that’ll prioritize vocals.
What’s not nice concerning the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2
Apple nonetheless has the benefit in ANC energy
In comparison with AirPods Max, which I nonetheless contemplate the gold commonplace for ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 headphones are nonetheless a step behind. AirPods Max are higher at mitigating airplane noise and wind, however make no mistake, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 are nonetheless stable on this regard.
There are just a few quirks concerning the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 that might hamper the expertise for some. It helps USB-C for wired audio, however its onboard headphone jack is a 2.5mm port. No, that’s not a typo — you’ll want to make use of the included 2.5mm to three.5mm cable to attach the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 headphones to your favourite audio units. The headphones have to have a cost to work in wired mode, not like Sony’s WH-1000XM6, which might work fully analog over a 3.5mm cable.
There’s additionally one button that handles each energy and Bluetooth pairing, and I feel they need to every have devoted buttons as an alternative. The battery life, whereas definitely stable at 30 hours with ANC on, isn’t excellent in comparison with a few of the different choices in the marketplace.
Why Bose sits on the high of the ANC headphone market
Doing most issues proper whereas providing a compelling worth proposition
Whereas the Sony WH-1000XM6 or AirPods Max could also be higher options for some, Bose’s QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 has confirmed to be essentially the most well-rounded set of headphones in the marketplace in 2025. I discover them to be higher than Sony’s providing at roughly the identical worth, and solely barely behind Apple in sure areas, whereas costing $100 much less. It is an important signal that Bose is already discounting the QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 by $50 — it makes these headphones a good higher worth.
- Battery Life
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As much as 30 hours
- Bluetooth
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Bluetooth 5.4
- Foldable
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Sure
- Charging kind
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USB-C
Bose’s QuietComfort Extremely Gen 2 headphones function improved energetic noise canceling, glorious consolation, and the identical nice sound high quality. They’re the best choice for consumers who need a mixture of options and crossplatform compatibility between iOS, Android, and lots of different platforms.
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