What are the differences between QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and their predecessor, QuietComfort Earbuds II?
QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer all the same features as their predecessor, QuietComfort Earbuds II, plus breakthrough Bose Immersive Audio and the addition of Immersive Audio settings for Custom Modes. Other new features include Snapdragon Sound certification, using hi-res audio and low latency codec, Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, and Google Fast Pair. QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds also feature a new metallic finish on earbuds, as well as a new notch/key alignment feature for stability bands that makes them easier to swap in and out.
What is Bose Immersive Audio?
Immersive Audio allows you to hear audio as if it were coming from beyond your QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, thereby allowing for a more spacious, natural listening experience. Your music and other audio will have a wide sound stage in front and to the sides, just as if you were listening to a pair of stereo speakers and seated at the sweet spot between them.
How is the noise cancellation in Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds achieved?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds utilise both passive and active noise reduction technologies. Passive noise reduction is similar to when you wear earplugs; there is a physical blockage preventing some of the sound from entering your ear. This is achieved through the earbud design with materials such as silicone eartips, and the acoustic seal created by having a proper fit. For active noise cancellation, your earbuds use sophisticated proprietary electronics with microphones both inside and outside the earbuds. The electronics system senses the sound in almost any environment and then measures, compares and reacts – instant by instant – to produce an opposing cancellation signal.
What are the controls on Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
The controls on the left and right earbud surfaces are the same, and they include:
- Swipe up or down for volume control
- Tap once to play or pause content
- Tap twice in quick succession to skip forward
- Tap three times in quick succession to skip back
- Press and hold the earbud surface to access a Shortcut. The default Shortcut function on both buds is to toggle back and forth between Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling) and Aware Mode (hear outside sound). You can add additional noise cancelling modes at sound levels between Quiet and Aware using the Bose Music app. The Shortcut on one or both earbuds can also be customised in the Bose Music app to access a mobile device’s built-in voice assistant
- Tap once to accept an incoming call
- Tap twice in quick succession to end a call, or decline an incoming call
Can I use one earbud independently?
Yes. The Single-bud Use feature allows you to take calls and listen to music using one bud. It will also seamlessly switch between your earbuds, and switches automatically if one of the earbuds runs out of battery or disconnects from Bluetooth®.
Are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds sweat resistant?
Yes. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have passed IPX4 testing, which means they are protected against sweat and splashing water from any angle. The interior of the charging case is resistant to water or sweat that may remain on the buds when they are placed inside for charging; however, it is not recommended that the outside of the case be exposed to water.
What if the eartips or stability bands don’t fit my ears?
You should take some time to experiment with different eartip and stability band sizes to arrive at a combination that suits you, providing a gentle seal and a comfortable, stable experience. Keep in mind that it’s common for left and right ears to vary slightly in shape, so sizes may not match from left to right. Also, eartip and stability band sizes may be mixed and matched (such as using a size small eartip with a #3 stability band). If you find that you need alternate sizes, extra small and extra-large eartips and stability bands are available through Bose Support.
What do the lights on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds charging case mean?
There are two lights: an Earbud status light inside the case between the earbuds, and a Charging Case status light on the outside of the case.
Earbud status light (inner):
- Slowly blinks blue – Ready to connect
- Solid blue (5 seconds) – Connected
- Blinks white 2 times – Device list cleared
- Solid white (5 seconds) – Earbuds are fully charged
- Solid amber (5 seconds) – Earbuds are charging
- Blinks white 2 times – Reboot complete
- Blinks white 3 times, repeated – Updating earbud software
- Blinks amber and white – Error, contact Bose customer service
Charging Case status light (outer):
- Solid white – Case is fully charged (100%) and plugged in
- Solid white (5 seconds) – Case is charged (34% to 99%)
- Solid amber (5 seconds) – Case has low charge, less than one full earbud charge remaining (10% to 33%)
- Blinks amber 2 times – Case needs to charge (Less than 10%)
- Solid amber – Case is charging
- Blinks white 3 times, repeated – Updating case software
- Blinks amber and white – Error, contact Bose customer service
Can Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds take phone calls?
Yes. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have an adaptive microphone system that allows you to use them during calls when connected to any smartphone. In addition to traditional calls, the earbuds work with many apps that use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), such as Teams, Zoom, or FaceTime. The microphone system adapts to your environment to isolate your voice from competing background noises and wind. In addition, self-voice (adjustable in the Bose Music app settings) allows you to hear yourself naturally, as if you weren’t wearing earbuds at all, so you can monitor the volume of your voice and minimise the effects of speaking while wearing earbuds.
What is Snapdragon Sound?
Snapdragon Sound refers to an audio and software processing infrastructure developed by Qualcomm, focusing on robust and low latency Bluetooth connectivity and leveraging the aptX Adaptive codec. AptX Adaptive will “adapt” the audio quality seamlessly and continuously based on the strength back to the source’s device to maintain a good wireless connection and avoid audio dropouts. This means that for a great wireless connection, you can get the highest possible audio quality up to and including “lossless” audio. The normal sampling rate applicable in your Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is 44.1 kHz and will adapt up to 48.1 kHz when “high resolution” listening. The codec also has a low latency mode, aka “Gaming Mode”. Just as with audio quality, the codec will “adapt” to achieve the best (lowest) latency possible given the current wireless conditions.
Snapdragon Sound is applicable only to Android users with Snapdragon Sound Certified devices.
What is Google Fast Pair?
Google Fast Pair is a technology developed by Google to expedite the initial pairing process between source devices and headphones. Android users (OS 6.0 or newer) will enjoy the rapid setup Google Fast Pair has to offer by simply turning on their headphones and selecting the Google pair pop-up window on their Android device (Android device location services and Bluetooth must be set to “on”).
