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Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Cosmic Black, front view
Budget pick

Baseus Inspire XH1

About $100: Battery, calls and Android LDAC

Check price on AmazonTypical price: $100–$150
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) in Black, three-quarter view with polished silver yokes
Upgrade pick

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

$369 on sale: Flagship ANC, USB-C audio, auto-pause

Check price on AmazonTypical price: $369–$449

If you’re weighing the Baseus Inspire XH1 vs the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), I’d buy the XH1 unless noise cancelling on planes, trains or in open offices is the whole reason you’re shopping. The Bose blocks far more noise and adds USB-C audio and auto-pause, but the XH1 lasts longer per charge, handles calls well and leaves you about $270. On October 9, 2026, the XH1 sold for $99.99 at Amazon and Walmart, and the Bose sold for $369 on sale, against a $449 list price.

Both are current models. Baseus launched the XH1 (model A02036) on September 4, 2025, at $149.99, and it’s the first and only generation. Bose announced the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) on September 10, 2025, as the replacement for the 2023 original and put it on sale in the US on October 2. The “Sound by Bose” label on the XH1 means Bose licensed the tuning. Baseus built the rest, including the noise cancelling.

Baseus Inspire XH1 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra: The quick verdict

Buy the XH1 on most budgets and for most days. Buy the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) if blocking noise on flights, trains or in open offices is the job, and only at $369 or less.

If you… Buy Why
Fly or ride loud trains every month QC Ultra (2nd Gen) About 87% measured noise reduction; CNET found the XH1’s ANC about half as effective
Have about $100 to spend XH1 $99.99 against $369 on sale (October 2026)
Hate charging XH1 About 48-55 h with ANC on in reviewer tests, against 27-37 h measured on the Bose
Take a lot of calls XH1 Five mics hold up on loud streets; the Bose mic is only decent
Use Android and want hi-res Bluetooth XH1 LDAC works with multipoint; the Bose has no LDAC
Want auto-pause, USB-C audio and listening while charging QC Ultra (2nd Gen) The XH1 has none of the three
Use transparency mode a lot QC Ultra (2nd Gen) Aware Mode sounds natural; the XH1’s can sound hissy or unnatural
Like to tweak EQ XH1 8-band EQ against a 3-band EQ
Wear glasses for hours QC Ultra (2nd Gen) Very comfortable, and it works with glasses

Neither suits the gym. Both lack an IP rating, and both slip during workouts.

Which QuietComfort Ultra is this?

Bose has sold two generations of QC Ultra headphones, and many comparisons mix up their numbers.

In October 2026, Google’s AI summary for this search quoted about $430 and 24 hours for the Bose. Both are 1st Gen numbers. Everything below refers to the 2nd Gen unless I say otherwise.

Specs side by side

Inspire XH1 vs QC Ultra (2nd Gen)
SpecInspire XH1QC Ultra (2nd Gen)
List price$149.99Better$449
Noise cancellingHybrid adaptive ANC, up to -48 dB (Baseus claim)Adaptive ANC, adjustable strength, can switch fully offBetter
Battery (claimed)100 h ANC off / 65 h ANC onBetter30 h ANC on / 45 h ANC off
Quick charge10 min for about 12 hBetter15 min for up to 3 h
CodecsSBC, AAC, LDAC (LDAC on Android only)SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive (no LDAC)
BluetoothBluetooth 6.15.4
MultipointYes, 2 devicesYes, 2 devices at once
EQSound by Bose + 6 presets, 8-band EQ, SoundFitBetter3-band EQ plus presets
Spatial audioDolby Audio, Music and Cinema modesBose Immersive Audio (Still, Motion), Cinema ModeBetter
Microphones5 mics with AI noise reduction for callsDecent for calls (RTINGS)(measured)
Wired listening3.5 mm AUX (cable included), ANC works wiredUSB-C digital audio; 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm cableBetter
Charging portUSB-CUSB-C (listen while charging)Better
Weight275 g264 g (0.58 lb)
Water resistanceNo IP rating listed by BaseusNone (no IP rating)

Most rows are maker claims; the sections below set them against lab and reviewer results. A few wrong specs keep circulating for this pair:

  • The XH1 has five microphones. Ignore any 10-mic figure.
  • The XH1 does have spatial audio (Dolby Audio), but without head tracking.
  • The IP66 rating some XH1 reviews quote matches the Inspire XC1 earbuds’ rating. Baseus lists no IP rating for the XH1.
  • Bose publishes no driver size for the QC Ultra (2nd Gen), so treat any 40 mm figure as a guess.
  • Bose claims 30 hours with ANC on for the QC Ultra (2nd Gen). The 23-hour figure is for Immersive Audio, and 24 hours belongs to the 1st Gen.

Is the XH1 a cheap QC Ultra?

No. It borrows Bose’s tuning and little else. Baseus licenses “Sound by Bose” acoustic tuning, which is the XH1’s default EQ preset (Baseus, launch release). Bose had no part in the noise cancelling, and Baseus makes, sells and supports the XH1.

  • The look and feel carry over. The XH1 is about as comfortable as the QC Ultra (2nd Gen), with similar pads and a soft headband. One owner who previously had a QC Ultra calls the XH1 “surprisingly close to Bose QuietComfort Ultra” and rates the comfort almost 1:1, though he says up front that the resemblance stops at noise cancelling.
  • Bose’s noise cancelling, CustomTune, head-tracked Immersive Audio, on-head detection, USB-C audio and the Bose app don’t carry over.
  • Baseus’s manual gives a 24-month warranty. Bose gives one year.

My full Baseus Inspire XH1 review covers the rest of the XH1 in more depth.

Price and value

On October 9, 2026, the XH1 cost $99.99 and the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) cost $369, a $269 gap that grows to $349 at Bose’s list price. On sale, the Bose costs 3.7 times as much. The extra money buys much stronger noise cancelling, a more natural transparency mode, auto-pause, USB-C audio and listening while charging. It doesn’t buy more battery life, better calls or a longer warranty.

Winner: XH1. At $270 less, it’s the better value for anyone who isn’t buying for silence.

Noise cancelling: What the extra $270 buys

Noise cancelling is the one category with a large gap, and it’s why the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) costs what it does.

The XH1 doesn’t come close. In the only side-by-side test, on New York streets and in the subway, its noise cancelling seemed “about half as effective” to CNET’s David Carnoy (November 2025), who graded it B-. He tested it against the QC Ultra (2nd Gen), the Sony WH-1000XM6 and AirPods Pro 3, and he rates the Bose best in class alongside the Sony. No lab has measured that gap, but the other hands-on reports point the same way.

The Bose is excellent for travel, from bus rumble to plane cabin noise. It cut perceived outside noise by about 87% on average in SoundGuys’ test, and the Sony WH-1000XM6 is only slightly stronger. What Hi-Fi says only a baby’s high-pitched cry got through on a plane.

The XH1’s noise cancelling is middle of the pack for the price. Baseus claims -48 dB, but no lab has published a figure, and RTINGS hasn’t reviewed it. It copes with steady traffic but struggles on a loud train, and on transatlantic flights SlashGear often lost movie dialogue under engine noise. A video Baseus sponsored ranked it tier B, strong on engines and leaky on voices (15:34). One owner who came to the XH1 from the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose 700 gives it a 5 or 6 out of 10, where he’d give Sony and Bose a 9.

Consumer Reports’ public notes are kinder and call the XH1’s noise reduction excellent, but CR locks the score for members, and most hands-on reports disagree. Turning ANC on also thickens the XH1’s bass. On the Bose, owners report a faint hiss in quiet rooms that’s much milder than the 1st Gen’s (one who compared both generations, a long-term owner), and a slight hiss can creep in with ANC on while you talk at your desk.

Winner: QC Ultra (2nd Gen). It isn’t close.

Sound: A similar recipe, more polish on the Bose

Both pairs use a warm, bass-forward consumer tuning. The Bose sounds more refined, and the XH1 gives you far more EQ control.

In the two direct comparisons (a full review at 3:09 and a 49-second Short), the differences are subtle. The QC Ultra has the better soundstage and warmer mids, and it sounds crisper and more balanced. The XH1’s bass sometimes hits harder with ANC and Bass Boost on. Both comparisons used a QC Ultra of unstated generation, though. The full review prices its QC Ultra at $430, close to the 1st Gen’s $429 launch price, and went up before the 2nd Gen went on sale, so it most likely pits the XH1 against the 1st Gen.

The Bose is warm and a bit dark. RTINGS measured its bass about 3 dB above target and its treble about 4 dB below. For sound alone, the Sony WH-1000XM6, Sennheiser HDB 630 and B&W Px7 S3 all rank ahead of it. The XH1’s bass is deep but boomy, its midrange is somewhat grainy, and its treble lacks sparkle and clarity. If you want to compare the curves yourself, here are both measured frequency responses on one graph.

The XH1 has an 8-band EQ, presets, Bass Boost and SoundFit hearing personalization. The Bose has a 3-band EQ, presets and CustomTune ear calibration, and that EQ can’t fix its tuning. The XH1’s Dolby Audio mode (no head tracking) switches its EQ off and doesn’t improve the sound. The Bose’s Immersive Audio tracks your head, and its Cinema mode suits films but flattens music.

Winner: QC Ultra (2nd Gen), by a small margin. I’d give it the edge if you leave the EQ alone. If you like to tweak, the XH1’s 8-band EQ gives you more to work with.

Comfort, fit and build

Weight is a wash. Baseus claims 275 g for the XH1, and Bose lists 264 g on its spec table. Both pairs stay comfortable through long sessions. The Bose is very comfortable and works with glasses on a commute, and 46 of 50 Amazon comfort mentions for the XH1 are positive.

Cup size differs. The QC Ultra’s cups run small for bigger ears and get warm in summer. The XH1’s cups are roomier, though they warm up after about an hour too.

Both can slip. Fit is the XH1’s top complaint on Amazon (24 of 40 fit mentions are negative), and owners describe it sliding when they tilt their heads, lie down or work out. Amazon owners rate the Bose’s fit as mixed, and it isn’t stable enough for most workouts.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) in Black, three-quarter view with polished silver yokes
The QC Ultra (2nd Gen) has polished metal yokes; the 1st Gen's were matte. · Image: Bose

The build favors the Bose. The XH1’s hinges feel loose, its cups fold in on their own when you wear it around your neck, its plastic creaks now and then, and its case won’t take the headphones folded up. The QC Ultra (2nd Gen) folds into its zip case, and its ear cushions pop off for replacement. Its earcup plastics feel hard and thin, though, and the glossy yokes and the black version are fingerprint magnets. Neither pair has an IP rating.

Winner: QC Ultra (2nd Gen). Its hinges don’t draw the looseness complaints the XH1’s do, and its case takes it folded. If your ears are large, the XH1’s roomier cups may suit you better.

Calls and transparency

Calls

The XH1 is the better call headset for the money. It uses five mics with AI noise reduction, and CNET’s David Carnoy graded its calls B+ to A- on loud New York streets, though his callers said he sometimes sounded slightly digitized. In a video Baseus sponsored, it stayed clear in about 70 dB of background noise, but the voice cut out in wind. It has no mute button. The “surprisingly close” owner rates its noise filtering above the QC Ultra he used, without saying which generation. No lab has tested both mics.

The QC Ultra (2nd Gen) mic is decent, with satisfactory noise rejection, and it copes with common noisy situations. It’s clearly better than the 1st Gen’s in noise and wind, and the long-term owner describes its call quality as good but processed.

Winner: XH1, for the money. The Bose mic is fine, but I wouldn’t pay $270 more for calls alone.

Transparency

The Bose’s Aware Mode sounds natural, and it’s one of the pair’s big strengths. One 2nd Gen owner’s review praises it too. The mode does add a little white noise in quiet rooms. Bose also claims its ActiveSense feature softens sudden loud sounds.

The XH1 splits reviewers. CNET and WIRED found its transparency fairly natural, while BGR, Notebookcheck, Galaxus and the “surprisingly close” XH1 owner find it hissy, over-amplified or unnatural. The XH1’s transparency mode also switches off during calls.

Winner: QC Ultra (2nd Gen).

Battery: Claims against tests

Battery life is the XH1’s best trick, and the Bose can’t match it.

Claim Tested
XH1 100 h ANC off (Baseus); 65 h ANC on (Amazon listing) About 48 h ANC on (CNET); about 55 h ANC on and 70 h off (Galaxus)
QC Ultra (2nd Gen) 30 h ANC on, 23 h with Immersive Audio (Bose spec sheet); 45 h ANC off (Bose launch release) 37 h (RTINGS); 27 h 12 min (SoundGuys)

The XH1’s lowest reviewer figure beats the Bose’s best lab figure by about 11 hours. No lab has tested the XH1’s battery, but owners back up the reviewer numbers. On Amazon, 33 of 36 battery mentions are positive, and owners report a week or more between charges. Bose’s product page pins a footnote describing a 24-hour test to its 30-hour headline, so the table above uses Bose’s spec sheet and the lab results instead.

Both quick-charge figures come from the makers. Baseus says 10 minutes gives about 12 hours (Galaxus got about 4), and Bose says 15 minutes gives up to 3 hours. Only the Bose plays while it charges; the XH1 can’t.

Winner: XH1. The QC Ultra (2nd Gen) beats its own claim in one lab test and still falls well short.

App, features and codecs

  • Auto-pause. The Bose’s on-head detection wakes it, puts it to sleep and pauses your music. The XH1 has no wear sensor.
  • Wired listening. The XH1 takes a 3.5 mm cable, keeps ANC working over the cable (per the manual) and plays passively with the power off, though it sounds thin that way. It has no USB-C audio. The Bose has a 2.5 mm jack plus USB-C digital audio (24-bit/48 kHz since firmware 8.2.20), and both connections need power. USB-C audio bypasses your phone’s DAC and cuts latency, and the Bose isn’t ideal for wireless gaming, so plug in for games. Sources disagree on whether its mic works over USB-C. RTINGS says no in its September 2026 update, and SoundGuys says firmware 8.2.20 added USB-C voice calls for PCs.
  • Multipoint. Both connect to two devices. The XH1 keeps multipoint working with LDAC on, but LDAC turns off its Low Latency Mode (an 80 ms claim). The Bose has Google Fast Pair, but firmware 8.2.20 removed the button press that cycled through saved devices, and owners report trouble with Windows PCs and non-Apple devices (Amazon’s review summary; one detailed owner review).
  • Apps. The Baseus app works in guest mode, but Find My and SoundFit need an account (17:38 and 6:45, both in videos Baseus sponsored). The Bose app installs firmware automatically, which is how 8.2.20 reached owners.

Winner: QC Ultra (2nd Gen), for features. The XH1 wins only if you want LDAC on Android or a deeper EQ.

Durability and what owners complain about

Neither pair shows a clear failure pattern in reviews or owner reports, but the complaints differ.

QC Ultra (2nd Gen):

  • Firmware 8.2.20 (February 2026) removed button switching between saved devices and the battery voice readout, and Bose told SoundGuys it has no plans to restore them. One owner discussion of the update drew 163 upvotes, and one video review calls the change a step backward.
  • Connection trouble with Windows PCs and non-Apple devices (above).
  • Fiddly controls, with a touch volume strip that can jump and buttons that do too many jobs.
  • Glossy yokes and a black finish that show fingerprints, and Amazon summary ratings for value, reliability and fit that come out mixed.
  • One-off owner reports of a squeaking hinge, iOS app freezes and ANC pumping near an air vent.

XH1:

  • A fit that slips (above), plus average noise cancelling and hissy transparency.
  • Feature conflicts. Dolby Audio turns off the EQ and Bass Boost, and LDAC turns off Low Latency Mode.
  • Footsteps thump inside the cups when you walk with ANC on, and the “surprisingly close” owner says the QC Ultra he once owned did it too. On the 2nd Gen the reports conflict. The owner who compared both generations couldn’t reproduce it in brief tests, while a reply to his post says other 2nd Gen owners still hear it.
  • One-off reports of buzzing (one owner, while two others say they don’t hear it) and a hinge that loosened (one owner, who got a refund).

On October 9, 2026, the XH1 held 4.4 out of 5 from 475 Amazon ratings and the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) 4.3 from 2,952.

Winner: XH1, narrowly. Its biggest complaint is fit, which you can judge inside the return window, while the Bose’s came in an update after people had bought it. The XH1 also carries twice the warranty.

What each pair is worth to me

Baseus Inspire XH1

Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Cosmic Black, front view
Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Cosmic Black, front view · Image: Baseus

What I like

  • Claimed 100 h battery (65 h with ANC); owners report a week or more per charge
  • Deep sub-bass that outdoes many pairs at twice the price
  • Light clamp and soft pads; 46 of 50 owner comfort mentions are positive
  • LDAC and two-device multipoint work at the same time
  • Physical buttons, 3.5 mm wired input and a carrying case included

What bugs me

  • Owners report the light clamp slips when you tilt your head, lie down or work out
  • The ANC is average; voices and nearby chatter leak through
  • Transparency mode adds hiss and switches off during calls
  • Treble lacks sparkle, and the EQ can't fully fix it
Best Budget Headphones
Value receipt · October 9, 2026
Baseus Inspire XH1
Battery
48-55 h tested, ANC on
Calls
5 mics, graded B+ to A-
Sound
Bose-tuned, bass-forward
Noise cancelling
About half the QC Ultra's
Fit
Light clamp, can slip
Extras
No USB-C audio, auto-pause
Pay
$99 or less
VerdictBuy it

No lab has published XH1 battery or noise cancelling figures, so these come from reviewer tests.

Cosmic Black and Starlight Off-White sold for $99.99 at Amazon (Baseus Official Store) on October 9, 2026, Walmart had the black pair at the same price, and baseus.com charged $149.99 ($129.99 with its code). Amazon had only used Twilight Blue units and no US listing for Sunset Coral. My full Baseus Inspire XH1 review has the details.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) in White Smoke, three-quarter view
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) in White Smoke, three-quarter view · Image: Bose

What I like

  • Cuts about 87% of perceived outside noise with ANC on
  • 37 h with ANC on in lab tests, beating the 30 h claim
  • USB-C digital audio, and you can listen while it charges
  • Comfortable for long wear, even with glasses
  • On-head detection wakes it, puts it to sleep and pauses music

What bugs me

  • Firmware 8.2.20 (Feb 2026) removed button switching between saved devices
  • Bass-heavy default sound, and the 3-band EQ can't fix it
  • Owners report connection trouble with Windows PCs and non-Apple devices
  • No IP rating, and it slips during vigorous workouts
Best Budget Headphones
Value receipt · October 9, 2026
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Noise cancelling
87% measured reduction
Comfort
Light, glasses-friendly
Battery
30 h claim, 27-37 h tested
Wired
USB-C audio + 2.5 mm
EQ
3-band only
Firmware
Feb 2026 update cut features
Pay
$369 or less
VerdictBuy it

The noise figure and tested battery range are lab results. At $449, wait for a sale.

Amazon.com sold all seven colors for $369 on October 9, 2026 (Black, White Smoke, Midnight Violet, Desert Gold, Driftwood Sand, Cherry Chocolate and Olive Green), and bose.com matched it in a sale that ends October 11. Bose gives a one-year limited warranty and 30-day returns on bose.com orders.

The closest video comparison

No video compares the XH1 with the 2nd Gen directly. CEONTHEMAKING’s review, the top video result for this search, sets the XH1 against a QC Ultra from 3:09, and the clip below starts there. He prices that Bose at $430, so it’s most likely the 1st Gen.

$150 Bose Headphones?! Baseus Inspire XH1 Review (Compared to QC Ultra) · CEONTHEMAKING · September 2025. He prices the QC Ultra at $430, close to the 1st Gen's $429 launch price, so he's most likely comparing the 1st Gen. He discloses no sponsorship; the description has affiliate links.· Watch on YouTube

Which should you buy?

Get the XH1 if

  • Your budget stops near $100
  • You want a week or more between charges
  • You take a lot of calls
  • You're on Android and want LDAC
  • You like to fine-tune sound with an 8-band EQ
  • Your ears are large

Get the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) if

  • You fly or ride loud trains often
  • You want auto-pause, USB-C audio and listening while charging
  • You rely on transparency mode
  • You wear glasses for long sessions
  • You can get it for $369 or less

The right pick also depends on the price on the day you buy (the figures below are from October 9, 2026):

  • XH1 at $99.99, QC Ultra (2nd Gen) at $369. Use the lists above. For most people, $270 is too much to pay for quiet alone.
  • QC Ultra (2nd Gen) back at $449. Wait for a sale. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) at $169, or a refurbished 1st Gen QC Ultra at $199, gets you most of the noise cancelling for far less.
  • A new 1st Gen QC Ultra at $326 to $399. Skip it. That’s too close to the 2nd Gen’s sale price, and the 2nd Gen was the better buy even when the gap was $20.
  • XH1 back at $149.99. Buy the Soundcore Space One Pro or Sony ULT WEAR instead for stronger noise cancelling. Both sold for less than that.
  • For the gym. Neither. Both lack an IP rating, and both slip.

What sits between $100 and $369

Six pairs fill the gap between the XH1 and the QC Ultra (2nd Gen), and the CMF Headphone Pro undercuts both (prices from October 9, 2026):

Price Pair Why it’s on the ladder More
$59 CMF Headphone Pro LDAC; 43 h and about 81% noise reduction in SoundGuys’ tests None
$99.99 Baseus Inspire XH1 Battery, calls, Bose tuning XH1 review
$129.95-$148 Sony ULT WEAR Excellent ANC; RTINGS measured 44 h None
$139.99 Soundcore Space One Pro Excellent isolation; RTINGS measured 36.1 h XH1 vs Space One Pro
$169 Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) Top-tier Bose ANC without the Ultra price XH1 vs QuietComfort (2023)
$199 refurbished Bose QC Ultra (1st Gen) 85% measured noise reduction against 87% on the 2nd Gen; no USB-C audio None
$200-$230 Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless RTINGS measured 62 h; USB-C audio and aptX Adaptive XH1 vs Momentum 4
$319 Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) Isolation neck-and-neck with the Ultra, and its mic works over USB-C QuietComfort comparison
$369 Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) Flagship ANC, USB-C audio, auto-pause This page

The Momentum 4 is the previous generation (Sennheiser announced the Momentum 5 in May 2026), but stores still sold it new on October 9. If you’d take a used pair, Amazon listed the original Sony WH-1000XM4 from $149.99 used and $159.99 renewed, and its isolation is outstanding; see the XH1 vs Sony WH-1000XM4 comparison. At the top end, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the QC Ultra (2nd Gen)’s real rival. The Sony isolates slightly better and gives you more EQ control, while the Bose fits more people comfortably, adds USB-C audio and lasts longer per charge.

My verdict

For other budgets, start with my best budget headphones picks or browse all my headphone comparisons.

Questions people ask

What headphones are comparable to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra?

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is its real rival at about the same list price. The Sony isolates slightly better and has a more flexible EQ, while the Bose fits more people comfortably and adds USB-C audio. For less money, Bose's own QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) isolates about as well and sold for $319 at Amazon in October 2026. The QuietComfort Headphones (2023) sold for $169 on October 9, 2026.

Does Bose make Baseus headphones?

No. Baseus makes and sells the Inspire XH1 and licenses Bose's Sound by Bose tuning for its default sound preset. Bose had no part in the XH1's noise cancelling.

Is the Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) worth about $270 more than the Baseus XH1?

Only if noise cancelling is why you're buying. The QC Ultra (2nd Gen) blocks far more noise, and CNET found the XH1's ANC about half as effective on New York streets and the subway. For battery life, calls and a budget near $100 (October 2026 prices), the XH1 is the better buy.

What's the difference between the QC Ultra 1st Gen and 2nd Gen?

The 2nd Gen adds USB-C audio, Bluetooth 5.4, an ANC-off setting, Cinema Mode and a 30-hour battery claim (24 hours on the 1st Gen). SoundGuys measured nearly identical noise cancelling (about 85% vs 87%) and about 27 hours of battery on both.

Is the XH1 or the QC Ultra better for iPhone?

iPhones use AAC with both, so the XH1's LDAC and the Bose's aptX Adaptive do nothing there. Choose the QC Ultra (2nd Gen) for noise cancelling, transparency and auto-pause, or the XH1 for battery life and price.

Did a Bose update remove features from the QC Ultra (2nd Gen)?

Yes. Firmware 8.2.20 (February 2026) removed the button press for switching between saved devices and the battery voice readout, and Bose says it has no plans to restore them. The same update added 24-bit USB audio.

Sources and further reading

Prices and specs checked October 9, 2026.

  1. Baseus Inspire XH1 product page and specifications (Baseus US)
  2. Baseus Inspire XH1 user manual (PDF)
  3. Baseus launches the Inspire series with Sound by Bose (PR Newswire, 2025-09-04)
  4. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), bose.com US product page
  5. Bose support: QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) specifications
  6. Bose support: what's new in the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
  7. Bose press release: next-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2025-09-10)
  8. Bose press release: QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Earbuds (2023-09-14)
  9. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen), refurbished, bose.com
  10. RTINGS: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review
  11. SoundGuys: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review
  12. SoundGuys: Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 firmware update removes features (2026-03-12)
  13. What Hi-Fi?: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review
  14. TechRadar: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review
  15. CNET: Bose-infused Baseus Inspire XH1 headphones review (2025-11-20)
  16. Galaxus: Baseus Inspire XH1 product test (2025-12-12)
  17. WIRED: Baseus Inspire XH1 review (2025-12-12)
  18. Digital Trends: Baseus Inspire XH1 review (2026-06-07)
  19. SlashGear: Baseus Inspire XH1 review (2025-09-25)
  20. BGR: Baseus XH1 headphones review (2025-09-04)
  21. Notebookcheck: Baseus Inspire XH1 review (2025-10-14)
  22. Consumer Reports: Baseus Inspire XH1
  23. r/headphones: Baseus Inspire XH1, surprisingly close to Bose QuietComfort Ultra (owner review, 2026-01-08)
  24. r/bose: QuietComfort Ultra 2 firmware update removes features (2026-03-11)
  25. DHRME: Baseus Inspire XH1 vs Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) frequency response overlay
Marius

Written by Marius

Audio enthusiast. I've worn a lot of headphones, and I tell you which pair is worth your money and which one isn't.

I check every verdict against lab measurements and long-term owner feedback, and I update pages when prices or models change. How I judge headphones.

  • Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Cosmic Black, front view
    Review

    Baseus Inspire XH1 Review: Is It Worth Buying?

    At $100 or less, yes. It's the pair I'd buy for long battery life, comfort and calls, but at its $149.99 list price, or if you fly often, I'd buy stronger noise cancelling instead.

  • Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Cosmic Black, front viewBose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) in Black, three-quarter view on a white background
    Comparison

    Baseus Inspire XH1 vs Bose QuietComfort

    Buy the Baseus Inspire XH1 (about $100 in October 2026) for battery life, calls and Android LDAC. Pay about $70 more for the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2023) if you fly or ride loud trains and want stronger noise cancelling and a lighter fit.

  • Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Cosmic Black, front viewSennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless headphones in Black, three-quarter view on a white background
    Comparison

    Baseus Inspire XH1 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4

    Buy the Baseus Inspire XH1 at about $100 (October 2026 prices). The Sennheiser Momentum 4 earns its extra $100 or so only at $200 or less, and only for close music listening, aptX Adaptive or wired USB-C use, because it doesn't cancel noise any better.

  • Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear noise cancelling headphones in Cosmic Black, front viewSoundcore Space One Pro over-ear headphones in Jet Black, three-quarter view on a white background
    Comparison

    Baseus Inspire XH1 vs Soundcore Space One Pro

    I'd buy the Baseus Inspire XH1 at October 2026 prices. It costs about $40 less, lasts longer per charge and keeps your voice steadier on quiet-room calls. Pay about $140 for the Soundcore Space One Pro only if lab-measured noise cancelling and a compact fold top your list.