Bose starts adding Auracast to its headphones

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are the first Bose headphones to support this underrated Bluetooth tech.

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are the first Bose headphones to support this underrated Bluetooth tech.

by

John Higgins

Sep 28, 2026, 7:31 PM UTC

The flagship Bose headphones will now be able to connect to Auracast broadcasts for better accessibility.

Image: The Verge

John Higgins

is a senior reviewer covering TVs and audio. He has over 20 years experience in AV, and has previously been on staff at Digital Trends and Reviewed.

Anew firmware updatefor the $449 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 adds support for Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast as beta features. The flagship Ultra headphones are the first from Bose to support the audio sharing technology, which the company plans to bring to more devices soon.

Only a few major manufacturers include Auracast, and only on select headphones or earbuds — includingSony,JBL headphones,Samsung Galaxy Buds, and Sennheiser, which alsoreleased an Auracast transmitterthis year. Some smaller companies, like EarFun, have added support. But Bose is one of the most recognizable names in headphones, so the fact that it’s finally jumping in is big news for Auracast.

Related

Auracast was officially announced back in 2022, but theadoption process has been slow. The technology allows a device to broadcast Bluetooth audio to any number of supported headphones or speakers at the same time. This could be for gate announcements while waiting at the airport, a performance at a local venue, or a college lecture. You can even use Auracast at home to watch TV while kids are asleep or for extra hearing assistance — some Samsung and LG TVs have the functionality buried in their menus.

The firmware update, labeled 10.12.12, has been quietly rolling out the past few weeks. Alongside Bluetooth LE and Auracast, it adds improved audio over wired USB connections, including balance for gaming audio and chat, and better compatibility for web conferencing apps.

Bose spokesperson Tim Williams toldThe Vergevia email thatthe QC Headphones (Gen 2), which I recently reviewed,should get the beta firmwarenext.

Follow topics and authors

from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

  • John Higgins

Most Popular

Most Popular

  1. Bose’s first wired earbuds in 11 years add noise canceling
  2. The smart home graveyard is getting crowded
  3. Googlebooks might be the real deal
  4. OpenAI agents tried to ‘bruteforce’ a UN website
  5. Volkswagen replaces ID.4 with all-electric Tiguan
Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad