Bose × Thom Browne QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Last updated: 25 September 2026
The Bose Thom Browne headphones are Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) with the headband, the ear cushions and the carry case wrapped in heather grey cashmere. The left earcup carries Thom Browne's four white bars, and a red, white and blue grosgrain tab sits on top of the headband. Inside, though, they are the same noise-cancelling headphones Bose sells for £399.95. Bose UK is taking pre-orders now at £760, and the limited edition goes on sale on 28 September 2026. The prices and specifications here come from Bose's and Thom Browne's own product pages, read on 24 September 2026.
What the Bose Thom Browne headphones are
They are a fashion edition of a pair of headphones that already existed, so the sound is not new. Bose launched the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) as its flagship noise-cancelling pair, and Thom Browne has changed what you touch and see rather than what you hear.
Thom Browne is the New York label known for shrunken grey suits, a red, white and blue stripe and four horizontal bars on the sleeve. All three turn up on these headphones, too. Bose lists the colour as Smoked Pearl, and it is the only one.
Bose calls it a limited edition. However, neither Bose nor Thom Browne publishes how many pairs were made, so there is no way to know how long they will stay in stock. If you want a pair at the launch price, buying early is the safe bet.
What Thom Browne changed
As a result, almost every soft surface is now cashmere. Thom Browne's own listing describes it as jacket-weight cashmere, the same weight of cloth the label uses for tailoring.
- Headband: wrapped in heather grey cashmere, with the red, white and blue grosgrain loop tab stitched to the top.
- Ear cushions: covered in the same cashmere, and removable. Inside each one, the lining is striped red, white and navy.
- Earcups: the left cup carries the four-bar stripe in white and grey. The right cup keeps the standard Bose finish and its controls.
- Carry case: a zip case covered in cashmere, with the four bars across the front, a grosgrain tab and a wrist strap. When you open it, you see the same striped lining.
The removable cashmere ear cushions, each lined in red, white and navy stripes. Photograph: Thom Browne.
The cashmere carry case, with the four bars across the front and a grosgrain tab on the zip. Photograph: Thom Browne.
In its own words, Bose describes the finish as "heather grey cashmere ear cushions, signature grosgrain accents, and the unmistakable four-bar motif". The case is the part other people will see most, because it is what comes out of the bag.
What stays the same underneath
The electronics, drivers and software come from the standard QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). That means everything Bose says about that model applies here, and the standard product page lists the same features.
- Noise cancelling: adjustable active noise cancelling, which Bose calls its best, plus an Aware mode that lets outside sound in.
- Battery: up to 30 hours, or 23 hours with Bose Immersive Audio switched on. A full charge takes about three hours over USB-C.
- Wired listening: the USB-C port carries lossless audio from a computer or phone, at 16-bit and 44.1kHz or 48kHz. A 3.5mm to 2.5mm cable is in the box for any headphone socket, including the one in a plane seat.
- Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode: spatial sound that places the music in front of you rather than inside your head, plus a setting tuned for films.
- Bluetooth: version 5.4, plus a lower-latency gaming mode on phones that support Snapdragon Sound.
- Controls: a power button, a multi-function button and a touch strip for volume, all on the right earcup. They pause when you take them off.
The Bose app handles the set-up, the EQ and the shortcut on the volume strip. You can pair them without it, but software updates only come through the app, so it is worth installing on day one.
Where the collaboration started
The Bose Thom Browne headphones first appeared on the runway. Thom Browne showed his Fall 2026 collection at the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco on 6 February 2026. It was part of GQ's show in the week of the Super Bowl. Models wore the custom Bose headphones with the collection, seven months before pre-orders opened.
"Every moment has a sound… it felt natural to incorporate this idea in a bigger way through this collaboration with Bose."
Thom Browne, founder and chief creative officer, on the Bose × Thom Browne page
Thom Browne has worked with a tech brand before. In 2023 Samsung sold Thom Browne editions of the Galaxy Z Fold5.
The headphones in the open case, which is lined in the same stripes as the ear cushions. Photograph: Thom Browne.
The headphones lie flat in the case, so the striped lining shows every time you take them out.
In the box you also get a USB-C to USB-C cable (99cm) and the 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable. There is no plug, but any USB-C phone charger will do the job.
Bose Thom Browne headphones price, and what the extra £360 buys
Bose UK lists the Bose Thom Browne headphones at £760. The standard QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) cost £399.95 on the same site. That makes the difference £360.05, and all of it pays for materials and design, because the sound, the noise cancelling and the battery are identical.
If it is a present, Bose offers its gift box for £7.95 extra at checkout. Buying direct from Bose also gets you a 30-day return window with free return postage. On top of that, its price match promise applies if the same product turns up cheaper within 14 days.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Product | Bose × Thom Browne QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) |
| Colour | Smoked Pearl, heather grey cashmere |
| UK price | £760 at Bose UK |
| Standard model | £399.95 at Bose UK |
| Availability | Pre-order from 24 September 2026, on sale 28 September |
| Edition size | Limited, number not published |
| Battery | Up to 30 hours, 23 with Immersive Audio |
| Charging | USB-C, about 3 hours, no plug in the box |
| Water resistance | None, no IP rating |
| In the box | Headphones, cashmere carry case, USB-C cable, 3.5mm to 2.5mm cable |
The catches
The rain problem. Bose says the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) have no water resistance and should not be used where they might get wet. Because the headband and cushions are cashmere, rain does more damage here than on the standard pair. So on a wet commute, keep them in the case.
The wear problem. Cashmere is soft because its fibres are fine, and fine fibres pill where they rub. The ear cushions touch your hair and collar every day, so expect them to show wear long before the electronics age.
Sound quality. It is no better than the standard model, so every review of the standard model applies unchanged. If you want the best-sounding pair £760 can buy, look elsewhere. Here you are paying for the object.
The stock question. A limited run with no published size can go quickly, and after that the only route left is resale.
Who they suit
They suit someone who already wears Thom Browne. They also suit anyone who wanted the QuietComfort Ultra anyway and would rather have the cashmere version. As a milestone present they work too, because the cashmere case makes them feel like a gift before they are even switched on.
For noise cancelling alone, the standard pair does the same job for £399.95. For a side-by-side view, our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones compares it with the rest of the field. If you want a design-led pair for much less, the Nothing Headphone (1) has the transparent look. And for anyone on an iPhone, the AirPods Max are the obvious rival.
Bose Thom Browne headphones: FAQs
How much are the Bose Thom Browne headphones in the UK?
£760 at Bose UK, checked on 24 September 2026. By comparison, the standard QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) cost £399.95.
Do they sound different from the normal QuietComfort Ultra?
No. The drivers, noise cancelling, battery and software are all the same as the standard QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). The changes are the cashmere, the four-bar stripe, the grosgrain tab and the case.
When can you buy them?
Pre-orders opened on 24 September 2026, and the headphones go on sale on 28 September 2026. In the UK, Bose sells them direct.
How many were made?
Bose calls them a limited edition but does not say how many pairs exist.
Are the ear cushions really cashmere?
Yes. Bose and Thom Browne both describe the headband, the removable ear cushions and the carry case as heather grey cashmere. The inside of each cushion is lined in red, white and navy stripes.
Can you wear them in the rain?
No. Bose gives the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) no IP rating and advises against using them where they could get wet.
What comes in the box?
The headphones, the cashmere carry case, a 99cm USB-C cable and a 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable. There is no charging plug, so use any USB-C charger you already own.
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