Bose begins rolling out Auracast to its headphones

Bose has released a new firmware update for its $449 QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2, adding Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast support as beta features. The update, labeled version 10.12.12, has been quietly rolling out over the past few weeks.

The flagship Ultra headphones are the first Bose product to support Auracast, an audio-sharing technology. According to Bose spokesperson Tim Williams, the QC Headphones (Gen 2) are next in line to receive the beta firmware.

What Auracast does

Auracast was officially announced back in 2022, but industry adoption has been slow so far. The technology allows a single device to broadcast Bluetooth audio simultaneously to any number of supported headphones or speakers. Practical uses include listening to gate announcements at an airport, following a performance at a venue, or a college lecture. It can also be used at home to watch TV without disturbing sleeping children, or as a hearing-assistance tool — some Samsung and LG TVs already include the feature, though it's often buried in the menus.

A small but growing group of adopters

So far, only a few major manufacturers have added Auracast support, and only to select models — among them Sony, JBL headphones, Samsung Galaxy Buds, and Sennheiser, which also released an Auracast transmitter this year. Some smaller companies, such as EarFun, have added support as well. Because Bose is one of the most recognizable names in headphones, its entry into Auracast is seen as a significant step for the technology's broader adoption.

Beyond Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio, the update also improves audio over wired USB connections, including balance between gaming audio and chat, along with better compatibility with web-conferencing apps. The update has already been rolling out gradually to users over recent weeks.