Bose QuietComfort 45 Review | 93 Data compared

The Bose QuietComfort 45 are highly comfortable, lightweight over-ear wireless headphones that excel at active noise cancellation, effectively silencing environmental distractions like air conditioning units and surrounding chatter. They feature an intuitive, button-based control scheme, physical ports for both USB-C and a 2.5mm audio jack, and an "Awareness Mode" designed to let ambient sounds in without removing the headset. Additionally, they deliver a reliable battery life of roughly 25 hours, supported by a quick-charging feature that provides three hours of playback from a 15-minute charge. However, the headphones suffer from lackluster audio performance, notably a weak bass response and a distinct shortage of mid-range and treble clarity. The built-in beam-forming microphone array delivers subpar call quality that makes the user sound loud but muffled, and the headset experiences occasional Bluetooth connection dropouts. Furthermore, the Awareness Mode does not actively amplify external voices well, and the headphones lack cutting-edge features found in rivals—such as adjustable noise cancellation levels, integrated always-listening voice assistants, or advanced audio codecs.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones earned an "Outstanding" 4.5 rating and an Editors' Choice award for delivering industry-leading active noise cancellation (ANC). Retailing at $329, they retain the comfortable, practical physical design of their predecessors, featuring plush earpads, physical button controls, and a compact folding frame. The reviewer praises the headphones for their best-in-class noise cancellation, which effortlessly neutralizes deep airplane rumbles as well as challenging mid-to-high frequencies like office chatter and busy restaurant environments. Additionally, the sound quality is highly sculpted but balanced, delivering powerful low-frequency bass response without distortion and crisp highs, which can now be adjusted using a newly added EQ in the Bose Music app. Despite its class-leading performance, the review highlights notable limitations. The primary drawbacks include the inability to adjust the ANC levels or turn the ANC/Aware modes completely off to conserve the 24-hour battery life. Furthermore, the heavily sculpted audio signature may not satisfy true audiophiles seeking a completely flat and accurate response, falling slightly behind competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM4 in terms of pure audio fidelity. Other minor cons include a...

The PCMag review of the Bose QuietComfort 45Go highlights the headphones for offering best-in-class active noise cancellation and exceptional comfort, earning an Editors' Choice award. Key features include roughly 24 hours of battery life, practical physical buttons, and a sculpted, rich sound profile. Conversely, the review notes that the ANC is not adjustable between the "Quiet" and "Aware" modes, and the sound profile may not satisfy audiophiles seeking perfectly flat audio. Additionally, the headset lacks an IP rating for water resistance, and the build feels less premium than its price point suggests.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC45) headphones provide exceptional, best-in-class active noise cancelling and long-term comfort, making them an ideal choice for frequent commuters and travelers. Weighing 240g, the robust and foldable design features smooth vegan leather ear cushions and a well-balanced headband that comfortably hugs the head without clamping too tightly. They connect via Bluetooth 5.1 with multi-device pairing and offer a reliable 25-hour battery life, alongside a quick-charge feature that adds three hours of playback in just 15 minutes. The audio profile delivers clear vocals and a powerful low end, while the physical, tactile controls are simple and satisfying to use. Despite these strengths, the QC45 lack modern, high-end features found in competitors, such as an automatic pause sensor when removed, adjustable levels of noise cancelling, and support for higher-quality audio formats. The sound profile can also over-accentuate treble and highs, which sometimes makes heavy instrumentals sound overbearing. Additionally, the voice microphone lets in significant background noise during calls, and the companion app lacks an equalizer for sound customization. From a sustainability perspective, the battery is entirely non-replaceable, which...

The Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear wireless headphones offer class-leading comfort and exceptional active noise cancellation (ANC), making them ideal for long listening sessions. Weighing only 240g, they feature a lightweight design with soft synthetic leather cushions and a durable, glass-filled nylon headband. Sonically, they deliver a well-balanced profile with cleanly articulated, restrained bass and a prominent mid-range that highlights vocals and podcasts. A firmware update added a three-band graphic equalizer and four EQ presets to the Bose Music app, successfully resolving early complaints about piercing treble at high volumes. Additionally, battery life reaches up to 24 hours per charge via USB-C, and a new "Aware" transparency mode effectively passes ambient sound through to the user. Despite these strengths, the headphones fall short of competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM4 in smart features and customization. A major con is the unadjustable ANC system; unlike older models, users cannot switch between high and low levels or turn off the noise cancellation entirely while listening. The QC 45 also lack modern convenience features such as wear detection to automatically pause music when removed, or...

The Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones maintain the brand's iconic design in a much lighter 240g glass-filled nylon build, providing exceptional, pillow-soft comfort during long listening sessions. They offer brilliant, well-balanced sound quality using proprietary TriPort acoustic architecture, alongside highly effective active noise cancelling and an added Aware Mode. Reviewer testing shows a solid battery life of roughly 20 hours with active noise cancelling turned on, with the added benefit of a 3.5mm wired backup option and quick USB-C charging that delivers three hours of playback from a 15-minute charge. Despite these strengths, the QC45s fall short on modern features, leaving them feeling rather mid-range for a flagship product. Major drawbacks include a complete lack of ANC level adjustments and the absence of basic smart features like wear-detection to automatically pause music. Furthermore, the headphones lack high-end audio codec support like aptX, feature an unstable battery readout that jumps in 10% increments, and utilize a primarily plasticky build. At the original launch price of $329, the review notes that you can get more advanced features for less money from key...

The Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC45) over-ear wireless headphones offer class-leading active noise cancellation that effectively extinguishes the outside world, particularly in the midrange frequencies to silence passing cars and office chatter. Retaining the comfortable, double-hinged travel design of their predecessors, they bring minor physical updates like a USB-C charging port, smooth headband padding, and unpleated earcups. Major functional pros include true multi-point pairing via Bluetooth 5.1, an improved six-microphone array that delivers remarkably clear call quality, and a boosted 24-hour battery life featuring a quick-charge option. However, the headphones fall short of premium expectations in features and sonic refinement. On the downside, the feature set is sparse: there is no option to customize EQ profiles, no wearer detection, and no ability to adjust the levels of noise cancellation or the preset "Aware" transparency mode. Furthermore, they lack aptX or aptX HD codec support for high-resolution streaming. Sonically, while they deliver an energetic and impactful bass, they are ultimately beaten by rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and XM5, which handle musical timing, cohesive layering, and dynamic vocal progression with far greater...

The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are comfortable, durable over-ear headphones designed for travel, boasting over 21 hours of battery life and exceptional Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for low-frequency sounds. They offer a warm, balanced sound profile ideal for casual listening, but suffer from high-volume audio leakage and potential driver mismatches. Key limitations include an inability to fully turn off the ANC, a tendency to slip during exercise, a lack of IP rating, and mediocre microphone performance in noisy environments.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 ($329) offers excellent compliance with research target curves when powered on, delivering a superb bass response and a reference-quality performance, especially with a 10 dB equalization boost around 8 kHz to fill a minor treble dip. The headphones have a luxurious aesthetic, feature intuitive physical buttons, provide an extremely comfortable fit, and maintain low distortion levels at 94 dBSPL. Additionally, their digital signal processing (DSP) effectively resolves a severe passive-mode channel imbalance and provides highly effective external noise reduction. However, the headphones suffer from noticeable design and performance flaws. The most prominent drawback is an audible, low-level internal electronic hiss present in the left channel during silent intervals, meaning the headphone injects its own high-frequency noise. They also exhibit a high latency of approximately 14 milliseconds—which may affect gaming performance—and have a tendency to trap heat quickly during extended wear. Finally, the companion mobile application requires tedious registrations and heavy data permissions just to operate.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC45) wireless headphones offer a highly functional, travel-friendly design that prioritizes exceptional active noise cancellation (ANC) and outstanding battery performance over pure audiophile-grade fidelity. Built primarily from lightweight plastic with steel-reinforced hinges, they provide a comfortable, medium-to-high clamping force that ensures a tight acoustic seal for long flights without causing physical fatigue. In terms of performance, the QC45 shines with its industry-leading ANC technology, straightforward physical buttons rather than finicky touch controls, and a dependable 24-hour battery life supported by a handy quick-charge feature that delivers 2 to 3 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. However, the headphones come with distinct sonic and software compromises. Audio performance follows a shallow "V" sound profile featuring an aggressive upper midrange and lower treble boost that makes string instruments, percussion, and female vocals sound overly energetic, etched, or fatiguing unless tempered with the companion app's built-in EQ. Furthermore, a notable design limitation is that the active noise cancellation cannot be turned off entirely during wireless playback, forcing users into either full ANC or Awareness mode unless they transition...

The Trusted Reviews evaluation of the Bose QuietComfort 45Go highlights the headphones as an exceptional choice for commuters and office workers looking for top-tier comfort and superb active noise cancellation (ANC). The review praises the model's excellent noise-cancelling performance, which effectively dampens low-frequency rumbles, alongside a clean, detailed soundstage and a lightweight design suitable for long-term listening. However, the publication notes drawbacks, stating that the audio performance can lean into a clinical, slightly brittle tone compared to warmer competitors. Furthermore, the review points out a lack of smart capabilities and customizable features, concluding that while they excel at fundamental audio clarity, they are not the most feature-rich option on the market.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 marks a triumphant return for the brand's wireless headphone lineup, successfully replacing the older QC35 II model with key upgrades like Bluetooth 5.1, an added fourth microphone for superior call clarity, and the new TriPort acoustic architecture. Priced starting at $329, these premium 240g headphones feature a smoother, refreshed synthetic leather design and reliable physical buttons instead of touch controls. Performance-wise, they deliver a highly balanced, fatigue-free audio signature that caters to most music listeners, which can now be manually customized via bass, mid-range, and treble sliders using the Bose Music app firmware update.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC45) headphones deliver exceptional active noise-canceling (ANC) performance and clear physical buttons, making them an excellent choice for commuters and remote workers. The updated electronics package and microphone layout specifically target and muffle mid-range frequencies, like human speech and ambient café noise, giving these headphones a competitive edge over rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose Headphones 700. They retain a highly comfortable, folding design while introducing crucial modern upgrades like a USB-C charging port, a smooth headband underside that is easier to clean, and true multipoint Bluetooth 5.1 pairing to seamlessly switch between two devices simultaneously. Sound quality remains consistently crisp with slightly improved clarity and bass definition compared to older models, and the built-in battery provides a generous 25 hours of playback time. Pros and Cons Pros: Key advantages include best-in-class noise-canceling capabilities, enhanced voice-calling performance with minimal background interference, a comfortable fit, a helpful new Aware transparency mode, and the convenience of USB-C charging. Cons: On the downside, the QC45 lacks an ear-detection sensor to automatically pause music when taken off, lacks adjustable...

The SoundGuys review highlights the Bose QuietComfort 45 as a top-tier comfortable headset featuring excellent active noise cancellation (ANC), USB-C charging, and a long-lasting battery. However, the headphones fall short by not allowing users to fully disable the ANC, lacking advanced smart features, and restricting connectivity to SBC/AAC codecs. While the default sound profile features a harsh, high-treble boost, the review notes that the subsequently added in-app EQ allows users to customize and improve the audio experience.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones stand out for their exceptional comfort and high-performing noise cancellation features, making them highly suitable for prolonged use in busy environments. The device is lightweight yet sturdy, featuring deep ear cups that prevent ear fatigue during long listening sessions. In terms of audio performance, the headphones deliver crystal-clear, detailed sound that highlights medium-high and treble tones, making vocals and instruments pop. Additional benefits include a 22-hour battery life, multipoint pairing to connect two devices simultaneously, Wind Block technology for outdoor listening, and integration with Bose SimpleSync to connect directly to a Bose soundbar. Despite these strengths, the reviewer notes several functional and acoustic limitations to consider before buying. A primary drawback is the weak, less powerful bass response, which hurts the overall experience when playing bass-dominant tracks. The noise canceling lacks flexibility, offering only basic on-and-off toggles rather than adjustable intensity levels. Furthermore, the Bose Music app is disappointing due to its limited features, lacking both an equalizer and ambient control options. The headphones also lack common smart features like an auto-pause sensor when...

The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are a highly reliable, no-frills choice that embraces a classic, folding aesthetic over sleek modern redesigns. Weighing just 240 grams, their standout pros include exceptional long-wear comfort with plush faux-leather cushioning, tactile physical buttons for straightforward control, and an outstanding active noise-cancelling (ANC) system paired with a well-judged ambient awareness mode. The audio profile delivers well-balanced sonics that beautifully suit mainstream tracks, though they can occasionally feel a bit too safe or sanitized for genres requiring raw energy. However, the headphones suffer from notable limitations in customization and value compared to their fiercer market rivals. Significant cons include the inability to adjust the noise cancellation on a sliding scale and a total lack of advanced features like a voice assistant. Furthermore, the launch price of £319 makes them more expensive than several competitive alternatives—including Bose’s own older but highly accomplished Noise Cancelling Headphones 700—without offering enough innovative upgrades to fully justify the premium cost.