The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for affordability and the convenience of earbuds over headphones, Apple Earpods may be suitable for you, particularly if you're already integrated into the Apple ecosystem. However, if you prioritize noise cancellation, comfort over extended periods, and superior sound quality, the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 headphones would be a better choice. The Bose headphones also offer better battery life and are more suited for travel due to their noise-canceling capabilities. Keep in mind that while the Bose option offers more premium features, they do so at a higher price point compared to the Apple Earpods. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Earpods
Good for music
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
Best in class for air travel
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.8/10
6.4/10
The Apple Earpods is good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Gaming
8.3/10
5.5/10
The Apple Earpods is very good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.4/10
9.3/10
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Apple Earpods is good.
TV and Video
7.4/10
5.8/10
The Apple Earpods is good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
10.0/10
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the Apple Earpods is poor.
Battery
N/A
22.5 Hours
The Apple Earpods does not have a battery. The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$260
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Apple Earpods has a price of $20 and the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 costs $260.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has very good build quality, while the Apple Earpods has good build quality.
"Apple’s wired buds sound just fine for the price, and their handy inline controls and clear microphone give them an edge on wireless earbuds that are much more expensive. Plus, you never have to worry about running out of battery — or worse, a stray earbud going missing."
"If you want a set of wireless over-ear headphones you can put on, deploy noise-cancelling on your commute or at your desk and largely extinguish the outside world for up to 24 hours, the Bose QC 45 has the edge over most of the competition at the price."
Get a great deal on the Apple Earpods or the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
95,000
Recommendations made
14,250
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.