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What we think
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Updated April 10, 2024·
If budget is a significant concern, Bose QuietComfort 45 might be better value as they're often somewhat less expensive yet still offer great noise isolation and comfort. For audiophiles seeking higher overall sound quality and features like lossless audio codec support and virtual surround, the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones could be worth the extra investment. They also provide a superior experience for gaming and TV with lower latency and have a longer battery life. Both models are excellent for air travel and have active noise cancelling, but if you prioritize features over cost, the Ultra headphones may be more suitable. 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 Bose Quiet Comfort 45
- Very good for phone calls
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.4
8.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Gaming
5.5
9.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.0
5.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is very good for phone calls, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.3
6.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair.
TV and Video
5.8
9.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0
9.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent.
Battery
22.5 Hours
29.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life. The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life.
Cost
$260
$429
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has a price of $260 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones costs $429.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort 45 | Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$260 | $429 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | November 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.5/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 22.5 Hours | 29 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.3 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 10/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 235.8 Grams | 255 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort 45
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | November 2022
"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."
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 or the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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.
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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.
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