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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize comfort and are usually in environments where portability isn't a concern, the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 headphones may suit you better due to their over-ear design and high comfort score. They're also a strong choice for air travel with superior noise isolation. However, if you need something more compact for exercise or on-the-go use, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer great portability and sweatproof features. They also support wireless charging, which the headphones do not, adding convenience. Note that while both provide good sound quality, the earbuds slightly edge out the headphones in this regard. Keep in mind that the headphones come with a cable, offering versatility for wired use, which the earbuds lack. 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
- Best in class for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
6.4
7.4
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.0
5.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is very good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.3
6.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
10.0
9.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent.
Battery
22.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$260
$199
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has a price of $260 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II costs $199.
Build Quality
8.5
9.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.8
6.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to be only fair for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort 45 | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$260 | $199 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | September 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 22.5 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 20 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 235.8 Grams | 7.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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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Why trust us
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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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.
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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.
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