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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are over-ear headphones with excellent noise cancellation, ideal for air travel and quiet listening environments, but are bulkier and pricier. They also have a long battery life but are not sweatproof. In contrast, the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) are more affordable, stem-styled earbuds, offering good portability and a sweatproof design suited for exercise, and feature a low latency mode for gaming and video, which the Bose may not match. The Ear (2) also supports wireless charging and has additional battery life through its charging case, whereas the Bose's higher comfort and build quality provide durability for consistent use. Both have comparable sound quality and microphone performance, so your choice should be guided by preferences for style, specific features like active noise canceling or low latency, and how you intend to use them—traveling, exercising, or for daily wear. 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
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for exercise
Key differences
Music
6.4
7.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Gaming
5.5
8.5
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
TV and Video
5.8
8.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0
8.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good.
Battery
22.5 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$260
$149
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has a price of $260 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) costs $149.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has excellent build quality, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
8.0
7.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort 45 to be very good for phone calls, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.3
9.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) are both excellent for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort 45 | "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$260 | $149 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | March 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.5/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 22.5 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 1 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.3. | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 30 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 235.8 Grams | 4.4 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."
"Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | March 2023
"For the price the Nothing Ear (2) is pretty good. It fits well, and the IP54 rating (and IP55 with case) is durable enough for daily life. Most of its unique features are found in the Nothing X app, such as personalized frequency responses, and personalized, adjustable ANC."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 or the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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