The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. They have a look and feel similar to their predecessor and an outstanding active noise canceling (ANC) system. Unlike the previous generation, they support SimpleSync, which lets you pair the headphones with up to two other Bose products, like soundbars and speakers, to share their audio. Their companion app is a step up over the QC35 II's since it includes a graphic EQ for sound customization. You can't turn off the ANC, but you can cycle to 'Aware' mode, which allows you to hear your surroundings without taking off the headphones.
Our Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are decent for sports and fitness, though they're not really designed for this purpose. They have a very comfortable fit and a wireless design, so you don't need to worry about a cable getting snagged on something. However, they can fall off your head if you move around, like during a run. They don't have an IP rating for water resistance, which is expected for over-ear headphones.
- Very comfortable.
- Bulky and can fall off your head with more intense movement.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are very good for travel. They have a very comfortable fit, and their over 21-hour battery life will easily last you through long days on the go. They have an ANC feature, which does a remarkable job of blocking background noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines around you. Unfortunately, you can't turn off the ANC, but you can use their 'Aware' mode to hear your surroundings without removing your headphones. While they're also a bit bulky, they come with a carrying case to help protect them.
Excellent noise isolation performance.
- Very comfortable.
- Over 21 hours of continuous playback time.
- Good build quality.
- Bulky and can fall off your head with more intense movement.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are satisfactory for office use. They have a comfortable fit and about 21 hours of continuous battery life for long days at the office. They support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously. Their ANC system effectively blocks out ambient sound like background chit-chat, but unfortunately, they leak a lot of audio, which might disturb people around you.
Excellent noise isolation performance.
- Very comfortable.
Good mic recording quality.
- Bulky and can fall off your head with more intense movement.
- Mic really struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 aren't suitable for wireless gaming. You can't use them wirelessly with PlayStation or Xbox consoles, and although you can use them on Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their latency is too high to be suitable for gaming.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are a decent choice for wired gaming. Using their 1/8" to 1/16" TRS audio cable, you can connect them to PCs and Xbox and PlayStation consoles. However, you can only receive audio, which may be disappointing if you want to chat with others while you game. On the upside, they have a very comfortable fit, and their warm sound can help emphasize sound effects in gameplay.
Good mic recording quality.
- Mic really struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are adequate when it comes to reproducing audio accurately. While their warm and excited frequency response is well-aligned with our target curve, especially in the bass and mid-range, our unit's L/R drivers exhibited mismatches in phase, frequency, and amplitude, as well as elevated group delay in the bass range. While driver tolerance can vary between units, our unit's mismatches reflect badly on overall quality control. These mismatches also cause their frequency response to deviate from their warm sound profile in the mid and treble ranges, though the response mostly follows the overall sound profile, with few drastic peaks or dips.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 have an excellent noise isolation performance. Their ANC system does a stellar job at blocking out external noise across the entire frequency spectrum, whether it's the drone of aircraft engines or the hum of a fridge on its last legs. They do leak a bit of audio, but it won't be audible to those around you unless you're blasting your tunes in close proximity to others.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 have a passable mic performance. The built-in mic does a good job of reproducing your voice in a detailed, natural way. That said, it's not quite as adept at separating your voice from the background environment. So, if you're prone to taking calls in busy environments, like a bustling coffee shop, the person on the other end will struggle to make out your voice.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 have good frequency response consistency. Their over-ear seal ensures a consistent sound between different head sizes, hair lengths, and glasses. While there are mild deviations in the bass range, the performance is rather consistent between listening sessions, except in the mid-range. Depending on the fit and your anatomy, the mids can sound more forward in the mix or pushed down.
Performance Usages
Changelog
-
Updated Sep 24, 2025:
After noticing an error in some target deviation calculations, we updated this review's Bass, Mid-Range, and Treble Target Compliance scores, as well as its Peaks and Dips score. As a result, some Usages and side-by-side text may also have changed.
-
Updated Apr 25, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
- Updated Apr 25, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0, which updates our sound tests and adds performance usages. You can read more about this in our changelog.
- Updated Sep 12, 2024: Several Sound tests have been updated following Test Bench 1.8. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the product comparisons to match these results.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Bose QuietComfort 45 come in four color variants: 'Black,' 'White Smoke,' 'Eclipse Grey,' and 'Midnight Blue.' We tested the 'Black' variant; you can see our model's label here. These headphones also come as a variant called the Bose QuietComfort SE, which are only available in the 'Triple Black' colorway. This variant is nearly identical to the QC45 model but comes with a soft case instead of a hard case to protect the headphones from dust and minor water damage. However, they're only available via retailers like Sam's Club and Costco.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. They have a very similar design with very comfortable padding for long listening sessions on the go. They've since been replaced by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless, which offer a slightly better noise isolation performance and Bose's Immersive Audio feature, which can add some dimensionality to your sound via DSP. If you're an iOS user looking for similar, top-of-the-line features, you can also check out the Apple AirPods Max, which have a similarly stellar noise isolation performance, as well as an H1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices.
Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones, the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, and the best travel headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are more customizable than the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless. The Sony are better built, and their ANC does an even better job blocking background noise. They also have a longer continuous battery life. However, the Bose are more comfortable and have a flatter sound profile, which some users may prefer.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless have the edge over the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless. While both models look similar, there are a couple of changes. The Ultra are better built and have a different control scheme with a volume slider. They also have CustomTune technology, which automatically adjusts their sound, and noise cancelling performances based on your unique hearing characteristics and environment. They support Immersive Audio, too, which is an adjustable head-tracking feature that can create a more immersive sound. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have a greater codec selection, including aptX Adaptive. That said, the Ultra need to be powered on to be used via analog, while the QC45 support passive playback.
The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are both high-end headphones. The Bose's ANC blocks out more of the low rumble of bus and plane engines, but the Sony headphones do a better job of cutting down mid-range noise like ambient chatter and treble-range sounds like the high-pitched whirl of computer fans. Their fit is also more comfortable. That said, the Sony have a few extra features over the Bose. The Sony support LDAC for hi-res audio, and they have a virtual soundstage feature to help give you a more immersive sound, though you need to subscribe to services that support it.
The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless are similar headphones with different strengths. If you want headphones for your commute, the Bose are more comfortable and have an ANC feature that blocks out more noise. However, the Sennheiser support aptX Adaptive, which you can use to stream higher-quality audio or lower latency when you're watching videos. They also have a much longer continuous battery life and a greater selection of EQ tools to sculpt their sound.
Test Results
These over-ears deliver a warm sound signature with a somewhat excited top-end. They don't exactly follow our target or any other perfectly, though they comply well. The cans exaggerate the lows, the dip in the mids, and the boost and dips in the highs. Thanks to their overemphasized bass, they pack a bit of warmth and boom. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking.
Our unit's left and right drivers are somewhat mismatched, particularly in the mid-mid to low-treble range, which weakens vocals and instruments in the right driver. However, this issue may only affect our unit. If you experience this too, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
They have good frequency response consistency. Once you achieve a proper fit, seal, and positioning on your head, you'll get consistent bass delivery each time you use them, regardless of your head shape. That said, there's slightly more deviation in the mid and treble range between different reseats.
These headphones follow our target curve extremely well in the bass range. Their frequency response is slightly overemphasized across the range, with the most deviation occurring in the high-bass, adding warmth and boom to mixes. In songs like Lorde's Royals, the bass drum at the beginning has a bit of extra punch and kick, but it doesn't completely overwhelm vocals or lead instruments.
The Bose QuietComfort 45's have outstanding compliance to our target in the mid-range. The response is fairly flat and neutral across the range, resulting in detailed, accurate, and present vocals and lead instruments. However, our unit's left and right drivers are out of sync in the high-mid, so the right driver sounds weaker than the left.
Regarding the treble range, these headphones do an good job of following our target curve. The response is a bit uneven here, with a bump in the low-treble adding detail and clarity to vocals and instruments while a dip in the mid-treble veils sibilants like cymbals. There's a degree of mismatch between the L/R drivers, especially in the low-treble, which results in sonic elements like vocals and guitars often sounding louder in the left channel than the right.
The Bose QuietComfort 45's peaks and dips performance is good. For the most part, their frequency response doesn't deviate much from their warm sound profile. However, our unit's left and right drivers become most noticeably out of sync in the mid-mid to low-treble. The divergence is particularly noticeable, as lead instruments, like pianos, will sound louder in the left channel when played in a lower register. However moving up the octaves results in the right channel becoming louder. A dip in the left driver's low-treble veils the upper harmonics of these sounds, while a peak in both drivers' mid-treble brightens sibilants like S and T sounds.
These headphones have an adequate stereo mismatch performance. There's quite a bit of mismatch between the L/R drivers in frequency response and amplitude, which is also clearly present in the frequency response deviations. This deviation is also connected to the phase mismatch in the high-mids through treble. These interlinked mismatches indicate a somewhat skewed stereo image, but these results only apply to our unit, and yours may differ.
The Bose QC45's group delay performance is bad. The group delay is elevated in the bass range, to the point where it might be audible in the form of loose, poorly-defined transients.
These headphones have a sub-par PRTF performance, so they interact with your ears' pinna somewhat. But, as expected from closed-backs, they don't interact with your environment the way that open-backs do. They don't quite capture the same impression as an angled reference monitor.
These headphones have a passable harmonic distortion performance. While there's some degradation in the audio fidelity that occurs in the low-treble range at higher listening volumes, it's still unlikely to be audible.
These headphones are capable of playing audio at loud volumes over Bluetooth. Even if you use them wired, you won't need an amp to drive them.
Unlike the Beats Studio Pro Wireless, these headphones don't have any virtual surround sound features. However, Bose has since developed their own Immersive Audio technology, found in more recent products like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless.
These are the settings used to test these headphones, and our results are only valid when you use them in this configuration.
They have a similar design to their predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. They have a sleek and minimalist look with a modest print of the manufacturer's logo on each ear cup. They come in the following colors: 'Black', 'White Smoke', 'Eclipse Grey', and 'Midnight Blue'.
These headphones are amazingly comfortable. They feel light and don't clamp onto your head very tightly. The ear cups and headband padding feel softer and cushier than the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. Most people won't experience much fatigue, even after wearing them for a few hours.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 have great controls. There are three physical buttons located on the right ear cup, which are clicky and easy to use. There's a switch on the outside of the right earcup that powers the headphones on and off and controls Bluetooth pairing. An 'Action' button on the left ear cup also acts as a multi-purpose control. There are volume chimes for when you've reached the minimum and maximum volume and voice prompts when cycling through ANC settings. There are also voice prompts for when you're pairing the headphones. Unfortunately, there's no feedback if you're skipping tracks.
On the left ear cup:
Action button:
- Single press: Cycles between 'Quiet' mode, which is the ANC on, and 'Aware' mode. 'Aware' mode is very similar to a talk-through mode as it allows the headphones to actively use their microphones to pick up sounds around you and play them alongside your regular audio content. However, unlike the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, you can't adjust the level of noise cancelling if you prefer a lower setting, and you can't turn this feature off.
- Press and hold: Access voice assistant.
On the right ear cup:
- '+' and '-': Raises and lowers the volume.
Center button:
- One press: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and ends calls.
- Double press: Skips a track forward.
- Triple press: Skips a track backward.
- Press and hold: Declines a call.
They're fairly portable. They're bulky, like most over-ear headphones, but the headband can fold into a more compact format. You can also lay the ear cups flat to take up less space.
The case is great. It's made of leatherette, and it feels sturdy and solid. There's a zipper to help secure the headphones when you're on the go and has a small pouch inside to store the cables when you're not using them.
Their build quality is good, and they feel similarly well-built as the high-end Dyson Zone Wireless. The ear cup and headband padding feel soft, and the adjustable headband is made of metal, which helps make them feel sturdy. However, they're otherwise mostly made of lightweight plastic, which feels a little cheap considering their price. The hinges and yokes are also made of the same plastic as the rest of the body and feel like a weak point in the build. If you're looking for even more premium Bose headphones, try the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless.
They have decent stability. They'll stay on your head while you're using them at your desk or on the couch. However, they aren't as stable as some over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio3 Wireless, and they may fall off your head during a run. On the upside, they have a wireless design, so you don't need to worry about snagging them on something and pulling them off your head.
- Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones
- 1/8" to 1/16" (3.5 mm to 2.5 mm) TRS audio cable
- Carrying case
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- Manuals
The Bose QC45's noise isolation performance is fantastic. Using the 'Quiet' ANC mode, they block out bass-range noise like rumbling engines very effectively, like the previous generation. However, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 and Bose 700 Headphones Wireless still have a slight edge when it comes to reducing noise in the mid and treble ranges, though the QC45 apply the ANC more evenly. That said, the QC45 can still reduce significant noise, like ambient chatter and the hum of AC units. You can't turn off the ANC but only cycle between 'Quiet,' which is ANC on, and 'Aware,' which is a talk-through mode that allows you to hear your surroundings without removing your headphones. As a result, we tested their passive isolation capabilities with the headphones turned off.
Users have reported high cabin pressure when using their unit's ANC. Cabin pressure refers to the pressure-like feeling inside your ears when the ANC is on and is similar to when a plane ascends and descends, creating a difference in pressure between your inner and outer ear. Some users may also describe this feeling as similar to being underwater. This sensation is caused by your brain perceiving the lack of low-frequency sound as a pressure difference between the inner and outer ear, which can become uncomfortable. The cabin pressure of these headphones is slightly more than normal when their ANC is on, but it won't be an issue for most users unless you're already sensitive to ANC. In comparison, other ANC over-ears, like the Apple AirPods Max, have higher and more noticeable cabin pressure, but it won't be too much of an issue for most users.
These headphones have similarly excellent noise isolation performance when it comes to more dynamic environments you'll encounter in your day-to-day life. Whether you're traveling on an airplane, walking down a busy street, or working at the office, these headphones can isolate you from a lot of ambient sound so that you can focus on your audio. With firmware update 4.0.4, their ANC improved slightly, particularly in handling busy streets and airplane noise.
As of firmware 4.0.4, these headphones have a wind reduction mode. When the wind reduction mode is enabled, it helps prevent the ANC system from creating 'anti-noise' caused by the wind directly interacting with the ANC microphones on the outside of the headphones. Basically, it reduces the annoying popping sound ANC can produce without a wind mode. The mode works with similar effectiveness regardless of the wind's angle. However, leaving the mode on can impact the ANC's performance if you're not in a windy area.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 have a passable leakage performance. Their leakage is mostly concentrated in the mid to treble range, which sounds fuller than in-ears and earbuds. People around you can hear parts if you listen to audio at high volumes in a moderately noisy environment like an office.
The integrated microphone has very good recording quality. Speech sounds natural, although a little muffled and lacking in body. Your voice is still understandable, though.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 have disappointing noise handling. The mic struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise, so your voice will be drowned out if you're taking a call from somewhere like a busy street. If you're looking for Bose headphones with a better noise handling performance, it's worth considering the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset instead.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 have an excellent battery performance. The manufacturer advertises them to last 24 hours continuously with their ANC on and continuous audio playback set to 50% volume. However, we measured a bit less than that, though battery life can vary depending on usage. Depending on whether you connect to one or two devices simultaneously, you may also notice a difference in battery life. The manufacturer advertises them to deliver up to three hours of playtime after a 15-minute charge. If you tend to run through battery life quickly, they have an auto-off timer you can adjust in their companion app to conserve battery life.
Bose Music is a great app. It includes a graphic EQ and presets so you can customize their sound. Unlike previous generations, this app lets you connect the headphones to other Bose products using 'SimpleSync'. You can pair up to two compatible Bose speakers, soundbars, or headphones together, so you can listen to your TV's audio via your Bose soundbar without disturbing others around you. For instructions on how to connect your devices, check out Bose's FAQ here.
You can also use the app to switch between ANC modes, adjust the volume, check the battery life, and set the auto-off timer. You can also adjust 'Self-Voice' (or sidetone) volume, allowing you to hear your voice when using the mic. You can turn voice prompts on and off and switch languages. You can view, add, and change the Bluetooth sources too.
These headphones come with a 1/8" to 1/16" (3.5 mm to 2.5 mm) TRS cable that you can use to passively listen to audio with low latency. However, you can't use their mic with this connection. These headphones also come with a USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
The Bose QC45 have great Bluetooth connectivity. They support multi-device pairing with up to two devices at a time, and unlike the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, they use Bluetooth 5.1. However, they don't support NFC for easier pairing. They also have high latency on PCs via SBC codec, causing your audio and visuals to fall out of sync. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently.
Some users have reported experiencing issues like as audio dropping when connected to their smartphone and PC at the same time. We retested multi-device pairing in two ways: connected to a Windows 10 PC and a Samsung S10e phone and connected to the same Windows PC and an iPhone SE. Both phones are updated to the latest firmware. We played a song on the phone and a YouTube video on the PC, alternating when one source played audio and the other was paused. However, we didn't experience any issues with either phone and couldn't replicate this issue.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones can connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full audio and mic compatibility. You can connect them to your PC using their included 1/8" to 1/16" (3.5 mm to 2.5 mm) TRS cable, but you can only receive audio.
You can only use these over-ears on PlayStation consoles via an analog connection. However, you can only receive audio.