Bose QuietComfort 20 vs Bose QuietComfort 45

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QuietComfort 20 compared with QuietComfort 45

	BoseQuietComfort 20	BoseQuietComfort 45
Overview
Released
Released	2013	September 2021
Sound
Type
Type	In-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	None (wired)	SBC and AAC
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	A microphone inside and outside each earbud feeds the noise-cancelling processor in the in-line module; Aware mode lets more surrounding sound through without stopping music	Two modes, Quiet (full noise cancelling) and Aware (full transparency); microphones inside and outside the ear cups with a proprietary digital chip, tuned for mid-range frequencies such as voices
Audio features
Audio features	Bose TriPort acoustic ports and Active EQ processing when powered	TriPort acoustic architecture; Active EQ; adjustable EQ (bass, mid-range and treble) in the Bose Music app
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 16 hours	Up to 22 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the in-line module; around 16 hours from a two-hour USB charge; wired audio remains available with the power off	Up to 22 hours on Bose's current product page, tested with noise cancelling on at 50% volume in continuous playback; Bose quoted up to 24 hours at launch (2021 press release); wired listening with the audio cable extends play time
Fast charging
Fast charging	–	15 minutes gives up to 3 hours; full charge in up to 2.5 hours (Bose UK; the launch press release said two hours)
Design
Weight
Weight	–	240 g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	5.1
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	–	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	Power switch and status lights on the battery module; Aware mode and call controls on the cable remote	Physical buttons; on the right ear cup, power, volume up, volume down and a multi-function button (play, pause, calls, voice assistant); on the left ear cup, an Action button to switch modes and mute the microphone on calls
Microphones
Microphones	Two microphones per earbud for noise cancellation; an in-line microphone for calls	Four external microphones for voice pickup in a beamforming array with a noise-rejection algorithm; What Hi-Fi counts six microphones in total
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	StayHear+ tips rest at the entrance to the ear canal and come in three sizes	Around-ear with plush synthetic leather ear cushions and headband; impact-resistant nylon with cast-metal hinges; folds flat for the carry case
Case weight
Case weight	–	0.18 kg (carry case)
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	–	No water resistance rating published
Works with
Works with	3.5 mm wired connection; QC20 has a single-button remote for most Android and other smartphones, while the contemporaneous QC20i has an Apple-compatible three-button remote	Bose Music app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; remembers up to seven paired devices; SimpleSync with Bose smart soundbars and speakers; Spotify Tap
Colours
Colours	Grey at launch; Black and White variants followed in 2015	Triple Black and White Smoke at launch
In the box
In the box	Earbuds, three sizes of StayHear+ tips, clothing clip, USB charging cable and carrying case	Headphones, carry case, 30.5 cm USB-C charging cable, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable