Bose QuietComfort 45 vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)

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QuietComfort 45 compared with QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)

	BoseQuietComfort 45	BoseQuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2021	August 2026
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	–	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	SBC and AAC
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	–	Yes
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	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	QuietControl noise cancellation with a six-microphone system; adaptive feedforward control compensates for gaps in the ear cup seal (glasses, hair, hats); Quiet, Aware, Immersion and Cinema modes plus custom modes; Aware mode with ActiveSense softens sudden noise spikes; noise cancelling adjustable or fully off in the Bose app; wind block in custom modes
Audio features
Audio features	TriPort acoustic architecture; Active EQ; adjustable EQ (bass, mid-range and treble) in the Bose Music app	Bose TrueSpatial Technology with Immersive Audio (Still keeps the virtual speakers in place as you turn your head; Motion lets them follow) and Cinema Mode; SoundDesign signal processing; three-band EQ in the Bose app; two-way USB-C audio with lossless input up to 24-bit/48 kHz and voice output up to 24-bit/16 kHz
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 22 hours	Up to 24 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	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	Up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on, 18 hours with Immersive Audio on; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL; can be used over Bluetooth or USB audio while charging; the USB-C to 3.5 mm cable works only with the headphones powered on, so with a flat battery Bose says to listen over USB-C while charging
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)	15 minutes gives up to 2.5 hours of playback; full charge in up to 3 hours (slower while in use)
Design
Weight
Weight	240 g	230 g (better)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.1	5.4
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	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	Physical buttons; on the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power slider, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls) and volume buttons; on the left ear cup, an Action button for modes and a shortcut to the voice assistant, Spotify or Immersive Audio settings
Microphones
Microphones	Four external microphones for voice pickup in a beamforming array with a noise-rejection algorithm; What Hi-Fi counts six microphones in total	Six microphones, used for noise cancelling and calls, with updated background noise filtering for calls
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Around-ear with plush synthetic leather ear cushions and headband; impact-resistant nylon with cast-metal hinges; folds flat for the carry case	Around-ear (circumaural) with a redesigned adjustable headband with smooth sliders; oval ear cups with removable protein leather cushions; plastic headband and yokes; folds for the carry case
Case weight
Case weight	0.18 kg (carry case)	–
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	No water resistance rating published	No water resistance rating published
Works with
Works with	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	Bose app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair; USB-C audio for calls and video conferencing on computers
Colours
Colours	Triple Black and White Smoke at launch	Black, White Smoke; limited-edition Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint and Rosewood Mauve; Bose UK also lists Sky Pink
In the box
In the box	Headphones, carry case, 30.5 cm USB-C charging cable, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable	Headphones, carry case, USB-C to USB-C cable (1 m), USB-C to 3.5 mm cable, safety sheet