Bose QuietComfort 45 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

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QuietComfort 45 compared with QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

	BoseQuietComfort 45	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Overview
Released
Released	September 2021	October 2023
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, AAC and aptX Adaptive
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	–	No
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	Eight microphones for feedback and adaptive feed-forward noise reduction; Quiet, Aware and Immersion modes plus custom modes; Aware Mode with ActiveSense briefly applies noise cancelling during very loud sounds; noise cancelling adjustable in the Bose app; Wind Block setting; CustomTune calibrates sound and noise cancelling to your ears each time you put them on
Audio features
Audio features	TriPort acoustic architecture; Active EQ; adjustable EQ (bass, mid-range and treble) in the Bose Music app	Bose Immersive Audio (Still keeps the sound in place as you turn your head; Motion lets it follow) using an onboard IMU; three-band EQ (bass, mid-range, treble) in the Bose app; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices
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 Immersive Audio off, 18 hours with it on; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL in Quiet Mode; the headphones don't charge while switched on
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 with Immersive Audio off, 2 hours with it on (owner's guide; Bose UK's FAQ says 3 hours); full charge in up to 3 hours
Design
Weight
Weight	240 g (better)	254 g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.1	5.3
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	On the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power button, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls, modes) and a capacitive volume strip (swipe for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to Immersive Audio settings, Spotify Tap, the voice assistant or battery level); on-head detection pauses and resumes audio and wakes or sleeps the headphones
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	Eight microphones in total; four are used for calls (two on each ear cup), in a beamforming array
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 an adjustable headband; removable protein leather cushions; plastic, aluminium and protein leather; fold 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	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 (launched with Bose Music) for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices since a July 2024 update; Google Fast Pair; Spotify Tap; SimpleSync with Bose smart soundbars and speakers; 2.5 mm analogue input needs the headphones powered on; no USB audio
Colours
Colours	Triple Black and White Smoke at launch	Black and White Smoke at launch; What Hi-Fi lists later Lunar Blue and Diamond 60th Edition finishes
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, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable, USB-C (A to C) cable (50.8 cm), safety sheet