Bose QuietComfort 45 Review
If you are on 12+ hour flights regularly, the QC45 ear cushion comfort advantage compounds over time. Its case rests on most comfortable ear cups of any ANC headphone for extended wear and folds flat for better bag packing than XM5. Below: who it suits, w here it falls short, and the alternatives worth comparing.
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Bose QuietComfort 45
The microphone outperforms the Sony XM5 for voice clarity, and the physical button controls are more reliable than touch surfaces during calls.
View on AmazonPros
- Most comfortable ear cups of any ANC headphone for extended wear
- Folds flat for better bag packing than XM5
- 24-hour battery covers most travel scenarios
- Awareness mode is natural-sounding for airport announcements
Cons
- ANC slightly less aggressive than Sony XM5 at low frequencies
- No multipoint Bluetooth, must manually switch between devices
Our verdict
The Bose QC45 is the right headphone if you wear headphones for extended periods, 6+ hours of daily use, and want to forget they are on your head. The ANC is excellent for the majority of noise environments. The awareness mode is better than any competitor except AirPods Max.
If you are on 12+ hour flights regularly, the QC45 ear cushion comfort advantage compounds over time. Its case rests on most comfortable ear cups of any ANC headphone for extended wear and folds flat for better bag packing than XM5.
Comfort
Bose has refined the QC ear cushion design over two decades.
The QC45 uses angled ear cups with soft synthetic leather over memory foam.
The clamping force is light enough that you forget you are wearing them, but firm enough to mainta in the acoustic seal required for ANC.
After 8 hours of continuous wear, the ear temperature increases noticeably (the synthetic leather traps more heat than fabric alternatives) but t here is no pressure pain.
ANC Performance
The QC45 ANC is excellent.
At aircraft cab in frequencies (100-300 Hz), it reduces perceived noise to near-silence with the right seal.
HVAC noise in offices disappears.
Road noise in cars drops to a low hum.
Awareness Mode
This is the QC45's second standout feature after comfort.
The awareness mode is the most natural-sounding implementation I have, better than the Sony XM5 and close to AirPods Max, which holds the top position.
In awareness mode, voices from colleagues sound like they are genuinely in the room rather than coming through a speaker.
The pitch and spatial positioning of sounds is preserved accurately.
Call Quality
The QC45 microphone is adequate for video calls in quiet environments.
In noisy environments, cafes, open offices, background noise bleeds through to call participants more than dedicated UC headsets.
This is a consumer headphone limitation, not a QC45-specific failing.
For professionals who spend significant time on calls in noisy environments, a dedicated UC headset remains the better choice.
No Multipoint Bluetooth
The QC45's most significant everyday limitation: it connects to one device at a time.
Switching from a laptop call to a phone call requires manually disconnecting from one device and connecting to another through the Bluetooth menu.
The Sony XM5 added multipoint Bluetooth for simultaneous connection to two devices.
The QC45 does not have this.
Sound Quality
The QC45 has a warm, slightly bass-forward tuning that works well for podcasts, voices, and casual music listening.
It is not a neutral reference sound.
People who listen to a lot of electronic music or hip hop will find the bass satisfying; people who prefer neutral or analytical sound will find the XM5 more accurate.
The sound quality is not the reason to buy the QC45, the comfort and awareness mode are.
Verdict
The Bose QC45 is the right headphone if you wear headphones for extended periods, 6+ hours of daily use, and want to forget they are on your head.
The ANC is excellent for the majority of noise environments.
The awareness mode is better than any competitor except AirPods Max.
The lack of multipoint Bluetooth is the only feature I genuinely miss versus the Sony XM5.
Verdict
The Bose QC45 is the right headphone if you wear headphones for extended periods, 6+ hours of daily use, and want to forget they are on your head. The ANC is excellent for the majority of noise environments. The awareness mode is better than any competitor except AirPods Max.
View on AmazonFAQ
Common questions
Is the Bose QC45 better than Sony XM5?
For comfort and transparency mode, yes. For ANC depth at very low frequencies and sound quality, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is ahead. The choice comes down to how you use the headphones, the QC45 is better for all-day wear; the XM5 is better for maximum noise reduction on aircraft.
How long does the Bose QC45 battery last?
In practice across daily office use, this means 3 to 4 days between charges. Wired mode works with a dead battery.
Does the Bose QC45 work wired?
The QC45 includes a 3.5mm cable that works even when the battery is dead. This matters for aircraft entertainment systems that require wired connection and for calls when battery is low.
What is the Bose QC45 awareness mode?
Awareness mode uses the external microphones to pipe ambient sound through the drivers, similar to AirPods transparency mode. Bose's implementation is one of the most natural-sounding available. Voices sound like they are actually in the room rather than processed through a speaker.
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