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Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Buy the QuietComfort Headphones for adjustable Bose noise cancelling, 24 hours of battery and multipoint for less than an Ultra: they launched at $349.
Product images
Bose QuietComfort Headphones, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Buy the QuietComfort Headphones for adjustable Bose noise cancelling, 24 hours of battery and multipoint for less than an Ultra: they launched at $349. They replaced the QC45 in 2023, and Bose still listed them at $359 on 19 September 2026. Skip them if you want Immersive Audio, aptX Adaptive or 30 hours of battery; the Ultra (2nd Gen) has all three at $449.
Who it is for
- Commuters and travelers who want Bose noise cancelling at an upper mid-range price, with up to 24 hours per charge.
- Listeners who like to choose how much of the world gets in: the Bose app adjusts noise-cancelling levels and saves Custom modes that mix Quiet and Aware.
- QC45 owners ready for Bose's next non-Ultra pair, which trades the QC45's simple noise-cancelling toggle for adjustable levels and Custom modes.
Who should skip it
- Spatial audio fans. Immersive Audio, CustomTune and Cinema Mode are Ultra features.
- Owners of Snapdragon Sound phones. Bose's 2023 announcement reserved aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound for the Ultra.
- Long-haul listeners who want the longest battery: Bose rates the Ultra (2nd Gen) for up to 30 hours.
What sets it apart
- Adjustable noise cancelling, with Custom modes in the Bose app that blend Quiet and Aware.
- Lighter than the current Ultra on Bose's figures: 0.520 lb against 0.583 lb.
- A quick top-up goes a long way: 15 minutes on the charger is good for up to 4 hours.
- Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint for two devices, with a range of up to 33 feet (10 meters).
Caveats
- The audio cable may not be in the box: Bose's 2023 box list includes one, but its US product page said “Audio cable included: No” on 19 September 2026.
- Bose's current spec table doesn't call them foldable. The cups swivel to fit the carry case, as the QC45's do.
Key specs
In the same order on every headphones page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Around-ear (circumaural); headband; removable protein-leather cushions | Bose US product page |
| Noise cancelling | Active noise cancelling with Quiet Mode; adjustable levels and Custom modes in the Bose app | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023; Bose US product page |
| Ambient sound | Aware Mode; Custom modes blend Quiet and Aware in the Bose app | Bose US product page; Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC and AAC, Bose's baseline codecs; no aptX Adaptive or Snapdragon Sound | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023Bose's 14 September 2023 announcement reserved Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive for the Ultra models. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP and Bluetooth Low Energy; range up to 33 ft (10 m) | Bose support specifications; Bose US and UK product pages |
| Multipoint | Yes, two devices over Bluetooth 5.1 | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours with noise cancelling on | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023; Bose US product FAQ |
| Charging | USB-C; full charge in 2.5 hours (US product page) or up to 2 hours (Bose FAQ); 15 minutes gives up to 4 hours | Bose US product page and FAQ |
| Wired listening | 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable with in-line mic on the 2023 box list; the US product page said no cable was included on 19 September 2026 | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023; Bose US product page, 19 September 2026 |
| Weight | Headphones 0.520 lb | Bose US product page |
| Folding and case | Carry and storage case; the cups swivel into it like the QC45's; not listed as foldable | Bose US product page |
| App | Bose app (Bose Music app on some regional pages): Quiet, Aware and Custom modes, firmware updates | Bose US and UK product pages; Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| Microphones and calls | Built-in microphone (count not published); in-line mic on the wired cable | Bose US product page; Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| Voice assistant | Your phone's assistant, through the connected device; no dedicated assistant control listed | Bose US product page |
| Colors | Black, White Smoke; limited-edition Cypress Green | Bose announcement on PR Newswire, 14 September 2023 |
| Compatibility | Bluetooth 5.1 devices, two at once; wired analog through the audio cable when the box includes it | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| US launch price | $349 (announced 14 September 2023; pre-orders that day, in stores 21 September 2023) | Bose announcement on PR Newswire, 14 September 2023 |
| Price band | Upper mid-range ($300–$400 at US launch); $359 on Bose's US store as of 19 September 2026 | Based on the $349 launch price; Bose US store, 19 September 2026 |
| Announced | 14 September 2023 | Bose press room |
| Availability | In US stores from 21 September 2023; still on Bose's US store at $359 as of 19 September 2026, against $349 at launch | Bose announcement on PR Newswire, 14 September 2023; Bose US store, 19 September 2026 |
Bose QuietComfort Headphones extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Replaces | QuietComfort 45, in Bose's 14 September 2023 announcement | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| Custom listening modes | Quiet, Aware and Custom blends in the Bose app, where the QC45 had a simpler noise-cancelling toggle | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| Spotify Tap | Starts a Spotify listening session at the push of a button | Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 |
| In the box | Headphones; carry case; 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable; 12-inch USB-A to USB-C cable; safety sheet | Bose support specificationsBose's support box list from 2023. |
| Dimensions | Headphones 7.68 × 6.18 × 3.15 in (0.520 lb) | Bose US product page |
| Materials | Metal, plastic, protein leather; removable cushions | Bose US product page |
Between the QC45 and the Ultra
These are Bose’s non-Ultra over-ears, announced on 14 September 2023, the same day as the first QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, to replace the QC45. They went on sale on 21 September 2023 at $349, and Bose’s US store listed them at $359 on 19 September 2026.
| Spec | QuietComfort Headphones | Ultra (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $349 | $449 |
| Battery | Up to 24 hours, noise cancelling on | Up to 30 hours (23 and 45 in its other modes) |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| aptX Adaptive | No | Yes |
| Immersive Audio, CustomTune, Cinema Mode | No | Yes |
| Headphone weight | 0.520 lb | 0.583 lb |
The first Ultra, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (1st Gen), launched alongside these with Bluetooth 5.3 and a 24-hour rating that falls to 18 with Immersive Audio on. If spatial audio and aptX Adaptive aren’t on your list, these get you Bose’s adjustable noise cancelling for less. Bose QuietComfort Headphones vs QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) goes through the pair in detail.
Noise cancelling and Custom modes
Noise cancelling is adjustable, and the Bose app saves Custom modes that blend Quiet and Aware, so you can let some street noise in on a walk and shut it all out on a plane. That’s the main step up from the QC45, which offered a simpler toggle. Spotify Tap starts a listening session at the push of a button.
Battery and charging
| Mode | QuietComfort Headphones |
|---|---|
| Playback, noise cancelling on | Up to 24 hours |
| 15-minute charge | Up to 4 hours |
| Full charge | 2.5 hours (US product table); up to 2 hours (Bose FAQ) |
A 24-hour rating means several days of commuting between charges, and the 15-minute top-up is generous: up to 4 hours. Bose’s two full-charge figures don’t agree, so plan on the longer one when you plug into USB-C.
Bluetooth, calls and the cable
Two devices can stay connected at once over Bluetooth 5.1, using A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP and Bluetooth Low Energy, with up to 33 feet (10 meters) of range. Codecs stop at SBC and AAC: Bose kept aptX Adaptive for the Ultra.
Calls go through the built-in microphone. Bose’s 2023 box list adds a 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable with an in-line mic and a 12-inch USB-A to USB-C cable, but newer boxes may ship without the audio cable.
Fit, weight and the case
Metal and plastic make up the frame, and the protein-leather cushions on the around-ear cups come off. Bose lists the headphones at 0.520 lb and 7.68 × 6.18 × 3.15 inches, and they travel in a carry and storage case. They came in Black and White Smoke, plus a limited-edition Cypress Green.
Price
The QuietComfort Headphones launched at $349 and were $359 on Bose’s US store on 19 September 2026. Prices change, so check the current one before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Bose — QuietComfort Headphones US product page and specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Bose support — QuietComfort Headphones specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Bose press room — QuietComfort Ultra and QuietComfort Headphones announcement — accessed 2026-09-19
- PR Newswire — Bose announcement, 14 September 2023 ($349, in stores 21 September 2023) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Are these the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
No. These are Bose's non-Ultra QuietComfort Headphones from 2023. The Ultra models add Immersive Audio, CustomTune and aptX Adaptive, and the 2nd Gen Ultra also has Cinema Mode, Bluetooth 5.4 and up to 30 hours.
What changed from the QC45?
Adjustable noise-cancelling levels and Custom modes. The QC45 had a simpler noise-cancelling toggle, and Bose introduced these as its replacement in September 2023.
How fast do they charge?
Fast enough for a top-up: 15 minutes gives up to 4 hours. For a full charge Bose gives two figures, 2.5 hours on its US product table and up to 2 hours in its FAQ.
Which app do they use?
The Bose app (the Bose Music app on some regional pages). That's where you set noise-cancelling levels, build Custom modes and update the firmware.
Can I take calls on them?
Yes. They have a built-in microphone, and the wired cable on Bose's 2023 box list has an in-line mic too. Bose gives no microphone count.
Official product page: Bose QuietComfort Headphones. Tech specs: Bose QuietComfort Headphones specs.