You could be forgiven for not realizing that Bose launched a new pair of headphones last fall. While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are flashy with their advanced head tracking and immersive spatial audio, the 2023 version of the classic Bose QuietComfort looks and sounds essentially identical to the QC 45 that preceded them in 2021, and doesn’t have many new features. It doesn’t get Bose Immersive Audio’s version of spatial audio, custom sound profiles, wind blocking, or even in-ear detection.
It might not be fair to call this incremental update a direct replacement, but that doesn’t mean the Bose QuietComfort headphones aren’t worth considering. In fact, they do have some small advantages over their sleeker counterparts.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Rather than chasing innovative spatial sound or radically changing the iconic design that Bose’s QuietComfort series is known and loved for, Bose is sticking to its tried-and-true formula along with some small improvements to the QuietComfort software.
- Brand
- kiss
- Battery life
- 24 hours
- material
- Metal, plastic, leather (protein)
- Bluetooth
- 5.1
- Noise cancellation
- Yes
- waterproof
- no
- Microphones
- Built-in microphone
- weight
- 240 grams (0.52 lbs)
- colors
- Black, Smoke White, Cypress Green
- Audio codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Foldable
- Yes
- Shipping Type
- USB-C
- multipoint
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 7.68″H x 6.18″W x 3.15″D
- retail price
- $349
- Battery charging time
- 2.5 hours
- Carrying bag
- included
- Excellent sound and ANC
- Real-time battery life of up to 24 hours
- The multipoints are much better than those on the QC 45.
- No spatial sound or ear detection.
- Cannot be used while charging.
- The application can be a bit difficult.
What I like
Pose’s favorite song gets a slightly shinier cover
At this point, Bose has managed to shave a few grams off the weight of the ANC headphones despite switching from a nylon/synthetic leather/plastic body to a metal/synthetic leather/plastic body. They have the same shape and size as the earcups and headband, too, so if the last few generations fit your head, these will too.
While not as soft as the QuietComfort Ultra’s headband, I found the regular QuietComfort headband to be more comfortable for hours and hours of listening. The headband also held up a little better, allowing me to bob my head to the music while the QuietComfort Ultra and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 slid off my head and onto the floor.
Bose’s ANC is a perfect fit for the QuietComfort earbuds, allowing me to block out the little tyrant roaming upstairs while I do my work or watch cartoons after work. Bose lets you set up custom profiles to adjust the ANC level and turn off Wind Block for the indoor/outdoor profiles. This was especially helpful when transitioning from the cold, windy weather outside to the quiet, warm embrace of your home, and I click through the four allowed profiles using the single action button on the left ear.
My hair may be windy, but the Bose QuietComfort headphones are silent.
The multipoint audio experience was mixed on the QuietComfort 45, but things are more consistent here on the QuietComfort. Bose still doesn’t let you mix media playback on one device without disconnecting the other—no one seems to have copied this little gem from Sony yet—but connectivity issues are a thing of the past, and handoff between devices is nearly seamless.
Bose claims 24 hours of battery life with ANC on, but I found myself getting 30 hours on occasion. Even when the headphones were down to 20% or 10% at lunchtime after not charging them for a few days, I was able to listen all afternoon before recharging them during dinner. The battery might not max out as quickly as the previous generation, but the battery also feels a bit bigger on this generation compared to the 20-22 hours of battery life on the QC 45.
What I don’t like
You know what the problem with old favorites is? They get old.
There aren’t any major exterior changes here, as we saw with the QuietComfort Ultra compared to its predecessors, and while there’s nothing wrong with this look, even I can’t deny that it looks a bit boring. Bose has been using this design since the QuietComfort 35 in 2016. Part of the appeal of the Ultra is that while it’s in the same vein, it has a softer, more rounded look while the QuietComfort looks almost plain today, even with those cool new Moonstone Blue and Cypress Green colors.
The lack of advancements within these headphones is a bit hard to swallow, especially considering the $350 list price of these headphones. While the lack of spatial audio head tracking isn’t a huge loss, the lack of on-ear detection to automatically pause music seems shortsighted, especially since the feature is becoming more prevalent in other headphones in this category.
The lack of a USB-C port is also unfortunate. While the presence of a 2.5mm jack is nice — a 3.5mm jack would be even better since 2.5mm to 3.5mm cables are so hard to come by — given that phones haven’t had headphone jacks for half a decade, USB-C connectivity would be a godsend for users. Instead of having to find a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter on top of a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable, users can plug in a USB-C cable to play music and charge their headphones.
Bose has stuck with Bluetooth 5.1 on the QuietComfort, but it would have been nice to see Bluetooth 5.3 and Auracast support on these headphones. While it will be years and years before Auracast gains widespread public support, given how long the QuietComfort is supposed to last, a little bit of future-proofing would have been appreciated. The accompanying Bose app could also use an update so that it doesn’t take 15 seconds to recognize which headphones are currently connected.
a race
The lack of in-ear detection makes the QuietComfort a disadvantage compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, but all three sound excellent. The Sony has better multipoint controls—they let you pin playback to one device so you don’t have to bounce back and forth for every little notification on your phone when you’re watching TV—though I think the Bose has slightly better ANC. ANC is a particular weakness of the Sennheiser, giving the Bose a clear advantage when it comes to everyday listening quality.
Of course, the biggest competition these premium headphones face doesn’t come from another company; it comes from within.
What is the difference between QuietComfort and Bose QuietComfort Ultra?
$80 and a lake of subtle differences separate the “regular” QuietComfort earbuds from the premium QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. Let’s start with the most significant: If you have a smaller head, you may not be able to use the Ultras as easily, if at all. The QuietComfort Ultra’s headband is a bit larger, and while I prefer the sound/controls on the QC Ultra, the only pair I can shake my head with to my music are the regular QuietComforts. The Ultras still have a tight seal around my ears, but I ended up buying an extra padded headband cover to keep them from slipping off my head too much.
The QuietComfort headphones have a standard on/off/pairing switch, while the Ultra headphones use a combination of a power/Bluetooth button and head tracking to control the headphones on, off, or in standby mode. The less expensive QC headphones have a standard three-button set for volume and play/pause, while the Ultra headphones have a single play/pause button — plus an automatic head tracking pause — and a touch-sensitive slider for volume control.
Both models feature active noise cancellation, though the Ultra is a bit better when dealing with crowded areas like airports. Immersive Audio is also exclusive to the Ultra, but I don’t think it’s worth the extra $80.
Both QuietComfort models have some differences when it comes to wired playback, and neither supports USB-C playback, unfortunately. The QuietComfort Ultra can only play audio wired or wirelessly, while they have enough battery to power them — meaning if the battery runs out, you need to plug in a USB-C cable, charge it enough to power the headphones, and then plug in a 2.5mm cable. By contrast, the QuietComfort Ultra can even play with the power off, but Not possible It can be used Absolutely While charging.
Should you buy it?
While the QuietComfort Ultra has been stealing the headlines and getting a lot of attention, the QuietComfort is what I like to call a reliable. It doesn’t break the mold, but it offers enough improvements without increasing the price – and it’s already on sale for 30% off, so you shouldn’t have to wait long to get it at an absolutely fantastic value.
Are there sleeker headphones with a more modern aesthetic? Sure, but the Bose delivers the sound quality and active noise cancellation we’ve come to know and demand from our primary headphones. I’ve spent the better part of two months living with these headphones, and especially when I’m out for a day, I trust the Bose QuietComfort to block out the clutter of modern society and let me get through my day with a song in my heart and ears. And with my smaller head, the QuietComfort actually offers a better fit and finish than its more expensive counterparts.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
These headphones may not be the newest or most spacious, but the classics are still around for good reason. Whether you’re just looking to replace your old Bose headphones or need a solid pair of headphones under $400, the QuietComfort headphones play all the hits. And if you can get them for $250, as we did for most of November and December, they’re a great value for a solid set of headphones.
