Bose QuietComfort 45 takes on the AirPods Max
The well-known audio brand Bose has presented its latest wireless headset: the QuietComfort 45. The headphones have various improvements and are an interesting alternative to Apple’s AirPods Max.
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This is the Bose QuietComfort 45
The Bose QuietComfort 45 is the successor to the popular QuietComfort 35 II, which was released four years ago. The new Bose wireless headphones look about the same on the outside as their predecessor, but are secretly much improved.
This starts with the noise reduction, one of the features that made the QuietComfort 35 II so good and popular. According to Bose, the noise canceling made great progress. You can switch between two modes: Quiet Mode and Aware Mode. If you choose Quiet, all the ambient noise will be filtered out. The QuietComfort uses 45 small microphones for this, which pick up the sound so that the headset can then produce a kind of ‘counter-noise’.
With the Aware Mode you do get the environment along, which is useful when you are walking down the street or on your bike, for example. This allows you to hear both your music and the sound of the traffic around you well. You switch between the modes with the physical buttons on the headset itself. The QuietComfort 45 works wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.1, but it is also possible to use the headphones wired.
Another important improvement is that the QuietComfort 45 charges via a USB-C connection. The QuietComfort 35 II still uses an old-fashioned micro-USB port. Bose says the headset lasts 24 hours on a full charge. A full charge takes 2.5 hours. If you only have fifteen minutes to charge, you can listen to music for 2.5 hours. If you use a cable, the battery will last a little longer.
Competitor for the AirPods Max
Like the AirPods Max, the Bose QuietComfort 45 has an over-ear design, with large ear cushions that ensure a comfortable fit. The AirPods Max works in a similar way and is also distinguished by the active noise cancellation (with its own ‘Aware Mode’), but is quite expensive. The Apple headphones have a suggested retail price of 629 euros, but you can now get them for around 500 euros.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 costs 349.95 euros and will be in stores in a few weeks. A lot cheaper than the AirPods Max, but with similar functions. If you order the wireless headphones, it will be in the week of September 20 sent. The headset also appears in the Netherlands and comes in two colors: black and white.
Also read: our comprehensive review of the AirPods Max
