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Four hours into a flight, frequency response stops being the question. Whether your ears still want the headphones on becomes the question.
Most over-ear comparisons are settled on sound. This one is settled on grams and hinges.
The verdict, before the detail
If all-day comfort and a case that folds flat into hand luggage are your first two requirements, this is the pair. If you want the longest battery or the widest codec support, it is not.
It discounts often enough that the list price is beside the point โ check what it costs today.
Bose launched these in September 2023 to replace the QC45. They sit one rung below the QuietComfort Ultra in the range.
That position is the whole product. It keeps the cancellation Bose built its name on and leaves out the features that push the Ultra's price up.
Weight235 gBattery24 h, ANC onFast charge15 min โ 2.5 hCodecsSBC, AACCaseFolding, hard shell
What it does well
235 grams is the number that decides hour four
That is light for a full-size over-ear with active cancellation, and weight is exactly what long sessions punish.
Comfort across hours is the point reviewers return to most often with this model. It is also the hardest thing to put right if a rival gets it wrong.
Twenty-four hours with cancellation on, and 2.5 more from fifteen minutes
Twenty-four hours covers a return trip to the Mediterranean with the second leg still in hand.
The fifteen-minute charge is the more useful number. Two and a half hours of playback from a quarter of an hour at a gate socket is the difference between a quiet flight and a loud one.
The cups fold, and hand luggage notices
This is the clearest separation from the obvious rival. Sony's WH-1000XM5 lies flat but does not fold inwards, so its case takes up appreciably more room.
| QuietComfort | Sony WH-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 235 g | 250 g |
| Battery, ANC on | 24 h | 30 h |
| Folding cups | Yes | No |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
Those are the numbers โ see what they cost today.
Two drawbacks worth knowing
Twenty-four hours is the weakest figure on the sheet
Sony's XM5 manages 30 hours and Sennheiser's Momentum 4 manages 60. On a long-haul return you will think about charging at least once.
SBC and AAC, and nothing else
There is no aptX Adaptive, no CustomTune ear calibration and no spatial audio mode. Those belong to the QuietComfort Ultra.
This is not a headphone bought on the audio spec sheet. It is bought on quiet and on comfort.
Who this suits
A good fit if you
- Fly or take long trains regularly and pack a bag that fights for space
- Wear headphones for three hours or more at a stretch
- Want cancellation that works without menus and calibration routines
Look elsewhere if you
- Need more than a day of playback between charges
- Care about LDAC, aptX or spatial audio modes
Still on your shortlist? See today's price.
What to pay
Paying the full list price for this model is a mistake. It has discounted on a regular cycle since launch, and the sale price is the one worth waiting for.
At list, it collides with a discounted QuietComfort Ultra, which is a worse trade. Well below list, the comparison stops being close.
Check today's price on AmazonBose QuietComfort Headphones โ
Questions people ask before buying
Is the QuietComfort worth it over the QuietComfort Ultra?
At full price for both, the Ultra wins on features. When the standard model is discounted and the Ultra is not, the gap buys CustomTune and spatial audio and nothing else.
If neither of those excites you, the cheaper pair is the better buy.
How much noise do these actually remove?
Far more low rumble than voices. Engine drone and tunnel roar drop sharply; a conversation two rows back drops much less. Our explainer on how active noise cancellation works sets out why the physics lands that way.
Do they still work if the battery dies?
Yes, with the cable in the box. Wired playback also lets you plug into an in-flight entertainment socket.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links. We were not given this product and were not paid to write about it.
