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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 get decided on sound. This one gets decided on grams and hinges.
The verdict, before the details
If all-day comfort and a case that folds flat into a carry-on are your first two requirements, this is the pair to buy. If you want the longest battery or the widest codec support, it is not.
List is $349 and it rarely trades there โ check what it costs today.
Bose released these in September 2023 to replace the QC45. They sit one rung below the QuietComfort Ultra in the lineup.
That position is the entire product. It keeps the cancellation Bose built its name on and drops the features that push the Ultra's price up.
Street price has spent most of the last two years between $220 and $250.
Weight235 gBattery24 h, ANC onFast charge15 min โ 2.5 hCodecsSBC, AACList$349
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 what long sessions punish.
Comfort over hours is the single point reviewers return to most often with this model. It is also the hardest thing to recover if a competitor gets it wrong.
Twenty-four hours with cancellation on, and 2.5 more from fifteen minutes
Twenty-four hours covers a transatlantic round trip with the return leg still in reserve.
The fifteen-minute charge matters more than the headline figure. Two and a half hours of playback from a quarter-hour at a gate outlet is the difference between a quiet flight and a loud one.
The cups fold, and a carry-on notices
This is the clearest separation from the obvious rival. The Sony WH-1000XM5 lies flat but does not fold inward, so its case is noticeably larger.
| 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 it costs today.
Two drawbacks worth knowing
Twenty-four hours is the weakest figure on the sheet
Sony's XM5 runs 30 hours and Sennheiser's Momentum 4 runs 60. On a long-haul return trip 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 comfort.
Who this fits
This is a good fit if you
- Fly or take long trains regularly and pack a carry-on 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 list? See today's price.
What to pay
List is $349, and paying it is a mistake. This model discounts often enough that $220 to $250 is the realistic range.
At list, the price collides with a discounted QuietComfort Ultra, which is a worse trade. Below $250 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 sits near $230 and the Ultra near $350, the gap is $120 for CustomTune and spatial audio.
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 covers why the physics lands that way.
Do they work wired if the battery dies?
Yes, with the included cable. Wired playback also lets you plug into an in-flight entertainment jack.
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.
