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Bose QuietComfort Ultra — CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive
Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive

93
/ 100
From $429
VS
Bose QuietComfort Ultra wins by 5
Bose QC45 — Over-ear · 2021
Bose

Bose QC45

Over-ear · 2021

88
/ 100
From $329
Specdex verdict

Bose QuietComfort Ultra takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Bose QuietComfort Ultra lands at 93 and Bose QC45 at 88. That puts Bose QuietComfort Ultra ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra if…

  • ✓Best comfort in class
  • ✓Excellent ANC
  • ✓Immersive Audio spatial feature

Pick Bose QC45 if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Tuning, detail, and staging

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on sound (92 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

ANC strength for commute and travel

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on anc (96 vs 86).

Comfort

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Long-session wearability

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on comfort (98 vs 87).

Value for money

Bose QC45

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Bose QC45 more score per dollar ($329 vs $429).

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 93
vs
88 Bose QC45

Score breakdown

Bose QuietComfort Ultra
93
anc 96
sound 92
comfort 98
battery 86
features 90
Bose QC45
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84

Specs side-by-side

Bose QuietComfort Ultra versus Bose QC45 — full spec comparison
Spec Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bose QC45
Driver
35 mm dynamic
—
Battery
24 h (Immersive Audio off) / 18 h (on)
—
Weight
253 g
—
Codecs
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
—
Type
—
Over-ear
Release year
—
2021

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Pros
  • +Best comfort in class
  • +Excellent ANC
  • +Immersive Audio spatial feature
Cons
  • −Bose app fiddly
  • −No USB-C audio (3.5 mm + Bluetooth only)
  • −No LDAC support

Bose QC45

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

FAQ: Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Bose QC45

Which is better, Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Bose QC45? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra worth the price? +

At $429, Bose QuietComfort Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in comfort.

Is Bose QC45 worth the price? +

At $329, Bose QC45 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Does Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Bose QC45 last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound quality, Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Bose QC45? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on sound (92 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Bose QC45? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on anc (96 vs 86). ANC strength for commute and travel.