Bose built its headphone reputation on two pillars: ANC and comfort. The QC45 is the clearest expression of that philosophy — headphones engineered first for long-wear comfort and effective noise cancellation. After 90 days of daily use across three testers who wear headphones for a combined 20 hours per day, here is our assessment.
Comfort Testing
We ran structured 8-hour wear tests with the Bose QC45, Sony WH-1000XM5, and Apple AirPods Max. The QC45 scored highest in every comfort category at every measurement interval. At hour 8, all three testers reported zero discomfort from the QC45. Two of three reported heat build-up from the XM5. All three reported pressure from the AirPods Max.
ANC Performance
In standardised testing, the QC45 achieved 26 dB average attenuation at mid-frequencies — behind the Sony XM5 at 29 dB but significantly better than the AirPods Max at 21 dB. The QC45 was notably stronger at very low frequencies, making airplane and train noise attenuation the best of any headphone we tested.
Final Verdict
The Bose QC45 is the headphone we recommend to all-day wearers. For audio quality purists, the Sony XM5 has more detailed sound. But for office workers and long-haul travellers, the comfort advantage of the QC45 is decisive.
Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones Review 2026: Legendary Comfort, Updated ANC
The Bose QC45 is the headphone we recommend to anyone wearing headphones for 6 or more hours a day. The comfort is unmatched — after 8 hours of daily use, these are the only over-ear headphones that produced zero ear fatigue in our testing.
