Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones Teased via New Leak
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It seems that Bose is likely on the verge of releasing a new pair of active noise-cancelling Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones. This comes four years after the release of their iconic predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, which changed the game for noise-cancelling headphone technology.
Though Bose released the Noise Cancelling 700 headphones in 2019, they came with a slightly higher price tag and polarizing new design. As such, it’d be exciting to see Bose return to the QuietComfort line with a focus on functionality and affordability.
Rumors about the new headphones started circulating back in July when Bose submitted an FCC filing for the QC45 that was quickly removed, prompting even more discussion about the mysterious headphones. Since then, we’ve been gathering information from high-profile leaks detailing their appearance and specs — but things really started heating up this week when German tech site WinFuture noticed that Staples accidentally listed the unreleased headphones on its website.
Bose has yet to give in and admit if the headphones exist, but we recommend getting your wallets ready because the rumors just keep on coming. If the speculation ends up being true, the QC45 is sure to be a hot commodity upon release.
Even Better Than the Last
The QuietComfort line and Noise Cancelling 700 are widely loved by Bose fans, and the upcoming headphones are rumored to be upping the ante even more. While leaked photos acquired by WinFuture reveal a design similar to the QC35, the most exciting upgrades would be in the features offered.
According to the promotional material and photos shared by WinFuture, we have reason to believe the QC45 boasts a USB-C port like the 700 headphones — a big step up from the micro-USB port seen on the QC35 IIs.
Besides this change, the released photos don’t show a ton of difference between the newer model and the 35 II. In comparison to the newer 700 headphones, the QC45 have a starkly different appearance and clearly take the lead from the QC35. Despite the similar external appearance to their predecessor, the QC45 was described on the Staples listing as being significantly lighter with a synthetic leather exterior.
Users of the 700 headphones weren’t thrilled with their inability to fold, so the rumored lightweight feel of the QC45 would be an exciting new development.
The QC45 headphones are rumored to have up to 24 hours of playback time — that’s four hours more than the QC35 and 700 are capable. They’re said to require 2.5 hours of charging time, unless you choose to use the fast-charging mode to get 2.5 hours of listening on a 15-minute charge — this can’t quite compare with the 700, which advertises 3.5 hours of listening from a 15-minute fast-charge.
The Staples listing further shared that the QC45 has better noise-cancellation technology than what was used in the past, which would be an important upgrade if Bose hopes to compete with the popular Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. Bose is rumored to be sticking with its physical-only controls, a feature enjoyed by those who aren’t fans of the finicky nature of touch sensors.
A Reasonable Price Tag
We only recently gained insight into the potential price of the QC45, all thanks to the quickly deleted Staples listing that was accidentally posted by the retailer. The headphones were listed on the site for a price of $329, cheaper than the $350 price tag of the 35 II. If this is true, the QC45 will cost even less than Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones, which are currently dominating the noise-cancelling headphone market and launched with a price of $349.
Keep in mind that these prices aren’t set in stone and could possibly change, so we have to proceed with some caution and keep an open mind about what’s to come. However, if Bose is looking to make a splash in the market and compete with similarly priced models, the speculated price tag would make sense.
When Will the QC45 Headphones Come Out?
Though there is no confirmed timeline of when the new headphones will be released, or if they will be at all, the frequency with which information has been leaked is a pretty promising indicator they may come out soon — especially considering the recent slip up by major retailer Staples.
Only time will tell if the QuietComfort 45 headphones’ hardware can stand to compete with the advancements competitors have made since its predecessor’s release, but the leaked information we have is promising and exciting. Until Bose confirms the rumors, which we think they will soon, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that they will live up to our expectations.
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