AirPods Max vs Bose QuietComfort 45: 6 Must-Know Facts
- AirPods Max is the first wireless over-ear headphones designed by Apple.
- Bose Quiet Comfort 45’s rechargeable battery is not replaceable.
- Bose currently has contracts with the U.S. military and NASA to develop military headphones.
- AirPods Max has a slightly better wireless range (9 meters) than Bose Quiet Comfort 45 (8 meters).
- Apple’s AirPods Max was manufactured on contract by Goertek and Luxsgare.
- AirPods Max is currently the most expensive Apple audio product.
Without any doubt, wireless headphones have taken the world by storm. AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort 45 are among the best wireless headphones on the market right now. Customers love them because they eliminate almost all the hassles associated with wired headphones. They no longer need to deal with annoying wires that get entangled in our bags or desk, which means we can listen to music at home or in the office without worrying about where the headphone jack will pop up. So, AirPods Max vs Bose QuietComfort 45, which one is the best?
Wireless headphones are handy for those who lead an active lifestyle and prefer to exercise without being tethered to their device. That’s where these headphones come in handy. Both Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless and AirPods Max are great wireless noise-canceling headphones. But there are a few things that make one stand out from another. Read on to find out what these differences are and which of them is right for you!
AirPods Max vs Bose QuietComfort 45: Side-by-Side Comparison
| AirPods Max | Bose QuietComfort 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Apple’s first wireless over-ear headphones | Wireless over-ear headphones |
| Developer | Apple | Bose |
| Year Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Price | $549 | $329 |
| Listening Time | 20 hours max | Up to 24 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and Lightning | Bluetooth, USB-C |
| Weight | 13.6 ounces | 8.5 Ounces |
AirPods Max vs Bose QuietComfort 45: What are the Differences?
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Battery Life
One of the major differences between AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort 45 is their battery life. AirPods Max lasts for 20 hours, which is incredible.
However, Bose QuietComfort 45 offers a higher battery life. It lasts up to 24 hours when fully charged. This means Bose QuietComfort 45 lasts four hours more than AirPods Max.
Bose QuietComfort 45 also has a power button in case you need to turn off your headphones to conserve battery. Unfortunately, AirPods Max on the other hand cannot be turned off.
Apple’s AirPods Max headphones are designed to go into low power mode when placed in their smart case, but this does not completely shut them off.
Both headphones support quick charging. With AirPods Max, you only need a 10-minute change to use your headphones for 3 hours. However, with Bose QuietComfort 45, you need to charge it for 15 minutes for it to last up to 3 hours. This gives AirPods Max a slight advantage in terms of fast charging.
AirPods Max requires a Lightning cable for charging while Bose QuietComfort 45 uses a USB-C cable. Replacing a Lightning cable is not as easy as replacing a USB-C cable because a USB-C cable is less expensive and more common than Lightning cables.
Price
AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort 45 are both premium headphones, which means they are more expensive than regular headphones. However, they offer high audio quality and comfort.
AirPods Max is currently listed at $549, while Bose QuietComfort 45 only costs $329, making it significantly cheaper than AirPods Max. Bose QuietComfort 45 is more than $200 cheaper than AirPods Max. This means that it might be a good fit for you if you would like to cut costs and save an extra $200.
Microphone Clarity
AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort 45 are active noise-cancellation headphones. However, there are slight differences in their microphone clarity.
Bose QuietComfort 45 can be used to make phone calls with minimal distortion. The performance of the AirPods Max often depends on the device it is paired with, which makes it slightly inconsistent. When paired with an iPhone, AirPods Max has minimal mic distortion, but when paired with an Android device, it has more distortion.
AirPods Max has 9 microphones while Bose QuietComfort 45 has 4 microphones. Even though AirPods Max has more microphones than Bose QuietComfort 45, its microphone clarity is inconsistent.
AirPods’s microphone inconsistency gives Bose QuietComfort 45 an advantage. Bose offers consistent, high level of mic clarity with minimal distortions, regardless of the type of device it is paired with.
Weight
AirPods Max weighs 13.6 ounces, while Bose QuietComfort 45 weighs 8.5 ounces. This makes the AirPods Max significantly heavier than the Bose QuietComfort 45. The weight difference is quite noticeable when you are wearing them for long periods. Hence, Bose QuietComfort 45 is a more convenient option.
- Excellent and comfortable design
- High-fidelity audio
- Active noise cancelation
- Get up to 22 hours of battery life
Sound Quality
The AirPods Max delivers accurate audio output. Its sound quality is exceptional. It offers full and rich bass, and every sound is crisp and detailed. AirPods Max’s spatial audio also offers a theatre-like audio experience.
Bose QuietComfort 45 also delivers high-quality audio output. However, its equalization isn’t as good as AirPods Max’s EQ, which makes the AirPods Max the better option for sound quality.
Design
AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort 45 both have unique designs. In color, Bose QuietComfort 45 has more limited options. It is only available in 2 colors — black and white. AirPods Max offers a larger variety of colors as it is available in 5 different colors — silver, gray, blue, pink, and green.
Both headphones also differ in foldability. Bose QuietComfort 45 can be easily folded while AirPods Max can’t be folded. It could be a real hassle when you’re trying to fit it into your bag. Bose QuietComfort 45 also has a traditional headphones case in which you can safely keep your headphones when not in use.
AirPods Max on the other hand doesn’t have a traditional headphones case. Its case has a controversial design and only protects the earcups and excludes the headband.
Unlike Bose QuietComfort 45 which has different buttons answering calls, increasing music volume, and decreasing volume, AirPods Max has a Digital Crown selector similar to that found on the Apple Watch.
AirPods Max vs Bose QuietComfort 45: Which is Better? Which One Should You Use?
The AirPods Max and the Bose QuietComfort 45 are both exceptionally good noise-canceling headphones that are excellent portable listening solutions. In addition, both are comfortable and provide a great listening experience thanks to their high-quality audio. However, which of them should you use? Despite their similarities, Bose QuietComfort 45 has the upper hand because of its longer battery life and better mic clarity. Plus, it’s cheaper than the AirPods Max.
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