Bose has finally updated the QC35s

Bose today unveiled its QuietComfort 45 noise-cancelling headphones, the long-awaited successor to its QC35s. The QC35s were first released back in 2016, with a minor refresh - the QC35 IIs - in 2017. Instead, Bose opted to go more premium with the NC 700s, which while certainly a slick pair of headphones, eschewed the iconic collapsible design.

Instead, the QC45s build on the QC35 design with a few subtle changes, while featuring improved noise-cancellation and longer battery life. Thanks to a new chip, Bose says the headphones can detect and block out more mid-range frequencies like train or coffee shop noise. There's also a new transparency mode for bringing outside noise into your headphones.

In terms of battery, Bose says you'll get up to 24 hours of playback per charge with noise-cancelling on. A full charge will take about 2.5 hours, but a 15-minute top-up is enough to get you an extra 2.5 hours of listening time. A 3.5mm cable is included in the box if you want to use them as wired cans. For comparisons, the Q35 IIs were rated for up to 20 hours.

The QC45s will be available to pre-order on September 13 ahead of a September 24 release date priced at $499.95. This puts them directly in line with Sony's WH-1000XM4s, which are easily Bose's biggest rival in the over-ear noise-cancelling space. You'll be able to get the QC45s in a choice of black or white.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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