QuietComfort 35 II vs QuietComfort 45
Audio · 2,325 owner opinions across both productsA close call.
Reddit rates both Risky Buy. The split is what you want: the QuietComfort 35 II — buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and reliable noise cancellation on a budget. The QuietComfort 45 — buy only if you prioritize all-day wearing comfort and solid noise cancellation over a spotless reliability record. Today's gap is $210: $169 for the QuietComfort 45 against $379 for the QuietComfort 35 II.
Built from 2,325 owner opinions across both products · 334 long-term reports · how we decide
What owners say
58% would buy againof 1,387 owners
First 6 months 55% → long-term 74%+19of 270 long-term owners
46% would buy againof 938 owners
First 6 months 21% → long-term 81%+60of 64 long-term owners
What you’ll regret
No single component dominates
~1 in 3 long-term owner reports describe a failure — primarily the power switch, Bluetooth connectivity, and battery — typically surfacing between 12 and 73 months in. Of tracked warranty outcomes, 89 were resolved and 69 were not, so results lean resolved but a meaningful share lands outside coverage. Failure rate is about typical for wireless headphones: the category baseline is 24% serious failures versus 25% here.
Typically reported months 12–72 · 270 long-term owners
The audio_output
~1 in 5 long-term owner reports describe a failure, most involving audio output or Bluetooth issues, arriving within the first 13 months. Warranty outcomes lean unresolved — 30 cases landed outside warranty versus 20 resolved under it. At 17% serious failure, the QC45 is somewhat more reliable than the category baseline of 24% for wireless headphones we track.
Typically reported months 0–12 · 64 long-term owners
These are the share of long-term owner reports that mention a failure, not the share of units that fail — owners with working units mostly don’t post.
Price and value
Gap today: $210 — QuietComfort 45 is the cheaper buy.
Price links carry an affiliate tag. It never changes the verdict.
When the newer generation becomes worth it
Products aren’t worth it or not — they’re worth it at a price. How much more the QuietComfort 45 costs, and what that gap buys: (right now it is $210 cheaper than the QuietComfort 35 II, so there is no premium to weigh)
Weigh the gap against the QuietComfort 45's ownership record before paying it.
Weigh the gap against the QuietComfort 45's ownership record before paying it.
Weigh the gap against the QuietComfort 45's ownership record before paying it.
Weigh the gap against the QuietComfort 45's ownership record before paying it.
Owners' records do not make the QuietComfort 45 an automatic upgrade. The two records are close enough that replacing a working unit buys little.
long-haul travel comfort and build durability matter more than pristine audio fidelity.
long listening sessions and noise cancellation matter more to you than a flawless reliability record.
Questions people ask about this matchup
Which is better, the QuietComfort 35 II or the QuietComfort 45?
Reddit rates both Risky Buy. The split is what you want: the QuietComfort 35 II — buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and reliable noise cancellation on a budget. The QuietComfort 45 — buy only if you prioritize all-day wearing comfort and solid noise cancellation over a spotless reliability record.
Which is more reliable, the QuietComfort 35 II or the QuietComfort 45?
The QuietComfort 45, by the numbers: 17% of its long-term reports mention a serious failure against 25% for the QuietComfort 35 II. Warranty outcomes differ more: 40% of QuietComfort 45 claims were resolved against 56% for the QuietComfort 35 II.
Is the QuietComfort 35 II worth $210 more than the QuietComfort 45?
At $379 against $169 today, the QuietComfort 35 II costs 124% more and carries the same verdict tier.
QuietComfort 35 II full verdict →QuietComfort 45 full verdict →All Audio verdicts →