Bose QuietComfort 45 vs. Shokz OpenSwim
Bose QuietComfort 45
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are over-ear headphones designed for comfort and noise cancellation. They have soft, cushioned earcups and a padded headband made from synthetic leather, making them comfortable to wear for long periods. The headphones are built with impact-resistant nylon and metal hinges, so they’re sturdy enough for regular use. They offer two listening modes: Quiet Mode, which blocks out most background noise, and Aware Mode, which lets you hear your surroundings through built-in microphones. The sound is balanced, and you can adjust the bass, mids, and treble using the Bose Music app. The headphones connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, with a range of about 30 feet, and can remember up to seven devices for easy switching. They offer up to 22 hours of battery life on a full charge, and if you’re in a hurry, a quick 15-minute charge gives you about 3 hours of listening time. Their design is simple and lightweight, and they fold flat for easier storage. You c...
Shokz OpenSwim
The Shokz OpenSwim is a set of bone conduction headphones designed specifically for swimming. Unlike regular earbuds, these don’t go inside your ears. Instead, they rest on your cheekbones and use vibrations to send sound directly into your inner ear. This means you can still hear what’s happening around you while listening to music. They don’t have Bluetooth because Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater. Instead, they come with 4GB of internal storage, so you load your own MP3 files onto them. The battery lasts about 8 hours, which is plenty for most swim sessions. They’re IP68 waterproof, meaning they can handle continuous submersion, though there’s usually a depth limit (often around 2 meters). At 30g, they’re lightweight and designed to stay in place while swimming. The package includes a USB charging cradle, a carrying case, and swimming earplugs, which help improve sound quality underwater. People who use them generally love the sound quality and find them easy to use, thoug...
Reviews
Reviewed on 2/21/2025
My wife bought these Bose QC 45 on unclaimedbaggage.com and I ended up using them more than she does. I own a pair of Bose QuietComfort that I otherwise like but the microphone struggles with picking up my voice, especially when I'm outside. I've had people complain that they couldn't hear me on multiple occasions. Bose QC 45's has all the feature's I've grown to value in my Bose QuietComfort - battery life, sound quality ANC - without the microphone problems.
Reviews
Reviewed on 2/16/2025
I bought my OpenSwim headphones in 2021 and four years later they are still serving me well. They survived multiple trips to Thailand and Greece, including both in the open sea and in swimming pools. They were fun to use for snorkeling. I love the sound quality, I was genuinely surprised how good they sounds underwater, it's like having your own sound system. I wish they had bluetooth that you could use when not submerged, and as far as I know the newer models do have that. With either model, you still need to load your own songs for underwater use though. Everyone uses streaming services these days so mp3 are actually kind of hard to find, which is something I didn't expect I'd struggle with when I first bought these. Except for a few drawbacks that really amount to nitpicking, these are excellent, reliable, sturdy, and high quality headphones.
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
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| Light | 1 | |
| Comfortable | 1 | |
| Noise cancelling works well | 1 | |
| Quick to charge | 1 |
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| Occasional sounds distortions on calls | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
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| Work underwater | 1 | |
| Lightweight | 1 | |
| Battery life | 1 |
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| No blueetooth | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are designed for comfort and noise cancellation, making them ideal for general listening in various environments. They feature advanced noise-canceling technology and are suitable for long listening sessions. In contrast, the Shokz OpenSwim headphones are specifically designed for swimming, utilizing bone conduction technology to deliver sound while allowing ambient noise to be heard. Therefore, for general use outside of swimming, the Bose QuietComfort 45 would be the better choice.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are great for outdoor activities where noise cancellation is beneficial, such as commuting or traveling. However, they may not be ideal for activities where situational awareness is important. On the other hand, the Shokz OpenSwim headphones are designed for swimming and allow users to hear their surroundings while listening to music, making them more suitable for water-based outdoor activities. Therefore, for swimming, the Shokz OpenSwim is the better option, while for general outdoor use, the Bose QuietComfort 45 excels.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones offer up to 22 hours of battery life on a full charge, which is significantly longer than the Shokz OpenSwim's 8 hours of battery life. Therefore, for extended use without needing to recharge, the Bose QuietComfort 45 is the superior choice.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are known for their balanced sound quality and customizable audio settings through the Bose Music app, making them suitable for a wide range of music genres. The Shokz OpenSwim, while praised for its sound quality underwater, may not match the overall audio fidelity of the Bose headphones in non-aquatic environments. Thus, for general sound quality, the Bose QuietComfort 45 is likely the better option.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones have several pros, including being lightweight, comfortable, effective noise cancellation, and quick charging capabilities. However, a notable con is that there can be occasional sound distortions during calls.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones offer up to 22 hours of battery life on a full charge. Additionally, a quick 15-minute charge provides approximately 3 hours of listening time.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones feature two listening modes: Quiet Mode, which blocks out most background noise, and Aware Mode, which allows you to hear your surroundings through built-in microphones.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, with a range of about 30 feet. They can remember up to seven devices for easy switching.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are designed with soft, cushioned earcups and a padded headband made from synthetic leather. They are built with impact-resistant nylon and metal hinges, ensuring durability for regular use.
The Bose Music app allows users to adjust the bass, mids, and treble settings for the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones, providing a customizable audio experience.
The pros of Shokz OpenSwim include the ability to work underwater, being lightweight at just 30g, and having a battery life of about 8 hours, which is suitable for most swim sessions. The con is that they do not have Bluetooth functionality, as Bluetooth does not work underwater.
The Shokz OpenSwim is a set of bone conduction headphones designed specifically for swimming. Unlike regular earbuds, they rest on your cheekbones and use vibrations to send sound directly into your inner ear, allowing you to hear your surroundings while listening to music. They come with 4GB of internal storage for MP3 files and are IP68 waterproof.
Users generally report that the sound quality of Shokz OpenSwim is surprisingly good underwater, likening it to having a personal sound system. Many find it enjoyable for activities like snorkeling.
The battery life of Shokz OpenSwim lasts about 8 hours, which is considered sufficient for most swimming sessions. However, some users have mentioned mixed experiences regarding battery longevity over time.
The Shokz OpenSwim package includes a USB charging cradle, a carrying case, and swimming earplugs, which help improve sound quality while underwater.
No, Shokz OpenSwim does not have Bluetooth functionality because Bluetooth does not work underwater. Users must load their own MP3 files onto the headphones for use while swimming.
