Bose QuietComfort SE wireless headphones spotted – could they replace the QC45?

(Image credit: Bose)

Bose looks set to launch a new pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones very soon.

The Bose QuietComfort SE have suddenly appeared in the product listing of the company's US website for $299 (see below) and can be spotted at a handful of retailer sites, while an 'Unboxing and Setup' video tutorial is also live on the Bose YouTube channel, as spotted by WinFuture.

That Bose is seemingly prepping the launch of a new QuietComfort over-ear model is not overly strange in itself considering the QuietComfort 45 launched around this time last year (though new Bose over-ears aren't typically annual affairs), but what is odd is that the SE seem identical to the QC45.

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Bose hasn't actually officially announced the QC SE. That US product listing is empty and it doesn't appear as though they can currently be purchased, so the few teasers we have now could just be a case of premature posting. After all, Bose's marketing efforts still seem very focused on the QuietComfort Earbuds II they did recently announce.

If and when more details are shared, though, we will be keen to look at how they differ from the existing QC45, if at all. They certainly look identical and, according to WinFuture, also sport Bluetooth 5.1, a 24-hour battery life with fast charging, and of course active noise cancellation. The only obvious discrepancies are the QC SE's $299 price, which is $30 less than the QC45's RRP, and their flimsier-looking case.

Perhaps the Bose QuietComfort SE will materialise as simply a slightly more affordable QC45 variant that only some retailers will offer. Or even just a rebranding exercise.

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Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of the brand's sister magazines Down Under – Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica. During her 11+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.