Bose Brings Back Wired Earbuds With ANC for $99
If you're tired of charging earbuds, Bose has a cheaper answer: a pair with a cable. The Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are the company's first wired earbuds in 11 years. They cost $99 (£99.95 in the UK), plug into a USB-C port and have active noise cancellation (ANC), which is usually a feature of pricier wireless models. Pre-orders are open, and shipping starts October 15.
Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds
No battery, no pairing
The earbuds connect through a 1.28m (4.2ft) USB-C cable. There's no Bluetooth to pair and no app to install. They also have no battery of their own, so they draw power from your phone or laptop.
The earbuds connect over USB-C and draw power from the source device
Noise cancelling comes from Bose's QuietControl system, with four microphones, two per earbud. There are three modes: Quiet, Aware (which lets outside sound in) and ANC Off. You switch between them with buttons on an inline remote. The remote also handles volume, playback and calls, and it has an extra microphone for voice.
An inline remote controls ANC modes, volume and calls
The earbuds support 24-bit/48kHz audio over USB. They have an IPX4 rating, so sweat and light rain are fine, but a dunking isn't. Colors are Black, White Smoke and a limited Dewdrop Mint.
The price and the pitch
Bose's wireless options cost far more. Its QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are £299.95 and the QuietComfort Earbuds are £179.95, according to the Bose UK store. For comparison, Nothing's new Headphone (1) Pro is $399, and the Beats 360 is $350.
The timing fits a wider shift. TechLoy reports that wired headphone sales have risen about 20% this year, after five years of decline. It credits younger buyers, celebrity adoption and fashion trends on TikTok. That figure is secondhand, and the original data hasn't been independently checked.
The catch
You need a USB-C port. Phones and laptops without one will need an adapter. Because the earbuds have no battery, they also take a little power from your device, and noise cancelling uses some of it.
The box includes silicone tips in three sizes, stability bands in two sizes and a zippered case. Bose's own store lists a ship date of October 13, while the press release says October 15. The press release is the primary source, so October 15 is the safer date.
