Bose is bringing wired earbuds back to its lineup for the first time in more than a decade with the new Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. The launch marks Bose’s first new wired earbuds since 2015, ending an 11-year gap in the category, as reported by The Verge and echoed by WIRED.
The earbuds are priced at $99 and are available for preorder through Bose’s online store, according to The Verge. Bose is pitching them as a modern take on the wired format rather than a throwback product: instead of ending in a standard headphone plug, the 4.2-foot cable uses USB-C. The Verge reports that setup is intended for current smartphones and laptops, with support for lossless audio and minimal latency.
Noise canceling, but wired
The standout feature is active noise canceling, something Bose has long emphasized in its wireless and over-ear products. The Verge reports that the new earbuds use two microphones on each earbud with Bose’s QuietControl technology to offer multiple ANC modes, which can be cycled with a button on the inline remote. That same remote also handles volume and playback controls.
WIRED, which received the earbuds ahead of launch, said its first listen was based on a late-stage prototype rather than the final shipping version, framing its piece as an initial impression instead of a full review. In that early hands-on, WIRED said the earbuds outperformed cheaper wired options in both sound quality and noise canceling, while also noting that the inline control module added some weight to the cable.
A wired comeback aimed at current habits
WIRED reports that Bose consumer audio president Raza Haider was partly influenced by noticing wired earbuds in regular use among teenagers, including during a college drop-off for his own teen. WIRED characterized that observation as part of what helped inspire Bose’s return to the format.
That framing fits a broader shift Bose appears to be chasing: keeping the simplicity of wired listening while updating it for devices that no longer include headphone jacks as standard. The earbuds also arrive with a few familiar accessories for fit, with WIRED reporting extra ear tips and removable stabilizers in the box, while The Verge says Bose includes three eartip sizes and two stability-wing sizes, plus a carrying case.
