Bose’s new $99 Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds put active noise cancellation on a USB-C cable, without an earbud battery to charge or Bluetooth pairing to manage. Plug them into a compatible phone, tablet, or computer, and the connection supplies both audio and power.
Price: $99
Where to Buy: Bose
That makes them an option for anyone who wants noise cancellation without carrying a charging case. They’re available for preorder through Bose and Best Buy, with shipping announced to begin October 15. Color choices are Black with blue accents, White Smoke with lime green accents, and limited-edition Dewdrop Mint.
The cable powers the quiet, too
Bose’s QuietControl system uses four microphones, two in each earbud, to monitor surrounding sound. You can switch between Quiet mode for noise cancellation, Aware mode to let surrounding sound through, and ANC Off. All three run from the connected device, so even noise cancellation doesn’t depend on a separate battery inside the earbuds.
There’s still a power cost because your phone or laptop supplies it. The USB-C plug also occupies a port while you’re listening.
The earbuds work with compatible USB-C devices, including newer USB-C iPhones, many Android phones, tablets, and computers. They won’t work through an old analog headphone jack: non-USB adapters can’t supply the power they need. There’s no companion app required.
Physical buttons and a clear audio limit
The inline remote has separate volume buttons and a multifunction button for playback, calls, and noise control. Press once to play or pause, twice to skip forward, and three times to go back. Hold the button to cycle through the noise modes, then release it when the voice prompt reaches the one you want. The earbuds remember the last mode when you reconnect them.
A microphone on the back of the remote handles calls. It’s designed to pick up your voice without holding the control against your mouth, and Bose has positioned it to reduce noise from contact with clothing.
For music, Bose combines its SoundDesign processing with USB Audio Class 2 and support for lossless listening. Playback output is fixed at 24-bit/48kHz, so a higher-resolution source file won’t turn these into 192kHz earbuds. Bose says the wired connection is designed to keep audio synchronized with video and games.
You don’t get Bose Immersive Audio or CustomTune here. These are stereo earbuds with three noise modes and controls on the cable—a straightforward setup for someone who wants to plug in and listen.
Fit options for a pair you’ll carry
The 4.2-foot cable comes with a zippered carrying case. Bose includes small, medium, and large silicone tips, plus medium and large stability wings. You can mix sizes between ears, and the wings are removable. A good tip seal matters for noise cancellation, so it’s worth trying the supplied sizes rather than assuming the fitted pair is right for you.
The IPX4 rating covers sweat and splashes, but these aren’t earbuds for swimming or showering. Keep the USB-C connector clean and dry before plugging it into your device.
Who these wired earbuds make sense for
The strongest argument for this design is predictability. There’s no pairing menu, firmware-dependent handoff, or charging case to check before leaving home. If the connected device has power and supports USB-C audio, the earbuds are ready. That can be useful for commuters, students, office workers, and travelers who move between a phone, tablet, and laptop but don’t want another wireless accessory to maintain.
The tradeoff is equally straightforward. The cable keeps you physically connected to the device, takes up its USB-C port, and draws power from its battery. That can complicate charging while listening unless your device or hub supports both functions. These also aren’t a replacement for wireless earbuds when you want to leave your phone across the room, exercise without a cable, or switch automatically among several Bluetooth sources.
The fixed 24-bit/48kHz playback output also puts the lossless claim in context. The USB-C connection avoids Bluetooth compression, but the earbuds’ playback output is fixed at 24-bit/48kHz, regardless of a higher-resolution source file. Bose has not positioned this model as a studio monitor or provided independent performance measurements, so the practical pitch is convenience and consistency rather than an audiophile specification contest.
Price: $99
Where to Buy: Bose
At $99, the appeal is clear: noise cancellation and physical controls in a pair you don’t have to remember to charge. You’ll still have a cable running to your phone, but if you’re happy with that arrangement, Bose has given wired listening a practical update.
