Overview
- Bose announced and opened preorders for the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds on Monday, pricing them at $99 with shipping slated for mid‑October and a small discrepancy in reported start dates (Oct. 13 vs. Oct. 15).
- The earbuds use a USB‑C plug that draws power from the host device, support USB Audio Class 2 with fixed 24‑bit/48kHz output, and include Quiet (ANC), Aware, and Off listening modes driven by multiple microphones per bud.
- Early hands‑on impressions praise the ANC and sound quality as strong for wired buds but flag a heavy inline control module that can pull on the cable and affect fit and comfort.
- The USB‑C‑only design blocks simple use with Lightning‑only phones or traditional 3.5mm DAC/amp rigs, creating a clear compatibility trade‑off despite the no‑charge, low‑latency benefits.
- Bose frames the launch as a fast move into a growing wired market—supported by Circana data showing wired headphone sales rose about 10% in late 2025 and roughly 20% early in 2026—and the $99 price positions the product as a value play that could nudge other makers to revisit wired options.