Bose is selling wired earbuds again.
On September 28, 2026, Bose announced the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. They cost $99 and plug into a phone, tablet or computer with USB-C. There is no Bluetooth, no app and no battery. Yet they still have active noise cancellation, which is rare for wired earbuds.
Preorders are open now, and Bose says the earbuds start shipping on October 15, 2026. Several outlets, including TechEBlog, say these are the first new wired headphones from Bose in 11 years.
Bose says wired earbuds are having a comeback. TechEBlog cites Circana data showing wired headphone sales rose 10% in the second half of 2025 and another 20% at the start of 2026. Raza Haider, president of Bose Premium Consumer Audio, said "Wired earbuds are experiencing a cultural renaissance."
Here is what you need to know before you order.
Key dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 28, 2026 | Bose announces the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds at $99 |
| September 28, 2026 | Preorders open at Bose.com for My Bose members |
| September 28 to October 1, 2026 | Best Buy preorders open (Bose says September 28, HotHardware says October 1) |
| October 10, 2026 | The black version shows as sold out for preorder on Bose.com |
| October 15, 2026 | Shipping starts |
Specs at a glance
Bose wired specs come from Bose's press release and product page. EarPods pricing comes from BGR. The wireless Bose figures come from Bose's own Amazon listings.
| Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds | Apple EarPods (USB-C) | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (wireless) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | About $19 (BGR) | Check current price |
| Connection | USB-C cable | USB-C cable | Bluetooth |
| Noise cancelling | Yes, Quiet / Aware / Off | No | Yes |
| Battery | None, powered by your device | None | Up to 8.5 hours per charge |
| Cable | 4.2 feet | Wired | No cable |
| Mics | 4 for noise cancelling, plus 1 on the remote | Mic in remote | Built in |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | Not stated by sources | IPX4 |
| Audio | 24-bit/48kHz output, lossless input supported | Standard | Bluetooth |
| In the box | 3 tip sizes, 2 wing sizes, zip case | Earbuds only | Charging case, USB-C cable |
| Colors | Black, White Smoke, Dewdrop Mint (limited) | White | Several |
What is new about these earbuds
- Noise cancelling with no battery. Older wired noise-cancelling earbuds, including Bose's own, needed a bulky battery pack on the cable, as HotHardware points out. These draw power from your phone or laptop through USB-C instead.
- Three listening modes. Quiet Mode blocks outside noise. Aware Mode lets sound in so you can hear traffic or announcements. ANC Off turns noise cancelling off. You switch modes with a button on the in-line remote.
- A remote with its own mic. The remote has buttons for volume, playback, calls and modes. Bose put the call mic on the back of the remote to cut the noise of the cable rubbing on clothes.
- Better audio over USB. The earbuds use the USB Audio Class 2 standard. They accept any sample rate and bit depth, and play back at 24-bit/48kHz after Bose's own sound processing. Bose says they support lossless listening.
- Low lag. There is no Bluetooth compression or buffering, so sound lines up with video and games. Bose says this helps with gaming and content creation.
- Fit options. You get small, medium and large silicone tips plus medium and large stability wings. Bose says that gives nine fit combinations. The wings are optional.
The catches
- USB-C only. There is no 3.5mm headphone plug, and AudioXpress says normal non-USB adapters will not work. You need a USB-C phone, tablet or computer. Older iPhones with a Lightning port are out.
- They use your phone's battery. Since the earbuds have no battery of their own, the noise cancelling runs on power from your device. Bose has not published a figure for how much power they draw.
- You give up the port. While the earbuds are plugged in, you cannot charge your phone through the same USB-C port unless you use a splitter.
- It is still a cable. TechEBlog's hands-on says the cable is a bit thick and tangles when you stuff it into the case. It also says the remote adds weight that can tug the earbuds down a little.
- No reviews yet. The earbuds ship on October 15. Early hands-on notes are positive about sound and noise cancelling, but full reviews are not out.
Bose wired vs EarPods vs wireless: where each wins
- Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds win if you want noise cancelling on a commute or flight without ever charging anything. They also win for low-lag gaming and video editing on a phone or laptop.
- Apple EarPods win on price. BGR notes that USB-C EarPods usually sell for about $19, roughly $80 less than the Bose. But they have no noise cancelling and no ear tips, so they let in much more outside sound.
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (wireless) win if you hate cables. You get noise cancelling, a charging case and no wire to snag. The trade-off is that you have to keep them charged, and Bluetooth adds some lag.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) win if you want Bose's best noise cancelling in a wireless bud. Bose's listing says they use CustomTune to adjust sound to your ears, with up to 6 hours of battery per charge.
Check Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) price on Amazon
Which should you buy?
- You want noise cancelling and hate charging: preorder the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds for $99 from Bose.com or Best Buy. They are not on Amazon yet.
- You only need earbuds for calls and podcasts: get Apple EarPods with USB-C. They are cheap and simple.
- You want no cable at all: the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are the value pick in Bose's wireless range.
- You want the best Bose noise cancelling: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are Bose's top wireless earbuds.
- Your phone has a Lightning port or 3.5mm jack only: skip the Bose wired earbuds. They will not work with normal adapters.
- Wait: if you are curious but unsure, wait a week or two after October 15 for full reviews. The black color is already sold out for preorder at Bose, so you may need to wait for stock anyway.
Check Bose QuietComfort Earbuds price on Amazon
Shopping for a new phone to go with your earbuds? Line up any two models with our phone comparison tool, or see what Apple might show at its October 13 event.
Other tech news this week
- Ring announced its first smart lock. It costs $249, has a hand crank for when the battery dies, and is expected in the US in early 2027, according to Engadget.
- Apple holds its "Welcome Home" event on October 13. A new home hub, HomePod mini and Apple TV are expected. Read our Apple October 13 event preview.
- Amazon's new Alexa Tablet ships on October 14 in the US. See our Alexa Tablet 12 Pro breakdown.
Sources
- Bose Pressroom: Bose unveils new Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds
- Bose.com: Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds product page
- AudioXpress: Bose unveils USB-C powered Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds
- BGR: These new Bose $99 noise-cancelling earbuds could compete with Apple EarPods
- TechEBlog: Bose's new Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds put QuietControl on a simple USB-C cord
- HotHardware: Bose brings active noise cancelling to $99 USB-C earbuds
- Engadget: Ring's smart lock has a hand crank
Image: Bose press materials (Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds in Black).
