After a century of treating audio equipment as sculptural objects rather than consumer electronics, Bang & Olufsen has finally created earbuds that embody their core philosophy, and with a $1,500 price tag no less.
The Danish audio house has never been interested in competing on specs or undercutting competitors. Instead, they’ve built their reputation on a simple premise: exceptional sound should come wrapped in exceptional design, using materials and craftsmanship that justify long-term ownership. The Beo Grace is the purest distillation of that approach applied to wireless earbuds — a category that’s been dominated by plastic disposables since its inception.
Crafted Like Jewelry, Built for Sound
The Beo Grace takes clear design cues from B&O’s iconic A8 earphones from the early-’00s, particularly those distinctive metal stems that have become something of a brand signature. But where the A8 relied on ear hooks for stability, these wireless buds achieve their fit through precision engineering of the aluminum housing and updated oval ear tips. The pearl-blasted charging case continues the premium materials story, opening with what B&O describes as an “effortless” hinge mechanism.
That attention to tactile experience extends to the controls, which use actual force sensing inside solid aluminum tubes rather than finicky touch surfaces. Each press delivers real-time audio feedback that mimics a mechanical click — a refreshing departure from the mushy, unreliable touch controls of most wireless earbuds today.
Where the Audio Innovation Lives
Beyond the premium materials, Beo Grace incorporates some interesting tech. The Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation system uses six studio-grade microphones and claims to be four times more effective than B&O’s “previous best earbuds.” More compelling is the EarSense technology that measures your individual ear’s acoustic signature to personalize both sound delivery and ANC performance in real time.
The NearTap volume control is operated by tapping in front of your right ear to increase the volume. Tapping on the left side decreases it. No more accidentally triggering siri or pausing music when you just wanted to adjust levels.
Battery life sits at a respectable 4.5 hours with ANC active, extending to 17 hours with the case. Nothing groundbreaking there, but B&O partnered with battery intelligence company Breathe to create a management system that reportedly exceeded 2,000 charge cycles in testing — potentially quadruple the lifespan of typical wireless earbuds.
The Bang & Olufsen Context
This release fits perfectly into B&O’s century-long approach of treating audio equipment as design objects first, functional devices second. The company has been making premium earbuds since the late ’90s Earset series, but Beo Grace represents their most ambitious attempt yet to elevate the entire category beyond mere listening devices.
Spec Sheet
Model: Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace
Drivers: 12mm Neodymium Electro-dynamic titanium
ANC: Adaptive with six MEMs microphones
Battery Life: 4.5 hours (ANC on), 17 hours with case
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, SBC/AAC/LC3 codecs
Water Resistance: IP57
Weight: 6g per earbud, 65g case
Materials: Natural aluminum construction
Charging: USB-C and wireless
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $1,500, the Beo Grace earbuds launch November 17, with pre-orders starting September 23 through Bang & Olufsen’s website.
Recap
Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace Earbuds
Bang & Olufsen just dropped $1,500 earbuds that are basically jewelry for your ears — aluminum construction, tactile controls, and ANC tech that’s supposedly four times better than their previous flagship.
