Anyone who flew regularly in the mid-2010s probably remembers the Bose QC20. The noise cancelling was brilliant, sure, but it came with a chunky battery module hanging halfway down the cord that needed charging like any wireless gadget, and that kind of defeated the whole point of going wired. Of course, like many brands, Bose eventually went all-in on Bluetooth and never really looked back. That is until now. Roughly a decade after its last corded release, the brand is plugging back in with the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds because apparently what’s old is new again.
The Brick Stays in 2013
So you’re probably wondering where that battery went? Well, that’s a good question and the answer is, there’s isn’t one. The new buds pull power straight from your phone, tablet, or laptop over USB-C, and that juice runs everything, including the noise cancelling.
That also explains why Bose skipped the 3.5mm plug purists might have wanted. An analog headphone jack simply can’t feed the electronics, and Bose flat out says non-USB adapters won’t work here because of that.
Each bud carries two mics feeding Bose’s QuietControl ANC, with Quiet, Aware, and Off modes cycled by holding the center button on the in-line remote. There’s a little bit of fun lineage there, since Aware mode actually debuted on (you guessed it) the aforementioned QC20.
A Third of the Old Sticker
The QC20 launched at $299 back in 2013, and Bose’s current flagship QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) still sit at $299 today. Surprisingly (and thankfully) these cost a third of that.
Obviously, some things didn’t make it to the final production version of the headphones. There’s no app, no EQ, and no spatial audio to speak. But you do get 24-bit/48kHz output, low-latency audio for gaming, IPX4 splash resistance, and a separate call mic on the back of the remote.
Color-Coded Controls
And Bose did an excellent job with the vibrant launch colorways here. Black gets electric-blue buttons, White Smoke gets highlighter-lime ones, and the limited Dewdrop Mint pairs a deep teal cable with pale mint buds.
Spec Sheet
Model: Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds
Connection: USB-C, 4.2 ft (128 cm) cable
Power: Draws from connected device (no battery)
Noise Cancelling: Bose QuietControl, 4 mics (2 per earbud)
Listening Modes: Quiet, Aware, ANC Off
Audio: Bose SoundDesign DSP, lossless support, 24-bit/48kHz output
Controls: Three-button in-line remote with dedicated call mic
Fit: Silicone eartips (S/M/L), stability wings (M/L)
Water Resistance: IPX4
Materials: PC-ABS plastic, silicone
App Support: None
Included: Zippered carry case
Colors: Black, White Smoke, Dewdrop Mint (limited edition)
Pricing & Availability
The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds cost $99 and ship October 15. Preorders are open now for My Bose members at Bose.com and at Best Buy. If you want the Dewdrop Mint, don’t wait too long, since Bose is billing it as a limited run. Head over to Bose’s website to lock in a pair.
Recap
Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds
Bose’s first wired buds in about a decade run full noise cancelling off your phone’s USB-C port, so there’s nothing to charge and nothing to pair for $99.
