Bose Releases New USB-C Wired Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation

Bose Re-enters Wired Earbud Market

Bose has launched new Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds, signaling its return to the wired earbud segment after more than a decade. This release comes as wired earbud sales have seen an increase following a period of decline, partly due to their appeal to younger generations and practical benefits like no battery dependency.

USB-C Powers Active Noise Cancellation

The new Bose earbuds connect via USB-C, which allows them to draw sufficient power for active noise cancellation directly from the device. This design eliminates the need for an additional battery pack, a feature present in Bose's previous wired ANC model, the 2013 QuietComfort 20, which used a 3.5mm jack and an in-line battery.

Unlike traditional 3.5mm or 4.4mm analog audio connectors that cannot power ANC, the USB-C connection enables this functionality without requiring a dongle for modern phones.

Features and Performance

The earbuds offer high-res audio and are noted for their comfortable and secure fit. They are designed for simplicity, requiring no pairing, charging, or app interaction; users can plug them into a USB-C port and they function immediately. While the noise canceling performance is effective, it does not match the level of Bose's Bluetooth earbuds, which typically feature more microphones for ANC.

Market Context

The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are priced at $99. They join a small but growing category of USB-C wired headphones with active noise cancellation, including options like the Belkin SoundForm ANC Wired Earbuds and a pair released by Audio-Technica in Asia earlier this year.