Bose Returns to Wired Earbuds With $99 Noise-Canceling USB-C Model

Bose is returning to wired earbuds after an 11-year absence with the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds, a $99 model built for listeners who want active noise cancellation without a rechargeable battery or Bluetooth connection.

The earbuds are available for preorder through Bose’s online store in three colors: black, white smoke, and a limited-edition green called dewdrop mint. Bose says shipping is expected to begin on October 15, although its online store lists October 13 as the expected date. That discrepancy is worth checking before placing an order.

What the Bose wired earbuds include

The central appeal is straightforward: these are conventional tethered earbuds with modern USB-C connectivity and active noise cancellation.

Rather than ending in a 3.5mm headphone plug, the 4.2-foot cable terminates in a USB-C connector. That makes the earbuds suitable for compatible smartphones and laptops without requiring a separate adapter. Bose also says the connection supports lossless audio and minimal latency, features that may appeal to listeners watching video or playing games.

The package includes:

• Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds
• Inline remote with microphone
• Zippered carrying case
• Three sizes of silicone eartips
• Two sizes of stability wings

The earbuds carry an IPX4 water-resistance rating. That should cover sweat, rain, and splashes, but the rating does not make them suitable for submersion.

Active noise cancellation without a battery

Each earbud contains two microphones that work with Bose’s QuietControl technology to provide active noise cancellation. The inline remote includes a button for cycling through the available listening modes:

• Quiet Mode: reduces the intensity of surrounding sound.
• Aware Mode: boosts surrounding sound.
• ANC off: disables noise cancellation entirely.

Because the earbuds draw power through USB-C, there is no internal battery to recharge. They must, however, remain physically connected to the source device.

A further microphone is built into the inline remote for phone calls. Bose says its placement is intended to capture the wearer’s voice without requiring the remote to be held close to the mouth.

Why Bose is bringing wired earbuds back

Bose discontinued its previous wired-earbud option in 2015. The company’s return comes amid renewed interest in wired audio, particularly among younger listeners. Reports around the launch point to sales growth in the latter half of 2025 and early 2026, along with increased visibility of wired earbuds among Gen Z and Gen Alpha users.

Wired earbuds offer several practical advantages:

• No charging routine
• No Bluetooth pairing
• Minimal audio latency
• No companion app required
• A physical connection to compatible phones and laptops equipped with USB-C

For some listeners, the cable is a drawback. It can snag on clothing, limit movement, and make the earbuds less convenient than a wireless pair. Bose’s design targets people who prefer the simplicity of a wired connection but still want newer features such as active noise cancellation.

Early impressions are promising, but not a full review

An early hands-on account described the earbuds favorably after four days of use. However, the sample was identified as a late-stage prototype rather than the final retail version. That makes the report an initial impression, not a definitive assessment of sound quality, microphone performance, comfort, durability, or noise-canceling effectiveness.

Those details matter especially for this product category. The usefulness of wired noise-canceling earbuds will depend on several factors that cannot be established from the available material alone:

• How effective Quiet Mode is against steady background noise
• Whether Aware Mode sounds natural or electronically processed
• How securely the stability wings hold the earbuds during movement
• Whether the inline remote is comfortable and easy to operate
• How the USB-C connection behaves across different phones and laptops
• Whether the cable and connector withstand long-term daily use

The early report confirms the basic wired experience: there is no battery to charge, no app to install, and no Bluetooth pairing process. A full review would be needed to judge whether the $99 price is competitive on sound and noise cancellation.

Who should consider them?

The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds make the most sense for listeners who value reliability over wireless convenience. They could be a good fit for:

• People who frequently forget to charge wireless earbuds
• Travelers who want noise reduction without managing battery life
• Laptop users who prefer a direct USB-C connection
• Gamers and video viewers who are sensitive to Bluetooth latency
• Listeners who do not want to install an audio app
• Anyone who prefers the physical security of a cable

They are less suited to people who want completely cable-free listening or maximum freedom of movement. Buyers should also confirm that their phone, tablet, or laptop supports audio over USB-C; the product does not use a conventional analog headphone connector.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds: key details

Feature	Detail
Price	$99
Connection	USB-C
Cable length	4.2 feet
Noise control	Quiet Mode, Aware Mode, and ANC off
Microphones	Two on each earbud, plus one on the inline remote
Water resistance	IPX4
Included fit options	Three eartip sizes and two stability-wing sizes
Colors	Black, white smoke, and dewdrop mint
Carrying case	Zippered case included
Availability	Preorder through Bose’s online store
Expected shipping	October 15 according to Bose; October 13 according to its online store

The trade-off is deliberately simple

Bose’s new earbuds do not try to reproduce every feature of its wireless models. Instead, they pair a familiar wired format with a modern USB-C connector and active noise cancellation.

That combination addresses battery dependence and Bluetooth pairing while retaining the main disadvantage of wired listening: the cable. At $99, the earbuds’ value will depend largely on three fundamentals: how well they cancel noise, how comfortable they are, and how durable the cable and USB-C hardware prove to be.

For now, the product’s strongest case is clear: Bose has brought noise cancellation to a plug-in design for listeners who would rather manage a cable than a battery. A full review will be needed to determine how well the earbuds deliver on the audio and noise-control side of that bargain.

Sources

• “Bose’s first wired earbuds in 11 years add noise canceling,” published September 28, 2026. https://www.theverge.com/tech/1001326/bose-wired-earbuds-noise-canceling-headphones-preorder
• “Bose Launches New Wired Earbuds After More Than a Decade,” published September 28, 2026.