Bose’s new wired earbuds aim for the same great sound and ANC – no charging needed

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Bose announced a new pair of wired USB-C earbuds.
• They support ANC and 24-bit/48kHz audio streaming.
• They’ll be available beginning Oct. 15 for $99

Shortly after announcing new wireless, clip-on-style open-ear earbuds, Bose aims to appease a different kind of fan by introducing a new product category: wired USB-C earbuds. The Bose Noise Canceling Earbuds are one such hybrid digital/analog pair, fitted with Bose’s famed sound quality and noise cancellation without the hassle of wireless connectivity and frequent charging.

Wired audio with ANC

The Bose Noise Canceling earbuds feature Bose’s Quiet, Aware, and ANC-Off modes, allowing users to access noise cancellation, transparency, and off audio modes. In a press release, Bose says that the new earbuds are fitted with four microphones for environmental noise capture and cancellation, while a dedicated microphone on the back of the earbuds’ connected remote handles voice pickup.

Also: Your Bose headphones are getting a major Bluetooth upgrade

Additionally, Bose says that the Noise Canceling Earbuds use the USB Audio Class 2 protocol, which enables the earbuds to accept audio from a source device at any sample and bit rate, but output remains fixed at 24-bit/48kHz for high-quality listening. A wired USB-C connection enables high-quality, low-latency streaming, making it ideal for audio/video content and gaming on a personal device.

Modern and old-school… at the same time?

With a USB-C connection compatible with USB Audio Class 2 and a proprietary Bose Sound Design DSP, the new earbuds draw power from the connected source device, even with noise cancellation on. Instead of controls on the earbud, Bose fitted the Noise Canceling Earbuds with an in-line remote with buttons for adjusting volume and track playback.

The earbuds also have removable eartips if the standard ones don’t fit your ears, and the silicone eartips are included with purchase in small, medium, and large sizes. In traditional Bose fashion, the Noise Canceling Earbuds feature a pop of color, with Black’s in-line remote sporting blue accents, White Smoke’s in-line remote sporting lime green accents, and a limited-edition Dewdrop Mint color available at launch.

Also: Bose returns with new open earbuds (and a refreshed favorite)

Finally, the Noise Canceling Earbuds have an IPX4 water resistance rating, the same durability rating as the Bose Ultra Open and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).

My Bose members can preorder the Noise Canceling Earbuds today, and the earbuds will hit shelves on Oct. 15 for $99.

Jada Jones is a journalist based outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Jada is ZDNET's audio editor and regularly reviews the latest flagship headphones, earbuds, speakers, soundbars, and more. See full bio