Did You Know
Did You Know: Bose's New Wired Earbuds Cancel Noise Without a Battery
The $99 USB-C buds draw power from your phone for QuietControl ANC, so there is nothing to recharge, Bose's first wired earbuds since 2015.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. · Maya Chen, Did You Know · Oct 11 2026
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - Did you know Bose’s new Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds do active noise cancellation with no battery inside the buds at all? The $99 USB-C pair pulls power from the phone, tablet, or computer you plug into, so QuietControl keeps working without a charge cycle. They are Bose’s first wired earbuds since the company left the category in 2015.
Photo: Bose
Bose announced the product on Sept. 28, 2026. My Bose exclusive preorder opened the same day at Bose.com and Best Buy. Shipping starts around mid-October: the press release says Oct. 15, while The Verge noted Bose’s store listing pointed to Oct. 13 during the launch window. Colours are Black (accented with bold blue), White Smoke (lime green accents), and limited-edition Dewdrop Mint.
Photo: Bose
There is no Bluetooth pairing step and no app required. Bose says SoundDesign DSP supports lossless listening over USB Audio Class 2, accepting source input at any sample and bit rate with playback fixed at 24-bit/48kHz. The 4.2-foot cable is pitched for low-latency video and gaming. QuietControl uses four microphones, two on each earbud. An in-line remote with tactile buttons cycles Quiet Mode, Aware Mode, and ANC Off, and also handles volume, playback, and calls. A dedicated mic on the back of the remote is meant for clear voice pickup without holding the module to your mouth.
Photo: Bose
The buds are IPX4 rated for sweat and light rain. In the box: small, medium, and large silicone eartips, medium and large stability wings (optional), and a zippered case. Raza Haider, president of Bose Premium Consumer Audio, framed the launch as a response to a wired listening revival. WIRED reported that Bose took the project from idea to product in roughly eight or nine months after executives saw teens returning to wired buds on campus.
Photo: Bose
The surprising bit for a Did You Know is simple: ANC that never needs you to charge the earbuds, because the host device is the battery. Compatibility still depends on a USB-C host that accepts USB audio, so check your phone before you preorder.
