Bose Brings Back Wired Earbuds, Set to Release October 15, 2026
Wired earbuds are officially back in style, and now one of the biggest names in audio is joining the trend. Bose has introduced its first wired earbuds in more than a decade, priced at $99. They are set to start shipping on October 15 and come in Black and White Smoke, along with a limited-edition Dewdrop Mint option.
Bose is not hiding the trend behind the launch. Raza Haider, president of Bose Premium Consumer Audio, described wired earbuds as experiencing a “cultural renaissance,” and recent sales figures suggest there is something behind the comeback. According to market research firm Circana, U.S. wired headphone sales increased 3% in 2025 after five straight years of decline, with growth reaching 10% during the second half of the year. That continued into early 2026, when sales growth reportedly reached 20%, with younger shoppers helping drive demand.
That renewed interest seems to have caught Bose's attention quickly. The new earbuds reportedly went from an idea to a finished product in roughly eight to nine months. Rather than simply bringing back an older pair, Bose designed them for the phones and other devices people use now.
That means there is no traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. The earbuds connect through USB-C, so they can plug directly into many current phones, tablets, and computers. There is no Bluetooth pairing or companion app. They also do not have a battery. Instead, they draw power directly from whatever device they are plugged into.
Bose's QuietControl system handles active noise cancellation using two microphones in each earbud. There are three listening options: Quiet Mode blocks outside noise, Aware Mode lets more outside sound in, and ANC Off turns noise cancellation off completely.
The earbuds also support lossless audio at 24-bit/48kHz over USB-C. Since the sound travels through a wired connection rather than Bluetooth, there is also very little delay between what happens on screen and what you hear. That could be useful for gaming and watching videos.
Bose has kept the controls simple, too. An inline remote controls volume, playback, calls, and listening modes, while a microphone on the remote handles calls. The earbuds come with a 4.2-foot cable and an IPX4 water-resistance rating, meaning they can handle sweat and light splashes. Bose also includes three sizes of ear tips, two sizes of stability bands, and a zippered carrying case.
There are some downsides, though. Since the earbuds get their power from the device they are connected to, using noise cancellation will use some of your phone, tablet, or laptop's battery. We do not yet know how much of a difference that will make during everyday use.
USB-C also creates a compatibility problem. Many airplane entertainment systems still use a regular 3.5mm headphone jack, so you may need an adapter to use these earbuds on a flight, and they may not work with every system. The USB-C connection is also less useful for people who want to plug their earbuds into older audio equipment or use their own DAC or amplifier.
Bose has made a few other compromises to keep things simple and bring the price down. There is no adjustable EQ through the Bose app, and early testing suggests the noise cancellation is not as strong as what you get from Bose's more expensive wireless earbuds. Still, at $99, that is probably not the comparison Bose is trying to win. These earbuds are for people who want good noise cancellation without worrying about Bluetooth, charging cases, or whether their earbuds have enough battery left to make it through the day.
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