Bose is bringing back wired earbuds as teens ditch Bluetooth

Bluetooth had its moment, but now teens are wanting wires

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In a nutshell: Bose is going back to basics, and today's youth is largely to blame. The company is now accepting pre-orders for a new set of noise cancelling earbuds that trade in wireless Bluetooth connectivity for a wired listening experience. It's the company's first set of wired buds in more than a decade.

Bose said the new earbuds come at a time when wired listening is gaining popularity. Wireless Bluetooth connectivity has been all the rage in personal audio products over the last several years, but it's not foolproof. While most modern devices support Bluetooth, older audio gear often does not. What's more, Bluetooth connections aren't always the most reliable. Then there is the headache of having to manage charging and battery life, and dealing with audio lag.

With wired earbuds, you just plug in and press play.

The buds aren't fully retro, however, as Bose went with a USB-C connector instead of the tried and true 3.5mm jack. They feature an in-line remote with tactile physical buttons for volume control, playback, calls, and cycling of noise cancellation modes. They are also rated IPX4 for water resistance and include a zippered carrying case for storage and protection when not in use.

No app is needed, and the buds draw power from the phone, tablet, or computer they are plugged into. Playback output is fixed at 24bit/48kHz, we're told.

Wired headphones started gaining momentum in the second half of 2025, and entered 2026 on a high note. According to Circana, sales surged 10% between July and December of last year and were up 20% in the early portion of this year. This jives with recent CD and vinyl sales trends, both of which are experiencing a revival.

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Bose noise cancelling wired earbuds are scheduled to launch on October 15 priced at $99. They are offered in white or black colorways, in addition to a limited edition mint color. Look for them online at Bose's website and in-store at select Best Buy retail locations.

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