Bose is bringing back wired earbuds as teens ditch Bluetooth

Bose is reintroducing wired earbuds in response to a trend among younger consumers, according to company reports. The company is taking pre-orders for a new pair of noise cancelling earbuds, marking its first wired bud release in over ten years. Bose cites the growing popularity of wired listening as the reason for bringing back the traditional audio connection, as Bluetooth connectivity, while widely used, can be unreliable and necessitates battery management and handling lag.

Bose's wired earbuds resolve these issues by offering a straightforward plug-in solution, eliminating the need for charging or dealing with audio delays. The buds feature a USB-C connector, a departure from the classic 3.5mm jack, and include an in-line remote with physical buttons for managing volume, playback, calls, and noise cancellation modes.

They are rated for IPX4 water resistance and come with a protective zippered carrying case. Notably, no additional app is required, and the buds are powered through the device they are connected to, offering a fixed playback output of 24bit/48kHz.

The launch of these wired headphones occurred in a period where sales for wired headphones surged by 10% between July and December last year, reaching a 20% increase in the first half of 2026. This resurgence aligns with the recent trends in CD and vinyl sales, which are also experiencing a revival. Bose's noise cancelling wired earbuds will be available for $99, in white or black, and a limited mint edition. They will be accessible online via Bose's website and in select Best Buy retail locations starting October 15.