I’ve been testing the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds for a week, and now I see why they’ve been sold out since launch

We’ve witnessed some shocking releases this year. From Apple’s iPhone Duo foldable smartphone to LEGO’s interactive Smart Brick technology, 2026 may be remembered as the year of tech products no one saw coming. Now, the all-new Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are joining the conversation.

Although wired earbuds have experienced a renaissance over the past two years, we never expected Bose to jump on the wired trend —let alone launch a pair featuring active noise cancellation and lossless audio. And all for just $99!

The fact these buds have been sold out since launch certainly speaks to their mass appeal.

So, are the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds convincing enough to make you ditch your current noise-canceling wireless earbuds? Yes – if affordability and basic essentials are your priorities.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Price & availability

The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are listed for $99 on Bose’s website and popular online retailers like Best Buy. Color options include black, dewdrop mint, and white. They are currently sold out.

These are the most affordable Bose earbuds ever released. The inclusion of ANC alone makes them worth the price of admission. Furthermore, the NC Wired Earbuds offer more functionality and superior craftsmanship than lower-priced favorites like the $19 Apple EarPods and $25 JBL Tune 310C.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Design

The NC Wired Earbuds are essentially a modernized version of the QuietComfort 20i earphones. You get the traditional in-ear design, but aesthetically, these buds borrow details from Bose’s newer wireless earbuds. Check out the laser-etched logo, polished matte finish, and microphone placement. Bose’s interchangeable silicone ear tips and wings return, and both feel sturdier.

Bose’s control module is bulkier than most competitors and can become annoying for fidgety types, such as myself. It constantly rubs against whatever you’re wearing, and the mics sometime pick up that friction, which can affect calls and ambient listening.

These are some of the more durable wired earbuds out there. The cord’s thick outer covering can withstand a few hard tugs without tearing. It’s also long enough to let you walk comfortably around the house when connected to a portable device. Bose even provides the same IPX4 sweat and water-resistant protection as the flagship QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2). Everything is kept safe in the bundled pouch that stores the buds and extra tips.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Comfort

These are some of Bose’s most comfortable earbuds to date. Despite the sound ports being made of hard plastic, they don’t press hard on the concha. That’s largely thanks to Bose’s silicone tips, which are gentle on the ears and produce a solid seal for strong noise isolation.

The stabilizer wings are equally reliable for an optimal fit. They tuck neatly under the antihelix and maintain a firm grip to prevent slippage. I’ve worn the buds for 5-hour stretches throughout the day without experiencing any fatigue.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Controls

Bose’s control module is highly responsive when enabling playback and call functions. The layout is a straightforward with the multifunctional button flanked by volume buttons. Each button produces nice tactile feedback when employing single, multi-press, and long-press inputs.

Unfortunately, there is no dedicated smart assistant support for Siri or Google Assistant voice commands. That’s a shame since Bose’s mic array performs extremely well.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Connectivity

Expect the usual pros and cons of wired connectivity. The USB-C connection gets you 24-bit lossless audio and a stabler connection. However, listeners miss out on various wireless features, including aptX Adaptive/Lossless hi-res audio, multipoint technology, spatial audio, and companion app support for customizing controls.

Not to mention the buds keep you tethered to a device. That isn’t much of an issue if you’re using a smartphone, but I can’t tell you how many times I nearly sent my MacBook Pro tumbling to the floor after forgetting the buds were plugged in.

Note: You must select the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds as your computer’s audio output device to use them, at least on macOS.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Sound Quality

Overall, the NC Wired Earbuds sound great. Their bright sound signature emphasizes the high end to bring more clarity and detail to music. At the same time, this tuning also exposes certain sonic flaws in the buds’ sound engineering.

The bassline and string groove on Anderson .Paak and Cordae’s “A Good Day” have delectable reverb. You can practically feel the fingerpicking on the guitar. Every percussive element has room to breathe without drowning out vocals. Moreover, the buds maintain the track’s rhythmic vibe by dishing out clear mids and snappy lows.

You get a real sense of depth when listening to subdued mixes. Take, for example, the Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar.” The analogue saturation is prominent in the background, but the buds create a lively soundscape highlighted by impressive acoustic layering and instrumental separation.

Bass is tamer than on previous Bose earbuds, which is both good and bad, depending on your preferences. It’s still punchy and pleasant, and percussion is treated with care. You’re just not going to get the extra oomph that many listeners crave from bass-heavy songs.

The bigger issue is the excessive high end, which can introduce sibilance. Consonants often sound harsh, as do cymbals and synths. There’s occasional hissing, though some might attribute that to ANC. I didn’t hear it when the feature was disabled.

Again, one of the product’s major selling points is lossless audio via USB-C input. This connection creates low-latency playback that keeps sound in sync, while revealing greater detail and nuance in recordings. I tested the buds using Apple Music, Spotify Lossless, and Tidal, and was very satisfied with the results.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Noise Cancellation

Some reviews inaccurately criticized the NC Wired Earbuds’ noise-canceling performance. How so? They never turned on Quiet mode. That may explain why you see some negative remarks about ANC on Google and AI chatbot responses. The truth is that noise cancellation is incredibly effective on these buds.

In fact, the NC Wired Earbuds make a compelling case for best noise-canceling earbuds under $100. They reduce noise better than most midrange wireless earbuds. That’s amazing considering they use Bose’s entry-level ANC technology.

I used them in various indoor and outdoor settings, including city parks, coffee shops, malls, and my home. The technology performs well against humming noises and loud voices. Most low-to-mid frequency sounds were muted. Noise cancellation also adapted to different environments. Noise reduction changed noticeably as I entered and left different establishments.

Not everything is silenced. Multiple ambient sounds crept onto the soundstage when passing through construction sites. The harsh drilling noises from a jackhammer overpowered music playback. High-frequency sounds (e.g., sirens, whistles) were minimized, but I could still hear them over music tracks. You’ll need something with stronger ANC, like the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2), to handle more demanding environments.

Another area that has drawn criticism is wind reduction. My experience was mostly positive, at least from a music listening standpoint. The mics suppressed whooshing sounds at a high level. I wasn’t bothered when sitting outside near the Intracoastal Waterway in gusty conditions.

Transparency mode was fine for increasing ambient awareness. The mics didn’t capture every sound in my vicinity, and vocals sounded quieter than they do on competing transparency modes. Still, you won’t be completely oblivious to what’s happening around you. Do refrain from using the mode when it’s windy outside, because the mics pick up substantial wind noise.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Call Quality

Voice calling is fantastic. The mics are particularly effective at reducing background noise during calls. None of my phone or Zoom chats were disrupted by unwanted sounds. Voices came through loud and clear on both ends. You’ll want to hold the control module high for the mics to properly capture vocals.

There was some ambient noise present when talking with friends. High-frequency sounds and wind were unavoidable outside. High-frequency sounds and wind were discernable during outdoor calls, but conversations remained audible despite these distractions.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds review: Verdict

Bose launched a noise-canceling disruptor that will have budget shoppers second-guessing their audio purchases this holiday season.

Anyone who tells me I can get lossless audio and Bose noise cancellation – regardless of the ANC version – for under $100, I’m responding with the Futurama “Shut Up and Take My Money” meme. Extras such as personalized fit, water resistance, and a Transparency mode are welcome bonuses.

No, these are not the most discreet-looking earbuds on the market, nor do they carry the modern feature set that most of us expect from today’s headphones. But variety isn’t the product’s M.O. Value is, and these buds provide plenty of it.

They remain sold out for a reason. So, if connectivity and smart functionality don’t matter much, then the NC Wired Earbuds are a wise, budget-conscious investment.