Bose is broadening its product lineup today with the introduction of new in-ear headphones that do not carry the Ultra designation. The latest addition, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, features active noise cancellation and is marketed as suitable for everyday use. These headphones include wireless charging capabilities and offer a battery life of up to 8.5 hours on a single charge, likely with active noise cancellation turned off. The accompanying charging case can recharge the earbuds up to 2.5 times. Available color options include black, white, and purple. Additionally, the QC Earbuds support multi-point Bluetooth connectivity and are rated IPX4, making them resistant to light rain and sweat.
The latest headphones introduce distinctive software enhancements that are not currently available in other Bose offerings. One notable feature is the Remote Selfie function, which enables the QC Earbuds to serve as a remote shutter for your smartphone’s camera. I must confess, I spent some time looking and could not locate a comparable feature from any leading brands. Additionally, users can easily engage their preferred voice assistant—be it Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa—by simply saying “Hey headphones,” while gamers will benefit from the low-latency mode.
Although offered at a reduced price, Bose assures that the QC Earbuds will deliver the renowned “best-in-class noise cancellation” for which the brand is recognized. Each earbud is equipped with three microphones to enhance noise cancellation and facilitate voice calls. Additionally, Bose provides three different sizes of ear tips along with a set of three stabilization straps for the QC Earbuds.
Priced at $179, the new Bose headphones are positioned below the soon-to-be-released Apple AirPods 4 featuring active noise cancellation, which will launch tomorrow. However, this comparison may not be entirely fair. The two products have distinct designs; Bose offers earplugs, while the AirPods 4 are designed as earbuds. Within Bose’s lineup, these new headphones are categorized as part of the premium QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the innovative Ultra Open Earbuds. The QC Earbuds are offered in black, white, and purple.