Bose's new wired earbuds are simple in the best way

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBose has launched wired noise cancelling earbuds at ninety-nine dollars, its first wired earbuds in more than a decade, The Verge reports, and they plug in through USB-C.

2. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorPro one: they never need charging, because they draw power from your phone.

3. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorCon one: that means they drain the one thing I'm already watching die.

4. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt's a cable. It takes power from the phone it's plugged into.

5. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorPro two: three colours, white, black and a limited-edition mint green.

6. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorCon two: limited-edition mint. So in a year, I'm the man with last year's green.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBose says wired headphone sales rose ten percent in late twenty twenty-five and twenty percent in early twenty twenty-six.

8. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorCon three: it needs USB-C, not the headphone socket, so my amplifier is now a very expensive shelf.

9. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRating?

10. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThree stars out of five, a verdict on the company that took the jack away and now sells me the cable. And a bud with a wire still has a microphone, Hank.

11. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWho's it listening to?

12. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorKenji wants a pair anyway. He says a cord is vintage now. I'd say it's just a cord.