I tested Bose’s new wired headphones – here's why they beat Apple

From celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski to the Gen Z strongholds of Hackney and Dalston, it’s impossible to escape the sight of dangling white wires protruding from pockets and snaking into people’s ears once more.

And while you could just dig out your old, dusty earbuds from the back of the attic and get involved the old-school way, where’s the fun in that? Especially when Bose has just announced their own spin on the trend.

Newly launched and selling out fast, they pack some of the company’s market-leading sound cancellation technology into one pleasingly retro package, complete with several different wire colourways (to complement any outfit) and a smooth, knot-proof silicone casing for the wires themselves.

The only snag? They cost £99. And while that’s still considerably cheaper than their highest-end products, it’s still a fair amount more than Apple’s wired earbuds, which clock in at a much more affordable sub £20.

So, is Bose’s new offering worth it? I dug out my old dusty Apple earbuds from the back of my cupboard and set off to find out.

How I tested

I’ve worn these headphones everywhere from the gym to the commute and out for walks

Vicky Jessop/The Standard

There’s no better way to get to grips with a piece of tech than using it for absolutely everything, which I proceeded to do over the week I tried it out. The earbuds came with me to the gym, on the tube, out for walks, and I used them around the house. At the same time, I compared them with my old Apple wired headphones, and my Bose QuietComfort Ultras, both of which I tested out in the same situations.

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds

Bose

★★★★☆

What we love: Bose are leaders in sound quality, and their tech holds up remarkably well in the earbuds. Sound cancellation is decent, and the smooth silicone casing means it’s very hard to tangle the wires – a persistent problem for other brands.

Take note: The earbuds fit snugly, and certainly better than Apple’s wired earbuds, but they do also have a habit of falling out.

First things first: these earbuds look great. They don’t have the same iconic, super-sleek design as Apple, but they do boast three different colourways (black, white and a limited edition ‘Dewdrop Mint’), which helps make them feel more personalised, and the Bose team have signalled that more colours are on the way.

The USB-C connector is compatible with all modern phones and laptops, and they’re stored in a fantastic, ultra-retro black mesh case that makes the earbuds feel like a bit of 1990s company merch – in a good way.

They’re also built for practicality and ease of use. In addition to a 130cm cable, the earbuds come with three different silicone eartips in different sizes, the better to suit each wearer’s preference and ear size – and removable stability wings, which help keep them locked in place.

The headphones come with a very 1990s, ultra-retro black mesh case

Vicky Jessop/The Standard

Under the bonnet, there’s some impressive tech packed into the unassuming old-school design. Firstly, there’s Bose’s SoundDesign digital signal processing technology, which makes the audio feel crystal-clear, especially the bass, which often feels tinny in poorer quality earbuds.

Then, there’s the sound cancellation: present here, too, thanks to four microphones – two in each earbud – which help monitor and minimise noise levels in real-time.

There are three of these settings, which feels like plenty to be getting on with: Quiet mode, which features active sound cancellation; Aware mode, which lets in surrounding sound; and ANC Off Mode. This last one does away with noise cancellation altogether, and gives you the ‘purest’ wired listening experience.

In keeping with the retro aesthetic, there are no touch-sensitive buttons on the earbuds themselves. Instead, there’s a remote attached to the wires, which features three buttons and a fifth microphone for taking phone calls.

It’s all very intuitive to use, at least for somebody who’s familiar with Bose tech: the volume up and down buttons control the volume, while the third button does everything from cycling between noise cancellation settings to skipping songs and pausing the music.

You can control the volume, noise cancellation settings, and skip or pause music

Vicky Jessop/The Standard

Ultimately, the end product was miles ahead of anything my poor, abused Apple headphones could muster. Though Apple’s design arguably looks better – their earbuds are sleeker and slightly less call-centre-ish – the sound quality was tinny and pretty terrible, and the less said about the knots I had to unravel, the better. Bose’s crystal-clear sound and snag-proof cables felt like heaven by comparison whenever I brought them out.

I tested out the sound cancellation on the tube, and they did a good job of blocking out the sound of rattling carriages on the morning commute – something I had to crank the volume up to max on the Apple earbuds to drown out, with varying levels of success.

Their biggest benefit, though, might be the most old-school one: they don’t require a battery to run. This was a godsend when my wireless earbuds ran out of power. I started carrying them around with me wherever I went: the perfect backup, and one that I often ended up being complimented on.

• Cable length: 130cm
• Connectivity: Wired USB-C connection
• Durability: IPX4 water resistance
• Weight: 23g
• Audio: Stereo
• Earbud dimensions: 2cm x 3.1cm x 2.3cm

Are the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds worth it?

Yes, they cost £99, but as with all things, you get what you pay for, and that goes double for these earbuds. These are earbuds for people who want a premium listening experience, whilst also looking stylish: the sound quality is excellent, the noise cancellation is surprisingly good, and their knot-free cables make this feel like an upgraded take on the wired trend.

Sometimes the old ways really are the best. At least, when they’re reimagined for the present day.