With cords that can tangle into a knot in your pocket or get caught on something and rip them from your ear when in use, headphones were always an obvious target for a wireless makeover. Completely wireless earbuds like Apple's AirPods take earbud evolution to its obvious conclusion, and now Bose has followed suit with its own cable-free offering.
Announced today, the SoundSport Free are an update to the Bose SoundSport earphones from last year. These in-ear buds were designed for active people, with sweat and water-resistance (IPX4 rated) and a rubbery tip to hold them neatly in the ear as the wearer bounces around.
The main difference with the new version is that instead of a cable wrapping around the head connecting the buds, they are connected wirelessly through a new antennae system, while hooking up to a paired phone or tablet up to 30 ft away (9.1 m) via Bluetooth.
They also come with a "Find My Buds" feature, where the Bose Connect smartphone app will display the last time and location the buds were used should they be misplaced. Each bud weighs 0.35 oz (10 g) and they come with a magnetic charging case that both holds them place and holds enough power for two additional charges. Each full charge is promised to deliver five hours of use.
Bose has also updated its fantastic QC35 wireless noise-canceling headphones. The QC35 II come with a dedicated button for Google Assistant, which is integrated into the headphones to offer direct access to things like messages, Google calendar, events and reminders, without needing to reach for a phone.
The QC35 II headphones are available from today at the same price point as their predecessor, US$350. The SoundSport Free earbuds can be pre-ordered from today for $250, with shipping to kick off in early October.
Source: Bose
