Bose counters AirPods 4 with new $179 QuietComfort earbuds

Bose is adding a non-Ultra earbud option to its lineup today. The new $179 QuietComfort earbuds feature active noise cancellation, an “everyday earbud design,” wireless charging, and up to 8.5 hours of battery life — presumably with ANC turned off. Available in black, white, or purple, the QC earbuds also support multipoint connectivity and are IPX4-rated for water and sweat resistance.

The new earbuds include some unique software features not found on other Bose products, like Remote Selfie, which lets you turn the QC earbuds into a remote shutter for your phone’s camera. I can’t say I’ve seen that before. There’s a “Hey headphones” command to activate your favorite voice assistant, and gamers can take advantage of a low-latency mode.

Despite their lower price, Bose promises that the QC earbuds offer the best-in-class noise canceling the company is known for. Each earbud contains three microphones to help with that effort (and voice calls). Bose includes three sizes of ear tips with the QC earbuds, as well as a trio of stability bands.

At $179, Bose’s latest earbuds are the same price as Apple’s AirPods 4 with ANC, which will be released Friday. They may cost the same, but the products are fundamentally different in design: The QC earbuds have silicone tips, while the AirPods 4 use an open design. For Bose, these slot in below the flagship QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and the unique clip-on Ultra Open earbuds.