After a long wait, it looks like wireless sports buds fans will finally be getting a Bose product. In addition to the Bose Noise Cancelling Earbuds 700, a recent leak revealed that the Bose Earbuds 500 are allegedly slated to launch sometime in 2020. Headphone jacks are still available in many new products, but there's a rising market for wireless earbuds, and Bose is ready to deliver.
Other companies have released options for high-quality wireless earbuds, but so far Bose hasn't focused as much on that particular product. Its QuietComfort and SoundLink wireless headphones have been around for a while, and although Bose offers the SoundSport Free earbuds, the Earbuds 500 are supposed to be an upgrade on that model. The product was supposed to be released in late 2019, but that didn't happen, and there wasn't much news on the earbuds for a while.
The Earbuds 500's MSRP isn't confirmed, but according to Tom's Guide, the Earbuds 700 are slated to launch at around $300, right between the Bose 700 Noise Cancelling Headphones and the SoundSport Free. The latter product is being upgraded to the Earbuds 500, so it's possible that they could have the same price: $200. However, since it is an upgrade, the Earbuds 500 might go as high as $250. While this may sound pricey, there are budget wireless earbud options out there.
The Earbud 500's sound quality is unknown, but they reportedly have stereo sound while making calls, as opposed to the SoundSport Free's mono. Reviews are generally good on the SoundSport Free's audio performance, but since this was a 2017 product, the Earbuds 500 are expected to be even better. The earbuds will reportedly come in three different colors and have USB-C charging, horizontal docking, and possibly 6-8 hours of charge, Transparency Mode, and wireless charging.
Both the SoundSport Free and the Earbuds 500 share a protruding shape, but the latter is sleeker and more minimalist. The image on the website has less contrast and may look less visually striking to some, but people should keep in mind that the design could change closer to launch. The earbuds also lack buttons but instead will utilize "intuitive touch controls" like swipes and taps, and access to either Google Voice or Amazon Alexa.
According to Bose's website, the Earbuds 500 are "launching later in 2020," which isn't very specific. But the vagueness makes sense given how hard Bose, like many other manufacturers worldwide, has been hit by the pandemic, leading it to close over a hundred retail stores. The earbuds may even be delayed again to 2021, depending on how the pandemic and Bose's financial situation progress. Some gaming companies have thrived in the pandemic conditions, but the numbers look different for many retailers. Whenever the earbuds launch, potential buyers should look out for reviews and see if they're worth the price tag.
Source: Bose, Tom's Guide