Can't get the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds? These 3 wired earbuds are in stock

Bose surprised a lot of people when it went back to wired earbuds this fall, and apparently it surprised itself too. The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds launched at $99 last month, and they’ve been hard to find ever since. Bose’s own store has them coming in and out of stock, and other retailers like Best Buy and Amazon are completely out at the time of writing, with many people hunting for a pair.

It’s easy to see the appeal. They plug straight into the USB-C port on your phone to draw power, so there’s no battery to charge, and still give you noise cancelling with Quiet and Aware modes. ANC in particular is pretty rare in wired earbuds, especially at the performance Bose is known for. You also get 24-bit/48kHz lossless playback, IPX4 water resistance, stability bands for comfort, and a nice carry case.

But if you just want a good pair of wired earbuds right now, you don’t have to wait for a restock. Here are three I’d buy instead, and none of them cost more than $30.

If you want noise-cancelling, grab the Belkin ANC Wired Earbuds

This is the closest thing to the Bose you can actually buy right now. Like the Bose, Belkin’s earbuds plug into USB-C and draw power from your device to run ANC, so there’s no battery to charge. You can switch between ANC and an ambient mode from the in-line remote. Just don’t expect Bose-level noise cancelling at a third of the price.

You also get three EQ presets (Bass Boost, Balanced and Belkin’s signature tuning), 12mm drivers, Hi-Res Audio and three ear tip sizes. They’re rated IPX5, a step up from Bose’s IPX4, and the flat cable resists tangling, although the cable can thump when it brushes against your shirt.

For a better microphone, grab the Apple EarPods

The Apple EarPods are one of the most popular wired earbuds for a reason. They’re cheap, comfortable for a lot of people, and the in-line remote and mic just work. In our testing, the EarPods’ microphone sounded better than almost anything else we’ve tested, including wireless earbuds, so if you take a lot of calls or hop on Zoom from your laptop, these are the pick.

The trade-off is fit. The EarPods have an open, unsealed fit, and without ear tips they sit loosely in your ear, so they don’t block out much noise at all, which is, of course, the opposite of what the Bose buds do. That also means bass drops off when it’s loud around you.

The Sony IER-EX15C are a good all-around alternative

If you want sealed wired earbuds minus ANC, get the Sony IER-EX15C. They’re tiny, with silicone tips, have good passive isolation, are comfortable, and sound good for music and podcasts.

They don’t sound the same as the Bose, though. The Sonys have less bass and treble emphasis, so they sound smoother and a little darker. They’re not perfect, either. The cable picks up a lot of noise when you move (microphonics), which you’ll hear in your music and in your mic on calls. But they are cheaper, come in a variety of colors, and are a reliable, discreet everyday pair from a big-name brand.

Want more options?

If you have your heart set on Bose’s ANC wired earbuds. I don’t blame you for holding out for the inevitable restock. However, if you have small ears, the Audio-Technica ATH-CKD30C ($24.99 at Amazon) is worth a look too: it ships with extra-small ear tips and has Bass Boost and Clear Voice EQ modes, though it lacks ANC. For even more picks, check out our list of the best wired earbuds.