Bose Audio has introduced three new “Frames” – these are sunglasses with built-in speakers so that you can listen to music, use a voice assistant, or make calls without having to resort to earphones. The sound should even be loud enough to use while cycling.
Bose has introduced three new models in its Frames product line – the fashionable “Tenor” and “Soprano” as well as the “Tempo” trimmed for sport. Bose promises that the polarized polycarbonate lenses can filter out 99 percent of UV radiation, while the audio quality has been improved on all three Bose glasses.
The Tenor and Soprano are equipped with quite thin ear hooks, but in addition to the speakers, the battery also had to shrink for this, because it only lasts for 5.5 hours of playback, while the sportier speeds achieve a higher volume and a runtime of 8 hours. The sports glasses are charged via USB-C, the other two models use a proprietary charging cable.
As usual, the frames are aimed at customers who don’t like in-ears, because with the glasses it is possible to listen to music, take calls or use a voice assistant without having to resort to earphones. Since the ears remain completely open, noise suppression is not possible. Use in public transport or other places with many people is also unlikely to be optimal, as the audio being played can be heard in the immediate vicinity.
The Bose glasses can be controlled using an integrated multi-function button and touch controls let you manage playback, calls, and activate your digital assistant without having to pull out your phone. The previous generation Bose sunglasses headphones (around $199 on Amazon) was already able to convince customers for the most part, and it will be exciting to see how the new models fare in practice.
Price and availability
- Bose Frames Tenor: $249 on Bhphotovideo.com and BestBuy.com
- Bose Frames Soprano: $249 on Bhphotovideo.com and BestBuy.com
- Bose Frames Tempo: $249 on Bhphotovideo.com and BestBuy.com
Alongside, Bose has also present QuietComfort Earbuds with noise suppression and Sport Earbuds that is specifically aimed at athletes.
