Like Apple and Five Guys, Bose is a polarizing name in its industry. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the company almost single-handedly invented the noise-canceling headphones market. These days, its upmarket cans are practically required wearing for First Class air passengers. Now, Bose is upping its game with flagship headphones that boast class-leading and augmented reality technology so you can fully tune out the world around you.
By the numbers, the new Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are impressive. They’re infinitely customizable with 11 distinct levels of noise cancellation based on your environment and how much you want to disconnect aurally. At a minimum, the headphones are almost invisible, allowing in ambient noise as though you aren’t wearing headphones at all. Each increase in the noise-cancellation feature subtly decreases more audible distractions, up to and including complete silence. Imagine the sheer bliss of tuning out every screaming baby and chatty seatmate on your next transpacific flight.
The wireless design is streamlined with touch controls built into the right earcup and only a few buttons to control every other setting. A dedicated Conversation Mode button will pause your music and let in surrounding noise — great for moments when you need to order a latte or acknowledge your significant other without taking your headphones off. Four microphones ensure crystal-clear call clarity in even the noisiest environments. The Bluetooth cans boast up to 20 hours of battery life, more than enough for even the longest long-haul flights. Every option is controllable via the free Bose Music smartphone app.
The 700s are also the first headphones in the world with an integrated audio augmented reality (AR) platform. The tech combines info from your existing mobile devices and apps to present a personalized, location-specific audio experience. It could revolutionize the way we experience everything from working out at the gym to traveling. Someone walking the base of the Eiffel Tower, for example, could listen to an audio tour overview about its history and architecture. When they reach the top, however, the headphones could use the direction they’re looking to share specific highlights about the Paris skyline.< >The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are now available for pre-order for $400 with free shipping and return shipping included. They’re expected to drop June 30, 2019. For an in-depth review of the headphones, check out our tech-focused brother site, Digital Trends.
