Shop $199, amazon.com; bose.com
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The world of wearable technology is spotty, to say the least. Everyone wants accessibility without looking like a goddamn cyborg, but not all wearable tech can deliver. And while Bluetooth audio has improved greatly with sleek, incognito design to hide all those wires that would otherwise cramp minimalist summer style, the team over at Bose wasn't satisfied with just that. It went a step further and invented a product perfect for a summertime commute, a day at the beach, or anywhere there’s sun: Bose Frames.
Bose is renowned for audio quality and innovation, and now it's bringing its talents to the more fashionable side of things. Bose Frames are the perfect combination of Bluetooth headphones and stylish sunglasses to clear up your pocket space this summer. Everyone should be jamming with a pair of Bose Frames.
The technology is amazing.
The most impressive feat of the Bose Frames is their ability to give you crystal-clear audio quality while being virtually inaudible to bystanders. Shocking, right? Bose managed to build speakers into the frames that direct sound to your ears only. And this is real sound, not vibrations or weird mind tricks. The audio quality itself is of the Bose standard: full and vibrant, although it lacks a little bass, for obvious reasons. It does take some getting use to. Standing on the subway with what feels like a speaker blasting, you’ll look around, worried someone can hear that you’ve been listening to the same song on repeat for the full 30-minute commute. But they can't. For the first week, I removed the Frames often to check, just to make sure, and every time I heard nothing. It’s honestly unbelievable. That short period of paranoia is so worth it.
Additionally, the Bose Frame design makes it easy to change the volume, skip songs, pause, play, and take calls via a built-in mic. You can even talk to your smart assistant (Siri, Google, etc.) and hear directions, making these a complete audio extension of your beloved smartphone.
Shop $199, amazon.com; bose.com
The style is classic cool.
These Frame sunglasses look cool. They come in two styles, Rondo (round frames) and Alto (larger, square frames). Both are dark grey with gold accents. The style is nothing too loud, figuratively speaking, allowing them to maintain great versatility with some subtle design accents for a unique edge. There are also extra, colored lenses available for purchase—pink or blue for Rondo, blue or silver for Alto, and some with polarized options.
What’s truly amazing about the design is the hidden tech. While the glasses are a little bulkier than normal in some areas, like the earpieces and arms, they're designed in such a way that it looks like a stylistic choice. The glasses are comfortable and hip, which is more than we can say about the majority of wearable tech on the market right now.
They're extremely convenient.
During beach season, we all want to carry the bare minimum—less clothing, fewer bags. But less means fewer hidden compartments for your wares, especially considering cargo shorts have effectively been outlawed. Bose Frames help you cut one more thing out of your weekender bag or overstuffed pockets by combining two of the most necessary summer accessories—headphones and sunglasses—into one product.
The Bose Frames retail for $199, a steal when you consider the cost of some high-fashion sunglasses added to the cost of quality wireless audio. Whether you want them for the brilliant convenience or to show off, Bose Frames will free you from pulling earbuds out or untangling headphone cords all summer long.
Shop $199, amazon.com; bose.com
