Review: Bose Frames

Since the dawn of wearable technology, we have seen a variety of smart wearable devices but none of them have been extraordinary. Sure, we have seen things like the Bose Soundwear Companion Speaker, but that doesn’t qualify as a wearable as the consensus for a wearable device is something that you carry anywhere without getting a weird look from people around you.

With the Bose Frames, that’s set to change. These new wearables from Bose are bluetooth- enabled sunglasses with speakers and a mic integrated in them, allowing you to listen to music or take calls without taking your phone out of your pocket. This is definitely a step up from the Snapchat Spectacles we saw last year.

Starting with the unboxing, it comes with a very premium case with the Bose Frames, a magnetic charging cable and documentation in it. The Frames come in 2 different styles – Alto and Rondo. We have got the Alto style as our review unit. The lenses come with UVA/UVB protection and are also scratch resistant, however the only downside is that they’re not polarised.

What sets the Frames apart from any other sunglasses is the fact that there is a speaker tucked at the underside of each arm aimed directly at your ear. Also, the right arm houses the mic and a button allowing you to take calls and control your music respectively.

Weighing in at just 45 grams, the Frames are comfortable enough to wear for over 12 hours, which is the duration of their standby time and the over 3.5 hours of music playback. It takes over an hour and half to charge the Frames.

At first the idea of the speaker aimed at your ear might make you think it won’t sound as good as, say a pair of earphones, but you will be surprised at how good these speakers sound. The only complaint I had was the lack of bass, which is understandable considering the lack of space. Also, if you are listening to music over a commute, the sound might seem muffled. And there is a high probability of sound leaking out if you’re listening to music in a closed room. Taking calls over the Frames a pleasant experience. However, The parts of my words seemed to cut off to the person on the other side, which might be a reason of aggressive noise cancellation.

Wrapping things up, the Bose Frames aren’t for everyone. But for the people whom it is meant for, it is a pretty good product. Coming in at $199, it isn’t cheap. But looking the features it offers, it might be worth giving it a shot.