Spectacularly surprising Bose Frames signal the arrival of fashion tech

The speakers are placed in a way that makes the sound travel towards your ears and not away

Bose Frames are complex, a product best understood when experienced. They shade your eyes from the sun, fill your ears with sound and, well, warm your heart. This is the only non-invasive music player that you can personalise. The usefulness of this new ornamental gadgetry may be exaggerated, but here’s why an initial fascination with them is likely to turn into love.

Design (4/5)

Alto is rectangular and Rondo is round, the two variations are otherwise indistinguishable. The sunshades feature no bling. The rim and arms are black, made of high-grade plastic and finished in matte. The metal hinges done in gold break the monochrome aesthetic without screaming for attention. If you were looking for attention, though, the black lenses can be switched for mirror rose gold or gradient blue options. All lenses offer UV protection.

Coloured or not, the shades with their solid outlines and thick arms can easily pass off as a designer pair from the rock and roll era. It is hard to go wrong with those conventions, except the weight, of course, because of the battery-powered surprise it holds within. Still, the Bose Frames weigh only 45 grams.

Performance (4/5)

Even if you know what they do, there is an element of surprise when you put the Bose Frames on the first time. A discreet button under the right arm gives you the first clue when the female Bose voice offers connection advice.  But the fun begins when you switch to music.

It was almost like the voice of the young artist I was listening to, Finneas O’Connell, was emerging from inside my head. And thanks to that, his new single is now stuck in my brain. 

It is unbelievable how good the Frames sound. The engineering is hard to comprehend. Bose says the speakers are placed in a manner that it makes the sound travel towards your ears and not away from them. The science is not foolproof, though, and there is some sound leak at high volumes, even when it is not loud enough for noisy environments, it is still an exciting new innovation. Don’t trade them for your earphones just yet.

The Frames go perfectly with driving. You won’t mind your phone ringing even on a Monday morning. In an isolated environment, the mic quality is excellent. You can use the only button under the right arm to answer/reject calls, play/pause music and change tracks. In a noisy environment, however, the Bose Frames approach useless save for the fashionable sun protection.

Verdict (4/5)

You need the Bose AR app to make the most of the Frames. The augmented reality audio visuals are getting better with each update. All in all, the Bose Frames are a handy pair of premium sunglasses that speak to you, quite charmingly. I wouldn’t trade personal information over a call in a public place and while I could wait for its audio quality to get better in loud environments, I’d rather not. For its looks, call quality and mature sound, it is a luxury that I must find a way to afford, now.