Bose is apparently making a gaming headset. It’ll be a gaming version of the QC35 II. This is according to 9To5Google who found information about the headset in the code of the latest version of the Bose Connect app.
Bose isn’t known for its wide array of gaming equipment. It’s simply known for high-quality audio. But given the nature of gaming’s popularity lately, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Bose is finally dipping its toes in the water of this industry with a gaming headset of its own.
Especially when you consider other mainly audio-focused brands already have products in the space. JBL announced a series of gaming headsets at CES 2020. And Sennheiser has a few headsets that have been around for at least a year.
Something worth considering too, is that this may not be an entirely new headset at all. But rather a gaming mic attachment for the already available QC35 II.
The Bose gaming headset is dual-purpose
First and foremost, this won’t be just a gaming headset. It’ll be usable as a standard headset as well. This is based on a video that was included with the strings of code found within the latest version of the Bose Connect app.
A couple of screenshots from the video which can be viewed below depict this dual-purpose design. When the headset is being used in a Bluetooth state, it’ll be just like the regular QC35 II. The design even looks the same.
But if you want to use it for gaming, you would plug the mic into an open port on the bottom of the left ear. There’s also a 3.5mm audio cable on the bottom of that mic that needs to be plugged in directly. Presumably into whatever device you’re gaming on.
Now, you’d be able to use this headset wirelessly while gaming on anything that supports Bluetooth. You would however it seems loose the ability of the proper gaming mic. Which you’ll want if you’re playing a game on PC that heavily benefits from voice chat.
Plugging in the mic disables Bluetooth
With this new headset being Bluetooth, you might wonder if the Bluetooth would still be able to connect after plugging in the mic. It can’t.
Instead, once you plug the mic into the headphones, Bluetooth will be disabled and the Bose Connect app will no longer be able to find the headphones. Essentially turning this into a fully wired headset that needs to be plugged into a 3.5mm audio port.
Wireless headsets while gaming can be really good. But there’s no doubt that wired headsets are generally a little better from an audio standpoint. Because you don’t have to worry about battery life. On top of that, you usually don’t need to worry about the disconnect in audio that wireless options sometimes present.
So far there’s no word on a release or a price.
