Why is Bose buying Skullcandy?

Credit: Jerome Thomas / How-To Geek Published Oct 22, 2026, 11:24 AM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Your flashy-yet-affordable headphones might just sound better. Bose has acquired Skullcandy, and there's a potentially huge impact on the audio world. The buyout will see Bose meld its "audio expertise" and technology with Skullcandy's design and community know-how, according to the companies. The two have already teamed up through Skullcandy's Sound by Bose tie-in, but this now gives Bose direct say over its partner's future. Skullcandy will remain a distinct brand within Bose and will have the "freedom to continue evolving" while staying true to its roots, the companies say. They aren't hinting at what devices will come out of the merger. The firms aren't disclosing the terms of the deal. Bose recently bought FMOD creator Firelight Technologies, giving it audio software for game development. What does Bose buying Skullcandy mean for my headphones? Expect a parallel to Apple acquiring Beats You won't see much change at first. It will take time for Bose and Skullcandy to design hardware together, so you might not see obvious results for months or years. However, this should be good news if you like Skullcandy's skater image but are put off by its reputation for bass-heavy (and sometimes cheap-sounding) audio. While you aren't likely to get audiophile-grade sound, you might hear more accurate and balanced music than before. Active noise cancellation (ANC) could be higher-quality and more consistently available. The outcome might be similar to that of Apple's purchase of Beats in 2014. While Beats is still a separate brand with its own products, it's making use of Apple hardware and engineering to boost sound quality and simplify the experience. The Beats 360 headphones I reviewed are great for most kinds of music and pair with very little hassle, but still have Beats' signature design and clever touches like swappable earcups. Bose doesn't control an entire ecosystem like Apple, so the parallels aren't exact. It's safe to say that you'll notice differences. If there's a concern, it's that this further consolidates the audio landscape. You'll have one less truly independent brand to choose from when shopping for your next listening experience.