threadbare of yourwireless earbudsblocking your ears and proceed you from hearing sounds around you ? You ’re not alone , and you ’re not without options . Open - ear earbudsare an excellent choice for those who desire to enjoy music and calls without sacrificing their situational consciousness .
But if you ’re someone who also wears glasses — either prescription or sunglasses ( or both ) — you may find that most open - ear earbuds seem to have one affair in vulgar . They surcharge around the tops of your ears , in good order where your chalk sit .
Not so with Bose ’s Ultra Open Earbuds , which clip to the side of your pinna instead . It ’s a bold intention selection that ’s as much fashion accessary as it is technology . They come with an as bold Mary Leontyne Price of $ 299 , stool them the most expensive open - capitulum earbuds you may corrupt . But to sweeten the plenty , Bose has added head - tracked spatial audio and Snapdragon Sound , which it introduced with theQuietComfort Ultra HeadphonesandQuietComfort Ultra Earbuds . There ’s also a cool excess feature for folks who own one of Bose ’s novel soundbars .
Are they deserving it ? I guess the solvent is yes . But keep read for my thought on who should buy them .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: specs
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: design
If you ’re sick of the stock white golf teeing ground feeling of theApple AirPodsand their legion of knockoffs , you ’ve come to the right space . The Ultra Open Earbuds ( which are available in rainbow of 10 unlike colors ) could n’t be more different .
They seem like a comma ( or perhaps an apostrophe ) , with a gun barrel on one end and a hook - like shape on the other . They ’re such a departure from traditional earbuds that it ’s far from obvious how to wear them . When I ab initio pulled them from their charging causa , I confidently stuff the barrel dower in my ear , using the hooking to fasten them . It fit , but I can assure you this is incorrect .
It ’s in reality the hook that goes inside your concha first ( it contains the loudspeaker ) , then , while gripping the barrel , you wrap the barrel portion ( battery and control ) around and behind the part of your ear called the genus Helix .
Thanks to the flexible rubber connection between the barrel and hook , it ’s less awkward than it sounds . You get fast at it the more you do it .
The bud are super well-off to access . Putting them back might be even easier — simply play them within a few millimetre of their assigned blame spots and those magnet grab them from your digit and break down them in place .
Another benefit to the Ultra Open ’s unusual shape is the size of it of their case . Most open - ear manakin use earhooks . This necessitate great , bulky cases . The Ultra ’s case is actually small than the one that accompanies theBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds .
Unfortunately , the case does n’t have wireless charging . You ’ll have to practice the include USB - A to USB - C cable . If you want wireless charging , you ’ll want to cough up an additional $ 49 for awireless charge silicone polymer cover — the sameridiculous solutionit design for its QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds . It ’s 2025 and there ’s simply no satisfactory reason for a set of near $ 300 wireless earbuds to miss this ready to hand feature .
I ’m also a little implicated about the case ’s lid . Even when closed , it can turn out of flesh a bit , precede me to think that either the hinge is n’t wide-eyed enough , or the lid ’s charge plate is n’t rigid enough .
Despite the fact that Bose intends the Ultra Open Earbuds to be worn all solar day , in a variety of situations , they only haveIPX4 protectionfrom water and no debris protection at all . In other words , a bit of sweat or rainwater should be hunky-dory , but they are not going to stick out up to rougher exercise .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: comfort, controls, and connections
With their unusual design , few folks will forget you ’re wearing a set of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds , but you just might . Once I had them on my ear , I was scantily aware of them . I ’ve found this to be true of most open - auricle earbuds I ’ve tried , but the Ultra Open Earbuds are especially well-fixed for long sessions .
They ’re not sodding — I finally discover some pressure where the barrel sits against the back of my volute — but they can also be adjusted . I was able to slip them higher or lower to vary that insistency point .
When Bose released the Ultra Open Earbuds , it was one of the first to use a cartridge holder - stylus condition . Since then , the concept has been adopted by wad of manufacturers , with prices well below what Bose charge . Shokz ’s recent $ 200OpenDots One , is a swell example .
In general , the design offer two big advantages over the classic earhook shape of most undefendable - ears : It does n’t interpose with glass , and it set the speaker nearer to your ear epithelial duct .
Not that the whole glasses thing is a major problem with earhook - vogue buds , but with the Ultra Open Earbuds , you do n’t think about it at all .
Another big benefit to Bose ’s design is the control condition . A single physical button occupy the top of each barrel , which is easily clack by commit your thumb on the cask bottom while pressing the button with your indicator finger ( like the OK script sign ) . This turns out to be one of the easiest , most intuitive earbud dominance I ’ve ever used , and it ferment just as well with gloved hands .
By default , you get playback / call ascendancy and track control via exclusive , double , and triple mouse click . A longsighted - press handle a preselected cutoff ( more on this in a mo ) , and the left and proper buds have volume down / up gestures , severally . Of these , only the shortcut gesture can be customized in the Bose app ( iOS , Android . )
There are no wear sensors , but there ’s no need to remove an earbud for conversation — but pressing the pause push button is enough .
With Bluetooth 5.3 , the Ultra Open Earbuds are easy to connect , peculiarly on Android gimmick where Google Fast Pair make it a one - click process . Plus , they ’re future - proofed for the eventual support of features likeLE AudioandAuracast . alas , neither is uncommitted out of the box , though Bose say both are on its radar .
Though they launched without financial support forBluetooth Multipoint , this omission was make up with a mid-2024 software update and now you could use the Bose app to manage all of your geminate gadget . you could see the devices that have been antecedently paired , and then link up to up to two of them at the same time .
It might have taken Bose a while to make Multipoint happen , but now that it has catch up , it ’s effectuation of the feature of speech is one of the skilful I ’ve run into .
If you decide not to enable Multipoint for some flakey reason , you may program the farsighted - press crosscut gesture to hop-skip the Ultra Open Earbuds from their existing wireless connection to the next twist in your list . It ’s not as unlined or as convenient as Multipoint , but it ’s far better than hold to get hold of for your phone or take out up the Bluetooth menu on your computer .
Each bud can have different shortcut subprogram , and your other option are voice adjunct memory access , immersive sound recording switching , or mode cycling . On Bose QuietComfort products , modes make sense — they let you ascribe dissimilar combination of ANC and immersive audio into a unmarried scope .
But on the Ultra Open , it ’s somewhat extra . The only thing you could add to a mode is an immersive audio recording background , and these are already approachable via the immersive sound recording shift shortcut . The one benefit seems to be the ability to eliminate one of the three immersive audio options , letting you toggle between two .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: sound quality
For loose - auricle earbuds to provide situational awareness , they have to allow a muckle of out-of-door sound in . That ’s kryptonite for audio fidelity , and there ’s no getting around it — the louder your environment , the hard it will be to enjoy your euphony .
I ca n’t try this enough : you will hear your euphony , but you will hear everything else , too . notwithstanding , the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds manage to do a dependable job at this balancing routine than any other open - ear earbuds .
Bose knows how to extract outstanding sound quality from small driver . When you mate that with a clip - style shape , which as I noted above , puts the earbuds ’ drivers inside the concha , where they ’re tight to your ear epithelial duct , the overall result is impressive , especially in quiet locations .
alternatively of pushing audio frequency into your ear like normal earbuds — which can be intense , particularly when listening to lower relative frequency — the Ultra Open Earbuds create an airy , natural listening experience that does a good job of simulate a set of stereophonic speaker . They ’re the earbud equivalent of overt - back headphone .
Bass , which is unremarkably the first victim of capable conception , remains potent . It does n’t thump , but it still carry plenty of system of weights and resonance . Midrange item are another strength . In muted locations , they let me hear many subtleties . Higher frequence can be a shade on the strident side , but are always exculpated and focused .
Bose includes a set of four EQ presets to help fine - line the auditory sensation to your liking , but these are pernicious tweaks at substantially . You wo n’t be able to massively alter the factory tuning .
I was specially impressed with Bose ’s Immersive Audio setting , which gives any stereophonic sound thespatial audiotreatment . The impression is very convincing — it put two practical stereophony speakers a few feet in front and above your listening position .
Though still not a must - have feature of speech , I think Bose ’s spacial tech works better than that of Apple , Jabra , and Soundcore . tot up the open architecture of the Ultra Open Earbuds , and you ’ve got an ideal platform for getting the most out of the three-D - similar effect .
Like the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ( and Headphones ) , you could choose between “ still ” — the mind - tracked version — and “ motion , ” which maintains spatial audio , but disables head trailing . The fundamental difference of opinion is that still fashion creates the illusion that the two virtual speakers are in the same elbow room as you , but fixed in place , directly in front of your listening position . With motion mode , those speakers move in sync with your chief movements , which is how traditional earphone employment .
talk of spacial audio frequency , if you happen to own a Bose Smart Soundbar or a Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar , the Ultra Open Earbuds let you experience what Bose calls “ Personal Surround Sound . ”
It effectively sends surround - channel sound to the Ultra Open Earbuds , which provides a remarkable replacement for actual surround speakers . It ’s limited to just one set of Ultra Open Earbuds , so when Bose pronounce “ personal ” it ’s not exaggerate . Still , if you have a small blank space for ascertain TV and you tend to watch alone , it ’s an amazing option for going without consecrate surround speakers .
There ’s also an motorcar - volume lineament that can be enabled in the Bose app . When it ’s on , the earbuds endeavor to increase the bulk based on your surroundings , to keep the same comparative volume you had determine when in a quieter location — and it ’s a honorable idea in theory . Unfortunately I found it did n’t kick in when I wanted it to , and when it did , it often film me by surprisal . Its ability to do this depends on your chosen loudness level — if you start at 90 % , there ’s not much it can do to make matter louder .
Finally , it ’s worth mentioning that with Qualcomm’sSnapdragon Soundtech , the Ultra Open Earbuds give you the full range ofaptX codecs , including aptX Lossless , for candle - quality wireless sound ( assuming you have a compatible Android phone ) . You may notice a difference in controlled , still options — I found my Motorola ThinkPhone delivered a smoother , more nuanced speech sound than my iPhone 14 — but these welfare will be directly lost the bit you maltreat outside .
Before you race to bump off the buy clitoris , there are two thing you call for to know , specially if you ’ve never used undetermined - pinna earbuds before .
First , when you ’re in noisy environments , listening to spoken - word content like podcasts or phone calls can be take exception . You will miss thing and you ’ll likely have to ask people to ingeminate themselves . Keep that in idea if you ’re going to be using these while at a gym or walk on busy street .
Second , sound quality and volume levels will be affected by convulsion . This is true of any solidification of earbuds , but it ’s specially detectable on a mathematical product like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds , which have a miscellanea of potential position on your ear . Be prepared to try out .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: call quality
I love using undefended - ear earbuds for phone call and video chats . Few masses discuss it , but I recall it ’s a highly underrated aspect of these devices . Because you may hear your own voice as intelligibly as if you were n’t using headphones at all , it ’s a instinctive way to talk and far less fatiguing than with regular earbuds — even those with a transparence mode .
On the other side of the equation , your callers should hear you intelligibly most of the prison term . outside , the Ultra Open Earbuds occasionally struggle with loud competing sounds . Your voice may sound distant or thin . The fidelity fuck off dependable indoors .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: battery life
Bose claims the Ultra Open Earbudsget up to 7 hours of battery life on a unmarried charge , and the charging case can boost that to 27 hours . However , Bose ’s Immersive Audio mode come along to be very force - hungry . If you pull up stakes it turned on , battery life drops to 4 and 16 hours severally .
And most business leader estimate are based on listen at a 50 % book grade . That may be gimcrack enough when at heart , but you will likely want it higher when outside .
While that ’s not brilliant for wireless earbuds , the Ultra Open Earbuds should still be able to get you through a full day . You belike wo n’t be listening to euphony ceaselessly , and even if you do , a ready charge of 10 arcminute acquire you an superfluous two hours of use .
Conclusion
undetermined - ear earbuds are n’t for everyone . They ca n’t bear thump freshwater bass , and the very affair that makes them appealing ( being able-bodied to hear your surroundings ) is also the affair that limits their audio quality . And yet , if you ’re commonplace of jamming knockout plastic objects into your ear and then having to jerk them out just to set up a deep brown , the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a fantastic alternative .
The lack of wireless charging is tough to eat up , peculiarly when the Shokz OpenDots One offer it and cost $ 100 less . However , the Ultra Open Earbuds auditory sensation well than any other open - pinna model I ’ve tried so far , and their already undefended and airy auditory sensation is the consummate platform for their spatial audio technical school .
Like the estimate of open - pinna earbuds ( whether clip- or earhook - fashion ) , but you ’re not ready to make a $ 300 investment ? Our roundup of thebest assailable - capitulum earbudshas several heavy selection at change prices . Here are a few models I opine are worth a closer look : The Shokz OpenFit 2 ( $ 180 ) are incredibly comfortable for an earhook configuration , but you could also get most of their benefits from the $ 100 Soundcore AeroFit 2 . For non - earhook design , Sony ’s LinkBuds Open ( $ 180 ) fit more like traditional earbuds , the Shokz OpenDots One ( $ 199 ) have huge bass voice and electric battery life , and once again , Soundcore manages to allow most of the clip - style benefits for a low price than most , with the AeroClip ( $ 130 ) .
