Open - spike earbudsare a corking selection for anyone who wants to hear their tunes , podcasts , and phone calls while stay mindful of their milieu . A hatful of mass also receive them more well-situated than conventionalwireless earbuds . Still , even within the heart-to-heart - capitulum class , there are choices to be made . One of the biggest choices is , do you want an earhook design or the newer , clip dash ?
If the solvent is a clip style open - auricle set of earbuds , two of the best models are theBose Ultra Open Earbuds , which helped to generalize this earhook option , and theShokz OpenDots One , one of the Modern clip style models to link the class . However , though they share a like soma , these open - auricle clips are very different . Which one is right-hand for you ? We put them side by side to help you figure it out .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Shokz OpenDots One
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs. Shokz OpenDots One: Price
Bose sees itself as a premium make with exchange premium products and its prices reflect that view . The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were the most expensive undefended - auricle earbuds when they debuted in February 2024 at $ 299 , and with the exception of a few abruptly - lived discounts , that price has stayed invariant .
Shokz also sees itself as a premium stain . Its product tend to be priced higher than contender in the same categories . However , in this case , at $ 200 , the OpenDots One are n’t the most expensive clipping style loose - capitulum . That ’s a big gap , and as we get further into this comparing , you may decide if Bose is still justified in charge $ 99 more for its earbuds .
Winner : Shokz OpenDots One
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs. Shokz OpenDots One: Specs comparison
glasses do n’t tell the full narration of any ware , but they can definitely cater clues as to strong suit and weakness .
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have a clear advantage when it comes to color choice ( so many colors ! ) , spatial audio frequency , and Bluetooth codec support , while the Shokz OpenDots One benefit from their wakeful system of weights , longer shelling life , wireless charging , and slightly better protection ( the 5 inIP54indicates dust protection ) .
These specification demonstrate that even though Bose and Shokz are playing in the same space , they ’ve gear their product to buyers with different indigence or appreciation .
Bose has always recollect of the Ultra Open Earbuds as a fashion accessory as much as a personal audio merchandise . This was observable when the party first made the Ultra Open available as a limited edition collaborationwith style and life-style label , Kith , ahead of the full launch . The current selection of colors reinforce that location .
The Shokz OpenDots One , on the other hired man , follow the same dual color choices that the companionship offers on the balance of its products . The muted colors are far less sporty than Bose .
Other than sound quality , which we ’ll get to in a present moment , battery living and wireless charging are the two areas that will likely impact buyers the most . Wireless charging is all about contrivance . you may use wireless charging with the Ultra Open Earbuds , but only if you buy Bose ’s optional $ 49 wireless charging screening .
When it comes to battery life-time , the tendency is to just say “ more is always better . ” And while that ’s true , it ’s also deserving asking yourself how much barrage fire life sentence you call up you ’ll demand . Perhaps the Ultra Open Earbuds ’ 7 hours per bearing can get you through a full day . Just keep in brain , if you use Bose ’s Immersive ( spatial ) Audio feature article , it will their reduce stamen to just 4 hour .
On balance , with the variety of specs that most the great unwashed will value , Shokz acquire this round too .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs. Shokz OpenDots One: Design and comfort
Clip panache earbuds all act more or less the same way . They position a loudspeaker module inside your ear ’s concha , where it sit just outside your ear duct , while the battery module ( usually joined by a pliable connection ) wraps around you ear ’s helix . This horseshoe / cuff human body provides enough clamping power that the earbud should n’t be well-to-do to free , but not so much that it causes uncomfortableness .
Both the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and the Shokz OpenDots One employ this design , and both are very comfortable when worn . The OpenDots One are a flake light and their soma work them a minute easier to put on , but the deviation is n’t huge .
The charging cases are also very similar , offering a small size of it and very easy access to the earbuds via a flip - top lid . Once again , the Shokz are a bit diminished , and a bit clear , which may make them slightly comfortable to pocket .
The with child difference is the way of life each caller does controls . On the Ultra Open Earbuds , Bose habituate a strong-arm clitoris that sit atop the battery faculty . It ’s very loose to utilise with a lift gesture via single- , double- , and triple - clicks on the button . These control the primary mapping like manoeuvre / suspension , cart track skipping , and volume . A 4th tick - and - hold gesture can be tailor-make in the Bose app . It ’s one of the good control mechanisms I ’ve ever used , and it even work when you ’re wearing gloves .
On the OpenDots One , Shokz uses touch modality controls . There are two gestures — double - pat on the connection ( or twofold - pinches on the assault and battery module ) or a long - pinch on the battery faculty . While the long - pinch can be customise , there just are n’t enough gesture to control everything you might need . Play / pause and call solution / end are always available , but you ’ll have to choose between running skipping , volume , and vocalize assistant access for that custom-make gesture .
Though I favor the Shokz OpenDots One for their lighter weight , Bose ’s control condition are far best , and that ’s give way it a win .
Winner : Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs. Shokz OpenDots One: Sound quality
Bose knows a thing or two about speech sound and the Ultra Open Earbuds fathom great . It ’s distinctive Bose : high-pitched - energy , with excellent clarity in the heights , very good detail in the midranges , and adequate if not perfect bass . Indoors , you get what might be the most challenging earbud - hearing experience available right now . Thanks to their open figure , it go like you ’re listening to speaker in your room , not earbuds in your ears .
This effect is further enhanced if you apply Bose ’s Immersive Audio feature of speech ( with or without optional head tracking ) — my favorite earbuds - based spacial audio processing at the second . Much of this extra stratum of fidelity is lost in noisy surroundings , but that ’s truthful for all open - pinna earbuds . Same thing goes for the Ultra Open ’s availableQualcomm Snapdragon SoundBluetooth codecs : a noticeable betterment to overall detail , but only when things are very subdued .
The Shokz OpenDots One are no slouch on the effectual quality spectrum either , and when it come to bass response , they ’re the current baron of the open - auricle category . This is a big great deal for anyone who depends on a drive meter to power their workouts . you could still get most of that bass presence even when outdoors .
Unfortunately , the OpenDots One ca n’t quite pitch the same overall sound as the Ultra Open Earbuds . The highs are clear , but the midrange suffer middling in the compare . To be fair , the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the only clip elan open - spike earbuds that sound better than the OpenDots One . give way that the Ultra cost $ 99 more , you would hope that ’s the case .
Bass is a big slew for a lot of folks , and it ’s almost enough to give Shokz the profits , but overall , it ’s hard to deny that the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds sound considerably .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs. Shokz OpenDots One: Call quality
Open - auricle earbuds are fantastic for calling , simply because they let you hear your own voice unmuffled by a equipment that ’s mob up against your ear channel . In this heed , both the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and Shokz OpenDots One are great for call option .
Indoors , both do an excellent business of capturing and transmit your voice to callers . Outdoors , resolution tend to be a little more assorted , especially as environmental sound get louder .
However , the OpenDots One do a good job at celebrate your voice consistently clear when outside , where the Bose ’s performance can vary a lot base on skirt dissonance .
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs. Shokz OpenDots One: The verdict
With three winnings to two , the Shokz OpenDots One squeak out an overall profits for this comparison . Their central strength is value for money — they extend a lot of desirable feature for substantially less money . In a domain where the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds did n’t live , the OpenDots One would be full no - brainers .
But the Ultra Open do exist , and when it comes to deciding which snip flair unfastened - ear earbuds are right for you , recollect where these bud came out on top ( design and intelligent quality ) . If these class count more to you than the others ( perhaps you almost never use earbuds for call ) then let those winnings be your guide .
