Bose claims its Ultra Open Earbuds offer exceptional sound quality in a versatile, open-ear design – but do they live up to its promises?

As someone who’s pretty active and always on the go, I’ve had difficulty finding the best running headphones. I want great sound, but there are also times when I want to be aware of my surroundings, especially when running or cycling outside – or even when navigating a busy street. While being fully immersed in my favourite music is great most of the time, it’s those aforementioned instances where noise-cancelling can be on the risky side. 

Men’s Fitness verdict

These stylish open-ear buds ooze quality. I loved the sound quality and appreciated the situational awareness they offer. They can feel a bit unbalanced though – and there is that hefty price.
Pros
  • Best-sounding open-ear buds I’ve tested, delivering rich, immersive audio
  • Innovative design is comfortable and keeps you aware of your surroundings
  • Versatile enough for workouts, commuting and work
Cons
  • At just under £300, they don’t come cheap
  • They can feel slightly unstable, though won’t fall off
  • Battery life is decent, but lack of wireless charging is disappointing

How we test running earphones

Every product you read about on mensfitness.co.uk has been rigorously tested by our experts – whether freelance reviewers or the core MF team. Over more than a month, consumer tech expert Lee Bell put the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds to the test, incorporating the earphones into his everyday commute and fitness routine to see they lived up to their claims. He assessed their performance, features and design and weighed up their overall value before awarding the final score. 

There have been many attempts by tech brands to make earphones that offer a good balance between audio quality and open-ear awareness, à la the Shokz OpenFit or Sony’s LinkBuds, but I’ve never found any that work all that convincingly.  

Enter a new kind of earbud that promises to blend premium audio quality with an open-ear design: Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds. These earphones are unique in that they hook around the middle of your ears, keeping you connected to the world while promising to deliver Bose’s renowned sound, all in one sleek package.  

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been putting these innovative earbuds through their paces, testing their performance during workouts, commutes and virtual meetings. Plenty of time to see if they live up to those promises. 

Bose Ultra Open design and first impressions  

Just from looking at them, it’s pretty obvious that the Ultra Open Earbuds aren’t your conventional set of in-ear headphones. They’re unique to Bose, too, unlike anything the company has made before. 

So instead of just sitting inside your ear like your bog-standard earbuds, the Ultra Open Earbuds hook around your ear’s helix (the outer rim) with one end just resting gently inside the concha and the other – a sleek battery cylinder – sitting behind the ear.  

This unique design can make the buds feel a bit odd when first wearing them, but they soon felt surprisingly comfortable. That’s probably due to them being lightweight (at just 6.4g per bud) and made from high-quality materials, combining soft silicone and sturdy plastic.  

The flexible silicone comes in the form of a spring alongside a plastic speaker arm, which work together to keep the earbuds securely in place, even when you’re active. Although the uneven weight distribution from the battery can make them feel a bit wobbly at times, they stayed put during my runs and when cycling without falling out. Jump around with them in too much, however, and you might feel a bit like dumbo. Nevertheless, the fit is intuitive once you get the hang of it.  

The earbuds’ tactile buttons on the battery cylinder are a neat touch, letting you adjust volume, skip tracks and switch modes without reaching for your phone. It’s simple and effective, perfect for those who prefer hassle-free controls. 

Overall, these earbuds make a great first impression design-wise. They look cool (although I did feel a little self-conscious in them on the first few occasions since they’re so unusual), feel durable and fit comfortably once you get used to them.  

Bose Ultra Open performance and features  

Over the past month, I’ve used the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds in various settings, including during cycling, at work and on public transport. They performed generally very well across all those scenarios, but proved especially useful when on my bike, ensuring I could listen out for approaching cars while having great-quality audio playing in the background. 

As for during runs, the buds stayed securely in place, and the open-ear design allowed me to remain aware of my surroundings without sacrificing sound quality. And that’s a game changer, if you ask me. They were really comfortable, too, making it easy to wear them for extended periods.  

As for sound quality, these buds deliver a full, rich audio experience and one that I’ve not experienced with an open-ear design before. I’d even go as far as saying the sound rivals that of some brands’ in-ear models. This is mostly down to Bose’s Immersive Audio tech, which offers up a soundstage that feels expansive and detailed, with deep bass, clear mids and crisp highs. Whether you’re listening to your favourite tunes or a podcast, or watching a video, the sound is consistently top-notch. And it works well in that the sound is rich until something from your environment interrupts, which leads me onto my next point. 

Tune into your environment

One of the standout features is how well these earbuds balance sound delivery and situational awareness. The open-ear design uses air-conduction technology to direct sound into your ear canal while keeping your ears open to ambient noise. So as the sound of a car comes into your environment, the audio of the earbuds will gradually lower to allow it in, without it feeling jarring. This makes these earbuds perfect for outdoor workouts or busy public places where you want to hear your favourites tunes but also need to stay alert. 

When it comes to battery life, the Ultra Open Earbuds are decent with about 7.5 hours of playback on a single charge and an additional 19.5 hours from the charging case. This means you can use them all day without worrying about frequent re-juicing. The only minor drawback is the lack of wireless charging, but the USB-C port charges them quickly. 

How do they compare? 

Compared to other open-ear options on the market, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds stand out with a comfort level I haven’t found anywhere else when it comes to open-ear designs. While competitors might offer a more secure fit, Bose’s audio performance is unmatched, serving a dose of rich, immersive sound that almost rivals in-ear models, whatever you’re listening to. However, there are definitely cheaper options out there and their $299 / £299 price tag could be a deciding factor for budget-conscious buyers. 

While the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are an all-round well-performing pair of earphones for those who want to be more aware of their surroundings, there’s still some room for improvement. For one, the uneven weight distribution can make them feel slightly unstable during vigorous activities, making your ears feel like they’re flapping. Adding wireless charging would have been a nice touch, too. 

Should you buy the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds? 

If you prioritise exceptional sound quality and need to stay aware of your surroundings, the Ultra Open Earbuds are definitely worth the investment. They’re not only comfortable, but performance is mostly excellent, making them ideal for most types of workouts as well as commutes and general everyday use. However, if you’re on a tight budget or care more about cancelling out your surroundings, you might want to consider other options. 

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