Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Review: Earbuds for People Who Hate Earbuds
An open-ear cuff that keeps you in the room. The right call for some, a dealbreaker for others.
By Malcolm Ortiz · 12 March 2024
Pros
- Total awareness of surroundings
- Comfortable for hours
- Clever Immersive Audio
Cons
- Light on bass
- Leaks at volume
- Pricey for open-ears
If sealed earbuds make you feel cut off, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were built for you. Out in 2024 at $299, they clip to the ear and leave the canal open, so the world stays fully present while your audio rides alongside it.
Bose's Immersive Audio mode is the surprise, nudging the sound out in front of you so a podcast feels staged rather than injected. For walking, cycling and office use, the constant awareness is liberating.
Physics still wins on bass, which is polite rather than punchy, and at higher volumes your neighbour gets a faint preview of your playlist. These are not travel-isolation buds and were never trying to be.
FieldLens verdict: the best open-ear earbuds for staying connected to your surroundings, provided you accept the acoustic trade.
The facts
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds shipped in 2024 at $299 with an open, cuff-style fit and a spatial Immersive Audio mode.