Customers find value in the Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Open Earbuds for their sound quality, comfort, and fit. Many appreciate the battery life and open-ear design, which allows them to hear their surroundings. However, some customers have expressed concerns about connectivity issues and low volume. A few also feel the product is overpriced.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
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Pros mentioned:
Comfort, Design, Fit
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Nothing in your ears but great sound
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ll start off by saying that I am not a fan of most ear buds because having things in my ears hurts my ear canals after a while, so I personally prefer on-ear, over-ear, or open ear device alternatives. The Bose Ultra’s open ear design are truly unique in their execution and are comfortable to wear while providing a clean listening experience that still lets me be aware of my surroundings.
These ear buds have an innovative wrap around design that hugs the outer ear just above the ear lobe, looking more like a cuff earring than a set of earphones. No part of it goes into your ear canal; instead the speaker is nestled in the groove of your ear and sound is directed into your ear canal at an upward angle. The fit of the ear buds is one-size, and the flexible soft silicone arm applies light but sufficient spring force to hold the barrel controller behind your ear. While that means there’s no way to customize the fit, you can adjust the positioning of the ear bud by slightly sliding it up or down to find the most comfortable position for you, however, I found that moving it can noticeably change the sound quality.
To setup and pair with the ear buds, you’ll need to download and install the Bose Music app to your smart device. From there, setup was fairly straightforward and took only a few minutes. After pairing, you can listen to a demo track that showcase its “Immersive Audio” mode which has two settings, “Still” and “Motion.” These modes give the sound a sense of dimensional space, placing the sound in front of you with stereo separation. The difference between them is that with Still, the sound will project from a fixed location even as you turn your head; though note that if you face a different direction long enough, the spatial positioning will update and re-center on you. With Motion the sound follows you, so that it keeps its position relative to you which is better if you’ll be moving around a lot. You also have the option to turn immersive mode off (aka stereo mode), which can help extend battery life, but I found the sound to be a little flatter and confined to my headspace.
The sound from these ear buds overall is pleasing and enveloping while still allowing you to hear other sounds in your environment. The audio is clean and clear with a light and airy quality, likely due to the open design. As for bass, it’s apparent but not overly pronounced. At moderate to low volume levels there’s virtually no sound bleeding, and folks standing a few feet from you won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to. However, when you turn up the volume it can get quite loud, and while you could effectively block out all other sounds, that sort of defeats the main benefit to having an open ear design. Plus, at higher volumes, sound can bleed quite a bit, making what you’re listening to perceptible to bystanders, and I feel the quality distorts with overly bright trebles and muddy midranges.
One of the things that I liked about these is that when no audio is playing, the ear buds go silent and don’t produce any hiss of white noise during standby. The drawback is that it takes a split second for them to wake up, so notification sounds from your device may get slightly clipped. However, the low-latency 5.3 Bluetooth protocol also makes them great for watching video content with perfectly synced audio. These are slightly water resistant too, with an IPX4 rating, so would be fine for a sweaty workout and survive a drizzle.
Each ear bud has a single physical click-button on the top of the barrel that wraps behind your ear. You need to press down on the button to use it as it is not a touch control. There are five key combinations for the controls including single, double, and triple clicks for play/pause and track skipping, as well as long-press (shortcut) and short press followed by a long press for volume control. The shortcut function can be customized to cycle through modes, immersive audio setting, source selection, or activate an AI voice assistant; you can perform different shortcut actions for the left and right ear buds.
Listening modes are presets that you can select based on your environment and preference. The two pre-configured ones are simply Stereo and Immersion, though you can define up to eight custom modes, for example, for when you’re home, on a run, or during your commute. The only thing you’re really changing though is the Immersion mode and not a custom EQ profile. While you can adjust the bass, mid, and treble EQ by +/-10, these settings are global across modes. There are several pre-defined EQ adjustments like ‘bass boost’ and ‘treble reducer.’ You can also enable ‘auto-volume’ which will adjust the volume based on your surroundings, e.g. increase it when you’re in a noisy environment.
When you take the ear buds out of the case they will announce the battery life remaining as a percentage. You can also view the battery life for each ear bud in the app. The total runtime is advertised at around 7.5 hours on a full charge depending on your listening volume and settings; just note that time will be shorter when you have immersive modes enabled. The included USB-C charging case can deliver up to an additional 19.5 hours of playtime or about 2.5 full charges on-the-go. It charges the ear buds quickly, and they went from 70% to full in just 15 minutes. However, the case itself cannot be charged wirelessly.
Each ear bud has two microphones on it that are used for hands-free calls, interacting with your voice assistant, and auto-volume adjustments. On calls, these mics picked up my voice clearly and the other party had no trouble hearing me, though note that in a loud setting you may sound more faint. Also be aware that the open ear design can feel distracting during a call in crowded spaces as I found it hard to differentiate the call audio from people talking around me.
Overall, the audio performance from these open-ear ear buds is enjoyable and just about as clear as you can get without having anything stuck in your ears. Hands-free calls have acceptable quality but are best in quiet spaces. You won’t have to take them out to hear what’s going on around you, and the spatial imaging of the Immersive modes is a neat feature. The battery life is ok for true wireless ear buds and with the case and a few short charging breaks can get you through an entire day of use. I found them more comfortable than traditional ear buds over long listening sessions, though if you do start to feel the pressure on the back of your ear, you can simply slide the ear piece a bit for some relief.
I'm sorry to hear this, Osbaldo! We firmly believe in the Ultra Open Earbuds' ability to provide a secure fit and highly satisfying audio experience. Please contact our support team, who will help you get the best out of your earbuds: https://support.bose.com/s/get-help-landing-page?language=en_US. Regards, Fiona M. - Bose Customer Support
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Enrique
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This earbuds are fantastic worth every penny thank
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Truly Wireless Earbuds have been one of my most used and favorite innovations of the past 5 years. They offer a ton of flexibility with work, fitness, or leisure. The new Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the latest offering in wireless earbuds that push how often you will hear them!
PROS:
- The design of these are super unique and I was immediately impressed with the look. The fit feels odd at first but the more you wear them, the more you don’t even notice them. Seriously, these are the most comfortable wireless earbuds I have ever had and definitely don’t give me that fatigue feeling.
- Setup is fairly simple, as in you just connect them via Bluetooth! If you want to, you can download the Bose Music app that lets you refine your settings a bit more. Although it’s not required, I found it very helpful for me to update my EQ and do any updates needed.
- The appeal of these earbuds is that they are “open” which means you can hear everything around you all the time. I found that really helpful when I was working out or out and about. It also does not give you the plugged feeling that normal earbuds give you which really add to the comfort.
- The sound is very impressive for not being directly into your ear! I thought the acoustics were rich and the bass was impactful, and I enjoyed listening to music and movies on them!
- The call quality is also great which I used during hours or work meetings. Was an easy way to be focused into the call without any discomfort.
CONS:
- These do not come with wireless charging
BOTTOM LINE:
- The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a unique experience with a sole purpose of letting you enjoy your content all day without feeling disconnected on what is going on around you. They offer impressive sound, great battery, and superior comfort. As I said, it is though a unique product that will be for those who are looking for the open design of their earbuds. But for those who are looking for the open feel, this is the way to go!
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
As an owner of a lot of different Bose products, I have tried some of their past generation earbuds, and every single product they put out is nothing but top quality.
Their newest earbuds called Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Open Earbuds are also of high-quality and innovation, and with that being said, this design is definitely innovative.
The best way I can describe these earbuds is, you wear them kind of like someone would wear clip-on earrings, the best thing I can say about them is once you get used to them, you won’t even notice that they are there.
Pros: high-quality and good sound. innovative, crisp clear sound, long lasting battery, nice charging case and the app is easy to use and very much recommended.
Con: this particular design won’t be for everybody, some people just won’t like them because they are different than traditional earbuds. Since the speaker is not in your ear canal, they are not noise canceling. Also they are not as loud as they could be. The thing is these do get loud because if I push the earbud in further in my ear with my hand, the sound gets extremely loud. But since it just hangs on your earlobe, some of the volume is lost to the environment.
Getting used to these earbuds might take a couple of hours but when you do get used to them, you won’t notice that they are there. You won’t feel anything since they are lightweight and you wont feel them tugging on your ear or anything like that. It took me a few minutes to learn how to properly put them on, but once I understood the assignment, putting them on and taking them on off was a breeze. You can even do it one handed.
On a serious note, once you are set up with the settings you like, connected to your phone and comfortable wearing these earbuds, something funny happens. As you’re listening to your music and walking around, the music sounds like it is coming from the heavens, that is the best way I can describe what I’m talking about because you don’t put these earbuds directly in your ear canal, and the earbud just kind of hangs on your earlobe while the music is being pumped into your head.
In conclusion, I am giving these earbuds 4/5 stars only because the volume just doesn’t get loud enough for my liking. Everything else is just personal preference. Some people will love these, some people won’t care for them.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Comfort and fit is fantastic. Audio quality is great but unlike an ear bud that falls out, these tend to slide up or down just a bit in your ear which makes the sound quieter untill you re adjust. Also the mic quality is not fantastic, its useable at best. Battery life is good at around 6 to 7 ish hours. They are great for working out or running.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Bought these mainly for cycling. I do 4+ hour rides mainly on the road and have been looking for something to replace a set of Beats Fits Pro because earbuds that fit in ear like the Beats and Airpods Pro irritate my ears after a couple of hours. Have tried out Shokz bone conduction and OpenFit pro and air versions and the Bose Ultra Open from an overall package view is the best of them with a few caveats.
Fit and comfort - once you get past the weirdness of putting these on you forget them. They are very comfy and lightweight and stay on your ear even on rough trails
Controls - These use buttons and they are great! They use a button rather than touch controls which works when wearing gloves or sweating or in the rain. This is what puts them over the Shokz as the Shokz I found to be fussy using touch controls especially while riding as I found them fussy, limited in features, and inconsistent.
Sound Quality - pretty good. Music and audible books sound great maybe a little better than the Shokz OpenFit and Air.
Dislikes and Issues: 1) the volume doesn't get high enough - because these are open air type headphones it competes with outside noise (cars, road noise, wind) so in certain situations the sound gets overpowered - I mainly notice this with audio books I just can't hear them at times...music tends to work better. 2) I have had issues with the earbuds just disconnecting. I had to resort to bringing the case with me to put the buds into the case when and if it disconnects to reconnect them. I returned the first set and it might have been a one off as I haven't run into that issue yet with this set.
Otherwise pretty good.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
As most are probably aware, the Bose open earbuds have certainly gathered its share of attention since its release, especially given that they present an interesting alternative to the ubiquitous closed style of earbuds. In addition to their unique barrel shape, the Bose open earbuds are certainly still positioned that they can still provide quality sound. As an audio enthusiast, I was quite excited to see how these new earbuds would sound and perform.
Upon receiving the earbuds, setup was rather straightforward as one would expect. In the box, there is a USB Type-C to A charging cable that is extremely short in length. Unfortunately, there are no written instructions or a quick guide, though there is a QR code directing you to the Bose Music application to complete setup. At the very least, I would have loved a quick guide on positioning the earbuds. Nonetheless, there is a section in settings once you proceed through setup on your phone that will show you how to wear the earbuds. Once setup is complete, the main menu should also be self explanatory: you can change several options such as set your preferred EQ settings, toggle between stereo and immersion modes. Additionally, there is an immersive audio setting, which alters the sound based on if you are stationary or are on the go. You can also create your own shortcut too and link it to either earbud. Overall, I found the application will seldom be used once you have configured the sound to your preference. It will also try and ask you to create an account, which you can skip. It is not necessary. Lastly, on my Sony Xperia V III, there were some other settings for the earbuds that were not listed within the application. For example, I could toggle the Qualcomm APX codec adaptive audio setting, as well as specifically enable/disable audio or phone calls.
Moving on, I would like to discuss a few observations I noted during my initial testing. First and foremost, I want to caution people that there will be an adjustment period with these earbuds; they will not only sound different, but will require patience while you fit them to your ears. This is especially true as most people will undoubtedly be coming standard earbuds, so keep an open mind. For me personally, I think the most difficult aspect I had was just trying get these situated correctly into my ear. With the button facing up, these should wrap around ear lobe and into the ear. By habit, I wanted to mash these into my ears but they are not designed as such; instead, they rest right before the ear canal. Unfortunately, there is barely any room to adjust these up or down, as if they are too low or high (within maybe 1/8th of inch depending on your ear size), they pop out. The second issue that I noticed is that my right ear is slightly different in size; by placing finger on either earbud and moving it up and down, I could tell that my left earbud was snug and in place. However, the right side was either not hooking correctly around the inner ear due to either the thickness of my earlobe and/or size of the whole ear; despite aligning them multiple times in the mirror. Lastly, this brings me to the third issue that if the tip of the earbud was a bit more pointed instead of crescent shaped, or if there was a retractable adjustment on the outside, it would have helped alleviate my issue. However, once I adjusted it as best I could, neither earbud fell out of my ear. Additionally, they are quite comfortable; weight wise they are perfect and feel lighter than my other pairs of earbuds. Overall, just be prepared for a lengthy adjustment period.
As for sound quality, the open earbuds sound exactly as expected, placing more emphasis on the treble and middle frequencies. If I could describe the sound, I would say that the placement is more up and center as opposed to the sound being more down into your ear canal. Additionally, the bass is light as expected but just enough so that there is still a semblance of the whole song. Even manually adjusting the bass EQ did not yield any drastic change; between its highest setting (+10) to the lowest (-10) I could barely hear a frequency difference (immersive audio was off). With more bass-oriented songs, I was straining to hear any kind of subtle difference while toggling the EQ, but perhaps your hearing will be better than mine. Switching to more classical and soundtrack music, I was even more impressed with the cohesiveness that I could hear; instruments were extremely clear and separation was quite good. I was also quite impressed with how loud these earbuds can get; listening at around 50% on my Sony Xperia, I didn’t feel the need to go louder. Violins and choir vocals were perfectly placed up and center in the soundstage. As for my surroundings, I could still make out conversation, though I did have to drop my volume slightly on my phone in some areas. I believe most should be quite pleased with the sound quality. Clarity was superb and everything sounded consistent across a multitude of genres, especially classical or jazz where their dynamics are still intact and not crushed by compression. Additionally, as expected, the bass is dialed back in favor of highs and middle frequencies. Overall, I think if you set your expectations accordingly, you will be quite happy with the quality, though I still want to caution those that are coming from closed earbuds that the music will sound slightly pulled back, perhaps even a bit thin, but this is normal.
In conclusion, the Bose open earbuds provide an interesting alternative to typical closed earbuds; allowing you to enjoy both your music and your surroundings. Additionally, the sound quality was still there maintaining clarity and consistency throughout a variety of genres. Physically, they are certainly unique in design, which despite my initial difficulty with my ears, were extremely comfortable afterwards. They never fell out of my ear nor did I experience any discomfort. As mentioned previously, the open earbuds will require some patience to get used to them, which is why I feel that they are uniquely positioned to certain people; not everyone will like them or their sound. If you are certainly patient and would like to try them, they are indeed worth a look, provided you are content with the caveats I have outlined here.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds I must say, they have exceeded my expectations in both sound quality and comfort. The audio experience is truly immersive, with crisp highs, deep lows, and a well-balanced midrange.
The noise isolation feature works well but not totally providing an uninterrupted listening experience in noisy environments due to the design of the earbuds. The earbuds fit snugly on my ears, and the ergonomic design ensures they stay in place during various activities.
One notable aspect is the impressive battery life; I can enjoy hours of music without worrying about constant recharging. The touch controls are intuitive and responsive, allowing for easy navigation and call management.
The sleek and minimalistic design adds a touch of sophistication, and the durable build quality gives confidence in their longevity. While they come with a higher price tag, the Bose Earbuds deliver on their promise of premium audio performance, making them a worthwhile investment for music enthusiasts who prioritize quality and comfort.
Thank you for your review of the Ultra Open Earbuds! It's good to hear that you're happy with the design and the secure fit of your earbuds. With this, and with the battery performance, you can enjoy the Bose sound for many hours at a time. Warm regards, Fiona M. - Bose Customer Support
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Comfort, Design
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best open-ear earbuds—comfortable and high quality
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Posted . Owned for 10 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
These Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are amazing! The sound is crystal clear with rich details, and I love that I can still hear what’s going on around me while listening to music. They’re super comfortable—even for all-day wear—and they don’t fall off easily. Perfect for walking, working, or running errands. The design is sleek, and the battery life is solid too. Bose really delivered!
Great Sound for Open-Ear Headphones and Small Ears
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have different needs for headsets depending on what listening or speaking experience I am seeking. When I need to be aware of my surroundings but am not in a loud environment, I prefer to use open-ear style headphones. Thus, I was eager to try out Ultra Open Earbuds by Bose.
I like open-ear style headphones for conference calls or while on calls in my car, but have been unhappy with the lack of fullness when listening to music and that bass is almost non-existent. However, with these Ultra Open Earbuds, I was pleasantly surprised with how much bass there was. The immersive audio experience was one of the best of all of my headphones, and the best of my open-ear style headphones. Unfortunately the battery life was diminished when the immersive audio was active, and environmental noise had a greater impact on hearing music.
I like that Bose chose to use physical button controls, since many of the touch controls on headphones are not very responsive. The ear cuff design is comfortable and was great to wear for long periods of time. These would be great for anyone with small ears where earbuds may not fit or cause a lot of pressure and pain (see photos).
The biggest negatives of this headset are an odd resonance sound heard by the phone call receivers and no multi-source use for Bluetooth to date. A few people I spoke with on the phone reported my voice was clear but had an odd, echoey sound, as if I was in an empty room.
I would use a different design if I were looking for audiophile sound, wanted crystal clear calls on both ends, or was in a noisy environment.
Pros
Best bass for open ear design
Button controls
Great immersive audio experience
Comfortable to wear for long periods
Cons
Receiver hears resonance
No multi-source at once for now
Not good for loud environments
Overall, I would recommend these headphones. The design works well for many ear types and the music sounds great.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
I am happy to hear that you love their design, immersive audio and comfort, but sorry you are not fully satisfied of them during calls or in certain environments.
Also, by design, the open earbuds don’t block out the noises around you or have noise cancellation. They do have an automatic volume control feature, accessible in the Bose Music app, that helps you hear your music evenly as your environment changes from quiet to loud and back. But in very noisy environments where noise cancelling is helpful, it is possible that the outside world could overrun the content playing.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Love, love, love these earbuds! So light and pinch-free, they feel like nothing on the ear. They stay on with jogging and walking. I thought being open to external noise and not being in ear canal would make them less powerful but that’s not true. Sound comes through loud and clear. Control buttons are simple and easy to manipulate, very responsive. Tiny container - fits anywhere and easy to charge.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Bose Open Air Earbuds deliver impressive sound quality in an open-ear design that feels natural and comfortable throughout the day. The audio is clear and full, with music, podcasts, and calls all sounding much better than expected for this style of earbud. These actually surpassed what was expected when looking for great sound quality in open-air earbuds, and have been very impressive overall.
Comfort is a standout feature — they rest lightly on the ears without putting pressure in the ear canal, so they are easy to wear for long periods without fatigue. They stay secure during movement while still feeling barely there, which makes them great for everyday use.
They have also worked well for gaming, music, and general media. For casual and story-based games, sound is immersive enough to enjoy what is happening on screen while still being aware of the surroundings, and switching between gaming, music, and videos feels seamless. Battery life has matched what was advertised, making them a reliable choice for all-day use. Overall, these earbuds combine great sound, comfort, and versatility in a very impressive package
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First off, I had a little bit of visual design shock if you will, the first time I pulled the earphones out of their case. I had this same reaction when I saw people wearing earphones from the fruit company.
Out of the box you get the earphones, a case/charger, a USB-C charging cable (Very short one at that), and a manual which you don’t really need as long as you download the app.
Speaking of app, yes, like everything else in the world, you will need the app to pair, customize, etc…
So turn on your camera app, and go download the app.
Pairing is done via the app. It will ask for permission to access Bluetooth, and from there, it locates the earphones. It will ask you to create an account, and from there you go through a few tutorials on how to put them on, how to create custom listening presets, and how to press the drums buttons to fast forward, go to previous tack, answer calls, and control the volume.
Once the shock of how the earphones look wore off, I found myself watching the tutorial on how to place the earphones into your ear and wrap it around, and I’ll be honest, it took a few tries. I thought I had to shove the sound emitting part of the earphone into my ear, and then wrap it around, but nope. You simply let it almost sit on your inner ear, and then wrap the drum around. I felt like I was trying to put on earrings. It didn’t feel natural, and still takes some time put on again after I had them off for a while.
Once the earphones are on however, you’re transported into sound that is different that what you’ve experienced before. You can create different modes based on the occasion like relaxing, working out, etc… but for me, there’s only one mode I need, and that’s immersion.
Switching between stereo, still, and immersion, I could tell the difference immediately. After hearing still and immersion, stereo sounds like I’m listening through a cheap pair of headphones. It’s that different. Still is good for those who want to sit and be “still.” Immersion makes you feel like you’re at a concert.
The app has an EQ for you audiophiles that need to customize their sound. You can also set two shortcuts for either buttons. You can choose from a few options. I have one for siri, and the other for cycling through modes.
I had the earphones on for about an hour, and they didn’t feel uncomfortable. Almost to a point that I forgot that I had them on.
I don’t see anything mentioning them being water resistant or waterproof in any way, so I’m going to reason that they’re not IP68. That’s also disappointing considering these would be perfect to workout in without worrying that sweat will ruin them.
Another thing that I miss is having a “find my earbuds” function.
All in all the earphones take a while to get used to them, but once they’re on, it’s hard to go to other earphones. Bose has really done a great job with the Open Earbuds Ultra.
Thank you for writing your review of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. I am glad to hear that you love how they sound with the immersion mode activated as well as their comfortable fit.
These earbuds have the IPX4 ratings, which means that they are suitable for workout activities and can be resistant to light rain.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact our team: https://bose.life/contact
Best regards, Lau - Customer Support
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Sound quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great Sound Unique Fit
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the newest premium set to be released by Bose.
I'll start with the unique thing about these buds, and thats the design. These are "Open-Ear buds", not In-Ear buds, which is what a majority of buds on the market typically are. This means that these buds don't go into the ear canal and actually sit on the ridge of your ear outisde the canal, and the barrel shaped part hooks around your outer ear to hold it in place. This makes them sit and look almost like a futuristic ear ring or piercing which doesn't hurt or pinch you at all, but will feel awakward at first, especially if you have always used in ear style buds. Typical of Bose the sound quality is great, I expected nothing less from them, whether you're listening to music or a podcast or just answering a call, the sound quality will be crisp and clear. This set of buds also has great immersive audio stereo technology, which enhances your listening experience. The coolest mode was the Motion Immersion, which adjusts the audio quality to make it sound like the direction of your audio aligns with the motion of your head, so if you were listenining to a band play live and turned your head to the left you will hear the music more prominently on your right side and viceversa, so you're getting a true 360° audio experience. Connecting these buds was easy, just install the Bose Music app, open the case, and the app detects the buds almost immediately, it took me less than a a minute. Through the app you can adjust your EQ and Immersion settings as well as track the battery life of the buds and case. These buds have an IPX4 rating so they are water resistant to sweat great and light rain. The battery life is 7.5hrs which is great for long uses.
I like these buds but I have a few gripes with them that keep them from being perfect in my eyes (or should I say ears lol). While the sound quality is clear, the bass is underhwleming, even at the highest setting its not as deep as some other premium buds I own, which was a bit of a bummer since I like bass heavy music. Also, since these are open-ear design it means they dont have Active Noise Canceling. The fit will take sometime to get used to and will vary by person, but in my experience when using these buds at work for a 5 day week with over 4hrs of continuous use each of those days, I found myself constantly adjusting them because it felt like they were sliding off, despite them being in place.
The Bose Ultra are a good set of premium buds, if not a bit weird to wear at first. For the sound quality alone I would recommend them.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I recently got the Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds, and they’ve completely changed the way I listen to music on the go. Unlike traditional in-ear earbuds, these sit comfortably outside the ear, providing an open and natural listening experience without blocking ambient sounds.
What I Like:
Super Comfortable Fit – The open-ear design feels weightless, and I can wear them for hours without discomfort.
Great Sound Quality – Despite not sealing inside the ear, the audio is crisp, clear, and surprisingly immersive.
Aware of Surroundings – Perfect for outdoor runs, commuting, or work environments where I need to stay aware.
Sleek & Stylish Design – The Lunar Blue color looks modern and premium, and the design is unique.
Reliable Battery Life – Lasts several hours on a single charge, and the case provides extra power when needed.
Final Thoughts:
If you want high-quality sound with an ultra-comfortable open-ear design, the Bose Ultra Open-Ear Earbuds are a fantastic choice. They’re perfect for people who want to stay aware of their surroundings while still enjoying premium Bose audio. While they’re not ideal for bass-heavy music lovers or those needing noise isolation, they offer a unique and liberating listening experience.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Setup:
Quickest setup that I recently experienced. I scanned the QR code and it took me right to the app I needed to start my earbud setup. I used my Apple ID to do my signup which made it even quicker since I didn’t have to add any information. The app walked me through the entire process.
Wearing Earbuds:
The comfort of the ultra earbuds are unheard of. They are light and really feel like I’m not wearing them. When I’m doing my tasks, I sometimes don’t even remember that I’m wearing the earbuds. Putting on the earbuds was not hard but it is different than what I’m used to. I think I understand why it’s designed the way it is and I like it. The fact that it just clips on my ears instead of shoving it in my ear is better for comfort.
Appearance Of Earbuds:
I’m getting use to the look of the Earbuds because I think it gives an earring look. Obviously it’s not shiny and I’m sure people will know it’s not an earring.
Sound Quality Of Earbuds:
I love the immersion sound mode is very good. When I have it on, by me just turning my head it sounds like the sound is moving. The immersion mode makes me feel like I’m in the middle of the studio. I can’t see why I would turn the immersion mode off because it’s that much better.
Phone Usability:
With the iOS the app and the earbuds are a great pair. I have no problem using it for calls or music. I think the controls are similar to another brand that I was using so I don’t have a learning curve for the functionality.
Overall Experience:
I now have my new go to earbuds. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are my new favorite and I will not be leaving home without them. It’s lightweight and sounds great for calls and music. I plan on using this for my bike rides because they are comfortable and seemed to stay on even with aggressive moving.
My only dissatisfaction is that they do not charge on my wireless charger. I think it’s a missed opportunity but I will deal with it.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
These earbuds are ideal in theory but fail on some very basic features.
The good- The sound from these buds is pretty full. They're not as good as what you would get from an over the ear or traditional earbud, but they do the job well enough. They're a bit heavy on mid-range but I wouldn't say it's an issue. They get louder than you might expect and maintain good fidelity. Even better, they don't plug your ears so you can maintain full awareness. It's easy to have conversation with them at lower volumes and with the immersion feature, it can feel like ambient music you'd hear in a bar or hotel lobby. The immersion feature also adds a bit of depth to whatever you're listening to.
They're lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They're also remarkably stable when moving, including running.
Battery life is pretty good and they charge quickly. Generally they last me pretty much a whole work day and some.
The OK- The volume adjustment is a little clunky. Requiring a tap then press and hold. I frequently use these while cycling so it's more convenient to use my phone to change volume. Also being able to tap the device rather than having to press the button would be better.
The bad- The microphone is TERRIBLE. I can barely use them sitting still in a quiet room and have people hear me clearly. Any other conditions are a complete no-go. I've recorded myself using them on my phone and the quality and consistency is awful. Not good if you're on the phone or virtual meetings a lot. This is super disappointing at this price point.
They don't support "Hey Siri." You can still use that feature if your device is within earshot, but for the price, this is disappointing.
I've had many issues with the buds not properly syncing with each other which can only be resolved by turning off Bluetooth on my device and turning it back on.
If your main thing is listening to music, these are fine but there are better options at this price.
We are Glad to hear that you are enjoying the full sound of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds.
We are sorry to hear that that microphone has not quite met your expectations, to help try and improve this here are a few steps to try https://bose.life/4hIn02q
If you run into any issues, please reach out to support and we’ll be happy to help! https://bose.life/globalsupport