If you want better audio settings
Choose Bose Sport Open Earbuds. It scores 4.3 vs 1.5 for audio settings, with a 4.1 overall score.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review
Bottom Line
Exceptional cuff comfort and richer, louder sound make these compelling for open listening throughout the day. The premium price is harder to accept when cheaper rivals offer stronger protection, better microphones, or more total battery life.
Frequent open-ear listeners, people who dislike in-ear pressure, and walkers who want comfortable music without losing awareness. Quiet office work and household multitasking also benefit from hearing people around you.
Frequent flyers needing isolation, hard runners seeking maximum security, or listeners trying to cut through a loud commercial gym. The open design, variable exercise fit, and quieter-setting tuning limit suitability in those settings.
Verdict
The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) are most convincing for people who want comfortable audio while staying aware of colleagues, family, or traffic. Their flexible cuff earns unusually consistent praise, and the fuller, louder sound is a meaningful improvement over the original. Physical buttons, wireless charging, and useful stereo endurance strengthen everyday usability. Paying the full premium is the difficult part: competing clip-ons can offer better protection, microphones, or total battery life for less. Running security varies by ear and intensity, while spatial audio divides listeners and reduces endurance. These deserve consideration for frequent open-ear use, especially at a discount; frequent flyers, hard runners, and listeners in loud gyms have stronger reasons to choose alternatives.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
60 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.013 (22%)
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Positive 3.5-4.428 (47%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.412 (20%)
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Negative 1.5-2.47 (12%)
Pros highlights
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This is widely regarded as a meaningful improvement with excellent comfort and strong open-ear sound. The overall recommendation remains conditional on accepting the price and choosing awareness over isolation.
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Up to nine hours in stereo earns broad approval and can cover a full day of intermittent listening. Spatial processing and Auto Volume can cut that sharply, and some rivals provide more total listening time with their cases.
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The flexible cuff earns broad praise for avoiding pressure and irritation, with several testers calling extended comfort exceptional. One listener still needed a break after a few hours, and an unboxing account establishes only a comfortable first impression.
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Rich, clear sound is a major reason to buy, and several testers place these among the best open earbuds. Some still prefer competing clip-ons for bass impact, while sealed earbuds retain an advantage in outright fidelity.
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The upright case generally feels more premium, sturdy, and practical, with good pocketability. Experiences differ on docking the buds and the lid: some find it reassuringly easy, while others find it awkward or basic.
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The cuff shape, metallic accents, and color choices give the earbuds a polished, jewelry-like appearance. Styling earns strong praise, although one buyer misses the first generation’s Desert Gold option.
Cons highlights
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The premium price is the most consistent complaint. Cheaper clip-ons can offer stronger protection, better microphones, or more battery life, making a discount or a strong preference for Bose’s comfort important.
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IPX4 is generally considered adequate for sweat and light splashes, but several testers want stronger protection at this price. Rivals can offer higher water ratings as well as tested dust protection.
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The cuff can be fiddly or confusing to put on at first, and an awkward fit on the original may carry over. The softer joint helps with opening and positioning, and practice can make the process feel natural.
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Lack of tested dust protection is a weak point at this price. Several comparisons favor cheaper alternatives that add a dust rating alongside splash resistance.
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Moderate-volume listening can be discreet, but higher levels become audible to people nearby in quiet rooms. The design works best when privacy does not depend on playing loudly without leakage.
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The three-band EQ is useful for broad adjustments and can tame harshness or distortion. Its single bass slider leaves little room to target a specific boomy frequency range.
Use Cases
Best for
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Comfort and environmental awareness make these appealing for frequent daily listening. The premium is easier to justify when sound and spatial features matter; simpler everyday use may be better served by the cheaper Sport model.
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The open cuff avoids the pressure and intrusive feeling of tips inside the ear canal. That makes it especially appealing to listeners who find traditional in-ear earbuds uncomfortable.
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Cinema mode can add welcome width and immersion to films and shows. Others find it warps speech or reduces enjoyment and prefer standard playback, so its appeal depends strongly on taste.
Not ideal for
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Air travelThese are a poor replacement for noise-cancelling earbuds on loud flights. Keeping the ear canal open leaves aircraft noise in the listening experience.
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Electronic musicBoomy mid-bass and limited punch weaken the match for electronic music, including drum and bass. One comparison prefers a rival’s tighter, more rounded bass for these styles.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Open-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Firmware/audio stability, aptX, Maximum volume clarity, near average in Overall satisfaction, Soundstage width, below average in Integrated microphone, Value for money, Water/sweat resistance rating.
Comparison summary
54 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher16 (30%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts26 (48%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower12 (22%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firmware/audio stability | 5.0 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
| aptX | 4.1 | 2.0 | +2.1 |
| Integrated microphone | 2.5 | 4.5 | -2.0 |
| Value for money | 2.3 | 3.9 | -1.6 |
| Water/sweat resistance rating | 2.9 | 4.4 | -1.6 |
| Included accessories | 2.0 | 3.6 | -1.6 |
| Maximum volume clarity | 4.5 | 3.2 | +1.3 |
| Volume output | 4.8 | 3.7 | +1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Value for money
Choose SoundPEATS Clip1. It scores 4.8 vs 2.3 for Value for money, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better Water/sweat resistance rating
Choose Shokz OpenFit Air 2. It scores 4.7 vs 2.9 for Water/sweat resistance rating, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Dust resistance
Choose Soundcore Anker AeroClip 2. It scores 4.6 vs 2.3 for Dust resistance, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: Dust and water protection The reviewer finds the Bose protection weaker than the SHOKZ OpenDots 2 model’s IP57 protection.
- Better: Total battery life Bose’s total endurance is considered weak beside the longer-lasting SHOKZ case-and-bud combination.
- Better: Overall sound The Bose is among the best open earbuds for sound but ranks behind the SHOKZ model.
- Worse: Fit security The author finds both new Bose cuff models more secure than AirPods 5.
- Better: Value for money AirPods 5 are considered better value at their lower base price.
- Worse: Fit security The reviewer finds the Bose cuff fit more secure than AirPods 5.
- Better: Running and gym suitability The article recommends the Sport model instead for runners and gym users.
- Better: Overall value The article favors Sport for value because its total claimed battery life is nearly identical for less money.
- Better: Workout suitability The article selects Bose Sport Open as the better workout option.
FAQ
Are they comfortable for long listening sessions?
Comfort is their most consistent strength: the flexible cuff avoids in-ear pressure, and several testers find it exceptionally easy to wear. One listener still needed a break after a few hours.
Is the sound better than the first generation?
Testers generally hear fuller bass, clearer sound, and substantially more volume. Bass-focused comparisons still favor some rivals, so improved sound does not make them every listener’s favorite.
Are they good for running and gym workouts?
Light activity and walking are good matches, but running results vary. Some testers find them secure during exercise; others report slipping during harder running, and one finds the tuning poorly suited to a noisy gym.
How long does the battery last?
Stereo playback is rated for up to nine hours, or about 28.5 hours including the case. Spatial processing and Auto Volume reduce that substantially, to roughly four hours when both are enabled in some accounts.
Do they block outside noise or leak sound?
They leave the ear canal open and do not provide active noise cancellation. Moderate playback can be discreet, but nearby people may hear leakage as the volume rises in a quiet room.
Is Cinema mode worth using?
Opinions are split: some testers enjoy wider, more immersive film playback, while others hear warped dialogue or lost detail. It is optional and also costs battery life.
Are they worth the premium price?
The premium is easiest to justify for frequent users who prioritize cuff comfort and open-ear sound. Value is the most repeated complaint, and several assessments favor cheaper alternatives or waiting for a sale.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Tech Bandicoot
- Review score
- 4.1
YouTube - SmartWatch Radar
Article Reviews
recordingnow.com
My HONEST Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen review based on comfort, fit stability, features, battery life, microphone quality, sound quality...
- Review score
- 3.6
cnet.com
They're pricey at $299 -- perhaps too pricey -- but the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the best-sounding open clip-on earbuds out there.
- Review score
- 4.2
anintent.com
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen launch at $299 with Qi wireless charging, 9-hour battery, retuned bass, and Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint. Here's...
- Review score
- 3.5
impulsegamer.com
Welcome to the all-new Bose Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen (Generation) with a current RRP of $449.95 AUD (October 2026) and is available in a...
- Review score
- 4.4
gizmodo.com
Bose really focused on the stuff that matters in the second generation of its Ultra Open Earbuds.
- Review score
- 4.1
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