Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) Feature Scores
Explore all 60 feature scores for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), organized into pros and cons.
Scores by Feature
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
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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 flexible joint and gentle clamp help the earbuds feel unobtrusive during wear. Testers praise softer or lighter pressure, while one appreciates a slightly tighter fit that still feels comfortable.
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Higher output largely resolves the original model’s loudness limitation. Several testers find enough headroom for noisy surroundings, including a successful subway listening test.
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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.
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Natural awareness is one of the clearest benefits: traffic, conversations, and household activity remain audible. The listening experience suits people who want audio without losing touch with their surroundings.
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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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Physical buttons are usually easy to locate by feel and preferable to touch controls during activity. The main exception is the volume gesture, which one article finds slow and prone to misfires.
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Clear, present vocals are a recurring strength. The richer midrange gives voices and instruments body without routinely burying them in the mix.
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An airy, wide presentation gives music room to breathe. Cinema processing can widen that space further while keeping dialogue centered, although the natural openness is already appealing without it.
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Qi charging is a welcome convenience, especially for a desk or a shared phone-and-earbud charging pad. The addition helps make the redesigned case feel more complete at this price.
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Pairing and wireless operation are generally dependable. One tester reported no connection lags or pairing problems, while another praised near-instant setup on an Android phone.
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Several listeners praise the lightweight feel, and a looser clamp can make the buds feel lighter on the ear. One comparison still slightly favors the lighter Sport model for wearing comfort.
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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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Quick top-ups are valued for restoring useful playback when the battery is low, and the side port allows charging with the case upright. Wireless charging is another welcome daily convenience.
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The cuff is generally secure for walking and everyday movement, but harder exercise exposes disagreement. Some testers endorse vigorous activity, while others report sliding or recommend a sport-focused model.
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Compatible Android phones can benefit from adaptive codec support, and Fast Pair worked almost instantly on a tested Pixel. Hardware support matters for accessing the higher-quality audio options.
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Adaptive aptX support is a useful advantage over rivals limited to basic codecs. Compatible devices can gain higher-quality playback or lower latency, although results vary with the phone.
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The codec offering is a strength for compatible Android hardware. Its practical benefit depends on the source device, so the same latency and quality gains do not apply universally.
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Bass is fuller than before and unusually rich for an open design, but it divides opinion. Some listeners find it pleasingly substantial; others hear boominess, limited sub-bass, or less punch than leading rivals.
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The smoother hinge action is a welcome refinement. One comparison also found the Bose hinge more reassuring than a rival’s, though that confidence is not a long-term durability test.
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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 app is generally straightforward and easy to navigate, with useful customization controls. Its basic EQ and modest depth leave some testers wanting more flexibility.
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Several listeners enjoy balanced, vocal-forward tuning across different genres. One tester instead finds boomy mid-bass and harsh treble that benefit from EQ adjustment.
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The buds are described as well made and sturdy. Their construction gives reviewers a reassuring sense of quality.
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The buds generally preserve clarity and bass as volume rises. One tester heard minimal distortion on a few tracks, while another praised the amount of bass retained near maximum output.
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Call quality is improved and usually intelligible, but opinions range from crisp and clear to merely average. Wind and processed-sounding speech keep the microphones from being an unequivocal strength.
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Adaptive codecs can reduce delay on compatible phones. Results vary by device, so uniformly low latency is not assured.
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The lower cuff position leaves room for glasses arms, and one tester could easily wear sunglasses. Hat brims also have space above the cuff.
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Instrumental parts remain distinct rather than being overwhelmed by other sounds. Acoustic and orchestral recordings also retain decent separation and a natural sense of space.
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Two-device switching is praised as easy and works without manual reconnection. That makes moving between a laptop and a phone convenient.
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The default tuning is satisfying without adjustment for some listeners. Its balanced, vocal-forward presentation works especially well in quieter surroundings.
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Spatial processing draws sharply different reactions: some listeners enjoy its cinematic scale, while others hear warped speech, lost detail, or an artificial effect. Cinema mode is most convincing for viewers who like the added sense of space.
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A tester reports that the earlier high-volume fluctuation problem is completely resolved. Playback above roughly 85% volume is no longer affected by that particular issue.
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Initial setup is exceptionally easy. Opening the case starts pairing, and the tested Android phone immediately offered a connection.
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Natural transparency earns exceptional praise because the ear canal stays open. One listener hears surroundings exactly as before putting the earbuds on.
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Most playback stays clean even at higher volume, but bass-heavy tracks can produce slight distortion. One tester eliminated it by reducing bass and treble with EQ.
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Noise suppression can keep speech clear on busy streets, and one tester found a substantial improvement in simulated windy conditions. Another still heard considerably more background noise than on competing clip-ons.
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The redesigned case remains pocketable even though it is slightly larger than the first-generation case. Carrying it is still considered convenient.
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Moving the USB-C port to the side allows upright tabletop charging. Reactions range from practical convenience to mild bemusement about the unusual placement.
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A customizable shortcut provides convenient access to the phone’s voice assistant. The benefit is quick control through the earbuds rather than a claim about assistant accuracy.
Cons
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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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The open design cannot shut out aircraft, subway, or busy-office noise. Listeners who sometimes need isolation may find a sealed pair more flexible.
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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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Auto Volume can overreact to background noise. In one desk test it abruptly raised playback to an uncomfortable level instead of providing a useful adjustment.
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Missing Auracast is criticized as a conspicuous omission at the premium price. The complaint centers on the absence of a broadcast-audio capability already available on cheaper competitors.
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A power adapter is not included. Buyers without a suitable spare may need to budget for an additional charger.
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Missing wearing detection is a disappointment at the premium price. A tester considers it an expected convenience given that some cheaper open earbuds already offer it.
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Battery reporting in 10% steps is too coarse for precise monitoring. One short listening test still displayed 100%, making it difficult to judge the actual drain.
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Volume adjustment lacks the audible step feedback one tester wanted. A confirmation beep would make it easier to tell how much the level has changed.
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One reviewer considers the two-microphone hardware relatively simple for a $299 product, particularly beside rivals with larger arrays and additional voice sensors.
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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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Speech remains understandable, but voices can sound recessed, muffled, or overly processed. Natural vocal reproduction is less consistent than basic intelligibility.
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Wind performance is mixed despite improvements over the first generation. Some testers find outdoor calling much better, while others still experience background intrusion or inconsistent clarity in heavy wind.
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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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Some ferromagnetic ear jewelry can interact with the earbuds’ magnets. Checking the fit during the return window and adjusting placement may be necessary if a piercing tugs.
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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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Treble opinions vary sharply. One reviewer hears clear, detailed highs even around ambient noise, while another finds the top end harsh enough to need EQ reduction.
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Fit impressions range from nicely seated to more prone to sliding than the first generation. Vigorous movement can shift the buds even when they remain attached.
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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.
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Walking is a good match for the stable light-activity fit and open awareness. One tester made these his preferred dog-walking earbuds, while a buying guide finds the premium easier to justify for walking commutes.
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Routine calls are generally intelligible, and the open fit lets you hear your own voice naturally. Microphone quality and outdoor noise control vary, with some listeners hearing processed speech or preferring rival clip-ons.
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Comfort, clear sound, and the ability to hear colleagues make these appealing for quieter, interruptible work. Shared offices still require sensible volume, and noisy workplaces are a weaker match.
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Keeping the ear canal open suits listening while staying attentive to family or activity around the house. The benefit is remaining reachable without repeatedly removing a bud.
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Cycling benefits from an open design that keeps traffic audible and a cuff fit considered suitable for sporting activity. These strengths favor awareness-focused riding rather than isolation from street noise.
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Exercise security earns praise from several testers, but gym suitability is less consistent. Hard training can favor the Sport model, and the balanced tuning struggles to cut through a loud commercial gym for one listener.
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The low-profile cuff can work well for reclining or brief side-lying listening. One tester finds it fine against a pillow for short periods, but cannot sleep a full night in earbuds.
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Outdoor exercise gains useful awareness of traffic and surroundings. Fit becomes more conditional with vigorous movement or heavy sweat, so demanding training may favor a more secure sport design.
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Acoustic and orchestral recordings benefit from natural sound, a spacious presentation, and decent separation between instruments. These qualities make such material a particularly enjoyable match.
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Laptop-to-phone switching works without manual reconnection, making the earbuds convenient for moving between work devices.
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A tester comfortably followed a podcast on a noisy subway after raising the volume. The same listener found optional Cinema processing warped podcasts, so standard playback was more enjoyable.
Conditional or 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.
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Noisy public transportCommute results are divided: one tester comfortably heard a podcast on the New York subway after raising the volume. Another article stresses that the open design cannot block subway noise, so audibility and isolation remain different needs.
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RunningRunning suitability depends on pace and individual fit. Some testers find the buds stable and value hearing traffic; others notice slipping during harder running and recommend a sport-focused alternative.