Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Review: Fashion Forward

Value When Reviewed

$299

Greatest Costs At the moment: Bose Extremely Open Earbuds

$299

Bose is among the greatest gamers within the headphone market and is thought for its very spectacular noise cancelling cans. Nonetheless, the model goes for one thing a bit totally different with its newest launch, the Ulta Open earbuds.  

The Bose Extremely Open earbuds are designed to depart your ear canal free so you’ll be able to pay attention to your environment with out compromising on the audio. Nonetheless, they don’t use bone conduction or a hooked construct as we’ve seen on earlier units of this nature just like the H2O Audio Tri Professional Multi-Sport. They’re elegant but distinctive, and the audio is vastly extra spectacular than I anticipated – however they’re definitely not flawless.  

Disclaimer: Throughout testing I encountered some software program bugs with app connection and audio popping, which I’ve reported to Bose. As these components have an effect on the general rating, we’ve made the choice to not rating the Bose Extremely Open Earbuds till this situation is mounted.

Design & Construct  

• Modern cuffed form
• Comfy for all-day put on
• Two colors obtainable

The Bose Extremely Open has what the corporate dubs a ‘cuff-design’, however you may name them ‘clip-on’. The battery barrel sits behind your ear, with the entrance speaker catching in your decrease lobe. That sounds extra sophisticated than it’s – I had no points placing on the buds, even on the primary strive. 

Bose guarantees all-day consolation with the buds, and I’ve to agree with that sentiment. Whereas they act like a pair of clip-on earrings in follow, there’s no pinching or discomfort, even after carrying them for a number of hours.

The shocking 10g weight of every bud definitely helps with this, too.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

They’re essentially the most snug pair of open-ear buds I’ve used, and don’t give me that sore feeling in my cheeks that I get with headphones that use bone conduction expertise. I wore them with glasses and with a hood up and encountered no interference in any way.

They’re additionally sturdy and safe. I examined them throughout a pilates HIIT exercise the place I did rotating facet planks, mountain climbers and leaping jacks, they usually stayed on my ears with no issues. The IPX4 score implies that they’re protected in opposition to sweat and splashes of water.  

Throughout my briefing, a Bose mentioned that somebody within the workforce by chance wore them within the bathe with no points, although I’m not courageous sufficient to check this out. They held up simply fantastic throughout a wet stroll.  

The Bose Extremely Open Earbuds are available in both Black or White Smoke. I examined the latter which is extra of a creamy impartial versus vivid white. The arm is made with gentle silicone, with brushed metallic silver finishes on the buttons and arms. 

There’s additionally a particular version model made in collaboration with style and way of life model Kith, which characteristic the black color end and Kith lettering in basic type of Bose’s brand.

The accompanying plastic case is sufficiently small to suit right into a jean pocket and contains USB-C charging on the rear, together with a button for pairing, – although there’s no waterproofing on the case. Neither this nor the buds simply decide up fingerprints or different marks.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Good Options  

• Button controls 
• Bose Music app 
• 30ft Bluetooth vary

Pairing the Bose Extremely Open with my smartphone was initially simple. All I needed to do was press the button on the again of the case, open Bluetooth on my cellphone after which the buds confirmed up. The Bose Extremely Open Earbuds additionally help Google Quick Pair. 

After this, I had a number of events the place the buds had bother connecting within the app, even after they had been taking part in music from my cellphone. I’m hoping that’s as a result of them being an early manufacturing unit, however Wired reported an analogous situation.

For full configuration over the Bose Extremely Open, you’ll need the Bose Music app, which is offered on iOS and Android. The homepage contains the battery life of every bud in 10% increments and has sections for audio changes, tutorials and connections.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

The bud buttons are situated on the underside of every battery barrel – there are not any touch-sensitive controls as there are on many rivals. They can be utilized to regulate playback, quantity, reply calls and change between audio modes, with the precise configurations all changeable throughout the app. Clicks are responsive and don’t really feel too agency on the underside of the ear. 

There are 4 preset EQ modes within the app: Bass Booster, Treble Booster, Bass Reducer and Treble Reducer.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to tweak the sliders to fit your preferences. Some rivals supply devoted modes for sure audio, comparable to music, cinema or sports activities, however Bose has opted to let the consumer select their very own preferences for content material.  

Like Shokz, Bose has a clear and easy structure for the app, with loads of guides for controlling the buds. You’ll be able to change between the assorted Immersive Audio modes right here, and toggle on auto quantity.  

You’ll be able to change between units within the app, however there’s no multipoint connectivity on the time of writing. Bose has mentioned {that a} software program replace will rectify this later within the yr.

With a 30ft Bluetooth vary, these buds are usable in a distinct storey of your home to your cellphone with out a hitch.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Sound High quality  

• aptX Adaptive help
• 4 preset EQ modes
• Bose Immersion audio obtainable

The Bose Extremely Open buds supply surprisingly spectacular audio for a totally open-ear machine. They’ve 12mm drivers, with help for Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec, however not LDAC.

Provoke by The Chemical Brothers has a good stability of lows, strings and vocals. Bass is obvious, however not fairly the thumping that you simply’ll get with sealed earphones or over ear headphones. 

Slower tracks comparable to Mercy by Rachel Platten are vibrant, with the piano, organ, drums and vocals all balanced satisfyingly. Heavier tracks comparable to ONLAP’s Rock Ain’t Useless sound highly effective, with detailed guitar solos. Once more, you’ll lose a few of that thrum in the event you go into noisy environments  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The earbuds are spectacular sufficient that podcasts are nonetheless comparatively clear over the roar of the underground. Some buds with correct noise isolating ideas don’t even move this take a look at, in order that’s an enormous win for Bose. There’s minimal leakage, so that you needn’t fear about utilizing the Extremely Open Earbuds in a busy atmosphere, comparable to an workplace. 

With the quantity on low, I might simply speak to a barista in a espresso store and listen to them clearly. Certain, it feels a bit impolite doing it however it’s potential. The higher use case is being conscious of your environment, comparable to in the event you’re operating (couldn’t be me) or in the event you’re crossing a highway and need to hear visitors.  

Immersive Audio is Bose’s devoted spatial mode, and presents two choices: Nonetheless and Movement. One is designed for once you’re sitting and listening to the buds, comparable to working at your desk, or enjoyable on the couch. The opposite is for once you’re bustling about, comparable to in your commute.  

I’d suggest utilizing it on reside music performances, and when listening to high-action motion pictures. For traditional audio, it’s hit or miss – generally it provides additional depth to a monitor, whereas different instances it may well sound a bit echoey and muddle some devices, like synths, into the background. For those who’re an audio purist, I’d keep away from this characteristic altogether.  

There’s an auto quantity characteristic, which dials the sound up or down relying in your ambient environment. I discovered this to be easy when exiting my flat onto a busy highway, with my podcast dialing as much as a suitable quantity. That mentioned, later in my stroll (when switching to music), a gust of wind despatched the monitor belting up, which was an disagreeable expertise. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

I’d advise simply sticking to the quantity you like, as this may come right down to style and the kind of content material you’re listening to anyway.  

Sadly, my evaluation unit had some popping on Spotify and Amazon Music, significantly when both Immersive Audio or auto quantity was on. I’ve reached out to Bose for touch upon this and can replace my evaluation once I know extra. I didn’t discover it on my iMac, so it may very well be a compatibility situation with my cellphone. 

There are twin microphones on every bud, and in accordance with family and friends calls sound clear on the buds when in quiet environments, although louder ones comparable to streets appear to choose up ambient noise as there’s no wind discount expertise obtainable. I used to be in a position to hear the callees simply fantastic.  

If the design of the buds doesn’t make this apparent, there are not any ANC or talkthrough choices obtainable.

Battery Life & Charging  

Bose claims that the Extremely Open can final for 7.5 hours when immersion mode is turned off, and that appears according to my testing.

Half that point dropped the cost by roughly 50%. The immersion modes solely present 4.5 hours of listening time on a single cost, which is unimpressive in comparison with rivals.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The case gives as much as a further 19.5 hours of listening time on stereo mode, and 12 hours on the immersion modes. I used to be in a position to make use of these for commuting and dealing on and off for a couple of days with out worrying about charging, which is a aid.  

There’s a USB-C cable included within the field, and a ten-minute cost will get you as much as one hour of listening time. Nonetheless, no wi-fi charging is included which is a disgrace.  

Value & Availability  

The Bose Extremely Open Earbuds value £299/$299.

You should buy them from Bose, Amazon and Greatest Purchase within the US, and Bose, Amazon and John Lewis within the UK. That’s on no account low-cost, so that you may need to weigh up your options.  

If consciousness of your environment is vital to you, then the Jabra Elite 10 supply a semi-open design with the choice of ANC and head monitoring. For extra health fanatics the Shokz OpenFit supply a totally open design, however the audio isn’t the perfect because of the restricted frequency vary.  

Each rivals are cheaper than the Bose Extremely Open, which is unquestionably on the premium finish of the spectrum. You’ll be able to see how they evaluate to others in our chart of the perfect earbuds chart.  

The restricted version Kith mannequin is bought out on the time of writing, however you’ll be able to join notifications on the Bose and Kith web sites. They’re barely extra, £305/$300, for the privilege.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Must you purchase the Bose Extremely Open Earbuds?

The Bose Extremely Open Earbuds supply the perfect open-ear design I’ve seen. They’re snug and safe, and at first look seem like a singular style accent slightly than a bit of tech. The audio can be a deal with for many issues, although bass followers received’t get the identical expertise as they’d on closed earbuds or full headphones.  

After all, there are catches. They value a reasonably penny, and while the battery life is sufficient for a day’s listening in stereo, the Immersive mode sturdiness isn’t that spectacular in any respect. I additionally hope that the software program points I encountered should not extra widespread.

All in all, if you’d like the perfect audio you will discover on a pair of open-ear earbuds and cash isn’t any object, then it’s nonetheless price contemplating the Bose Extremely Open. In any other case, there are different choices obtainable.

Specs

• Cuff design
• 12mm drivers
• Bluetooth 5.3
• AAC, aptX Adaptive, and SBC
• Button controls
• 4 microphones
• Helps Bose Immersive Audio
• Battery life: As much as 7.5 hours playback on 1 cost (4.5hr with Immersion modes), 31hr playback with charging case
• USB-C
• Dimensions: 18.5 x 17 x 27.2 mm (per earbud)
• Dimensions: 41.9 x 65 x 26.4mm (charging case)
• Weight: About 10g (per earbud), About 40g (charging case)
• IPX4
• Black, White Smoke