Bose is expanding its open-ear range with a $199 pair aimed at workouts and a $299 update to its flagship Ultra Open Earbuds. Announced Thursday, the Sport Open Earbuds and Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will be available October 1, with U.S. preorders opening September 19 through Bose and select retailers.
The Sport model puts a soft silicone cuff and textured buttons at the center of its design. Spending another $100 on the Ultra Open adds Bose's Immersive Audio, a new Cinema Mode and a longer battery rating, alongside a redesigned driver that Bose says produces deeper bass and higher volume than the first generation.
Both leave the ear canal open and deliver sound through the air, rather than through bone conduction. Neither offers active noise cancellation. The aim is to let listeners hear their surroundings while music plays, a different proposition from the isolation of Bose's QuietComfort Headphones.
Sport Open Trades Earhooks for a Cuff
The Sport Open name has appeared before. Bose introduced an earhook-based model in 2021; the new version uses a C-shaped arm that wraps around the ear, bringing it closer to the clip-on approach of the Ultra Open line.
The cuff has a matte silicone finish, and the earbuds carry an IP54 rating for dust, sweat and splash resistance. Physical buttons have a textured surface intended to make music, volume and call controls easier to operate with sweaty fingers. Bose is pitching the fit for running and strenuous movement, though its stability claims still need to be tested.
Bose rates playback at up to seven hours per charge. Its fact sheet lists a 10-minute quick charge for up to an hour of listening. The charging case supports wireless charging, stands upright and has a translucent, textured lid.
The Sport Open plays stereo audio and includes Auto Volume, which adjusts playback loudness as surrounding noise changes. It comes in Black and White Smoke, with Eucalyptus Green offered as a limited edition.
Read more: Our Baseus Bowie MC2 review explores another take on clip-on, open-ear listening.
Ultra Open Adds Cinema Mode and Longer Playback
The second-generation Ultra Open keeps the cuff shape, with an updated flexible silicone joint and a beveled metallic cap. The earbuds have an IPX4 water-resistance rating. Their redesigned case can stand upright and now includes wireless charging.
Beyond the new driver's promised bass and volume improvements, the main audio addition is Cinema Mode. Powered by Bose TrueSpatial, it is designed to widen the presentation of video and podcasts while keeping dialogue centered. Bose says it works with any content source. The company also brought Cinema Mode to its recent QuietComfort Headphones update.
Battery life is rated at up to nine hours with Immersive Audio off, dropping to five hours with it enabled. A 10-minute quick charge provides up to two hours of playback with Immersive Audio off, according to Bose. These are manufacturer ratings, with actual runtime dependent on settings and use.
The Ultra Open also supports Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive on compatible Android devices. Both models have Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint connections with two devices, SBC and AAC codec support, and Google Fast Pair. The Bose app provides a three-band EQ, Auto Volume controls and configurable shortcuts.
Call improvements extend across both pairs. Bose's SpeechClarity combines a dedicated microphone and a voice pickup unit in each earbud with AI-assisted voice isolation, intended to separate speech from background noise.
Some shared features will arrive later. Bose says a firmware update after the October 1 release will add Google Find Hub, Alexa+ and an Apple Music shortcut to both models. The company has not given a specific rollout date for that update.
The $299 Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will be offered in Black and White Smoke, alongside limited-edition Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green and Sky Pink. Both pairs are announced now; preorders begin September 19.
