Bose SoundSport Free 774373-0010

Great sound and a legendary fit, but the battery life is stuck in 2018. Buy them cheap for the gym, not as your daily driver.

The sound is the star here, and that's not a shock. Bose tuned these to make your workout playlist feel alive, with a warm, bass-forward signature that pushes you through that last set. Connectivity is actually a standout, landing in the 91st percentile in our database, which is wild for a first-gen true wireless product. But the battery is rough. Five hours on the earbuds and ten in the case puts them in the 14th percentile. That's not just below average, that's 'charge them every single day or they'll die mid-run' territory. The mic is fine for quick calls, but call audio only comes through the right earbud, which feels like a weird compromise even for 2018.

Stack these against the Sony WF-1000XM6 or the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and it's not even a fair fight. The Sonys crush them on battery, noise cancellation, and call quality, while the AirPods Pro 3 are smaller, smarter, and integrate better with your phone. Even the Soundcore P31i, which costs a fraction of the price, offers better battery life and a more pocketable case. The only place the Bose wins is pure fit security during intense movement. If you're a runner who has tried everything and earbuds keep falling out, the StayHear+ tips are genuinely special. For everyone else, the competition has lapped these.

At $110, these are a tough sell unless you're a Bose loyalist or you specifically want that secure sport fit and don't care about anything else. The problem is that $110 buys you a lot of earbud in 2025. You can get better battery, better features, and a smaller case from brands like Soundcore or even older Sony models. If these drop below $70, they become a decent gym-only purchase. At full price, you're paying for the Bose logo and not much else.

The Bose SoundSport Free are a pair of true wireless earbuds from a time when 'true wireless' still felt like a magic trick. And honestly, for workouts, they still kind of hold up. The sound is rich and punchy, the fit is famously secure thanks to those StayHear+ Sport tips, and they refuse to fall out no matter how hard you go. But here's the thing: these are old. Released years ago, they're missing features that are table stakes now, like active noise cancellation and a case that doesn't feel like a hockey puck in your pocket. If you can grab them cheap and you only care about gym performance, they're a fun throwback. If you want a daily driver, keep scrolling.

If you want earbuds for commuting, travel, or office use, these aren't it. No noise cancellation, a bulky case, and weak battery life make them a poor choice for anything but workouts. Go grab the Sony WF-1000XM6 or even the Soundcore P31i instead. You'll get better battery, better features, and a case that actually fits in your pocket.

The Bose SoundSport Free are a one-trick pony, but it's a pretty good trick. They sound great, they stay in your ears, and they can handle sweat. If you find them for cheap and you want a dedicated gym pair, go for it. But as an everyday pair of earbuds in 2025, they're outclassed by nearly everything in their price range. The battery alone is a dealbreaker for most people.