Bose Ultra Open

The most comfortable way to listen to music without tuning out the world. Skip them if you need to make calls or crave deep bass.

The sound quality genuinely surprised us. For an open-ear design that doesn't seal your ear canal, the clarity and detail are top-notch, landing in the 91st percentile of our database. Bose's Immersive Audio mode adds a fun, 3D-like spaciousness that's great for podcasts and acoustic tracks. The real magic trick is the volume-adaptive EQ, which keeps the sound balanced whether you're in a quiet room or a noisy street. The weak spot is bass, it simply can't compete with sealed in-ear monitors, and the call quality is mediocre at best, scoring a disappointing 61 out of 100 in our tests.

The Shokz OpenDots ONE is the most direct competitor, offering a similar clip-on design with Dolby Audio and a much longer 40-hour total battery life, often for less money. The Sony WF-1000XM6 and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are in a completely different league for sound isolation, bass, and call quality, but they seal your ear canal. If you need awareness, the Bose are the more refined and comfortable choice over the Shokz. If you want to block out the world, go buy the Sonys or AirPods and don't look back.

Value is a tricky one here because the price swings wildly from $198 to $379 depending on where you look. At the low end, you're getting a unique, best-in-class open-ear experience that's absolutely worth it. At nearly $400, you're paying a hefty premium for the Bose name and a design that some people will love and others will hate. Shop around and snag a deal closer to that $200 mark.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a very specific tool for a very specific person. If you hate the plugged-up feeling of traditional earbuds and need to stay aware of your surroundings, these clip-on wonders are a revelation. They pump out surprisingly rich, private audio while letting the world in, and they're so light you'll forget you're wearing them. But if you're looking for booming bass or crystal-clear calls, you're shopping in the wrong aisle. These are premium casual-listening buds, not workhorse headsets.

If you're looking for a headset to take calls on the go, this isn't it. The mic quality is a weak spot that will frustrate you and the person on the other end. Go get a pair of Jabra or Sony earbuds with a proven mic setup instead. Bass heads should also steer clear, the physics of an open design simply can't deliver that thumping low-end you're after.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the best open-ear earbuds you can buy for casual listening and all-day comfort, period. They're a joy for podcasts, audiobooks, and background music when you need to hear a doorbell or a coworker. Just don't buy them expecting to take work calls or feel the bass drop in your chest. If your priority is staying present in your environment without sacrificing good sound, these are an easy recommendation.