Bose has expanded its open-ear audio lineup with two new products aimed at different types of listeners. The Bose Sport Open Earbuds are designed around exercise and outdoor activity, while the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) are positioned as the company’s premium open-ear model for everyday listening. The Sport model costs $199 and the Ultra model costs $299, with both scheduled for October 1 availability after preorders begin September 19. Rather than competing directly with conventional sealed earbuds on active noise cancellation, Bose is continuing to build around a different idea: keeping the ear canal open so users can hear music while remaining aware of their surroundings. The new generation adds longer battery life, improved audio processing, clearer calls and, on the Ultra model, a new Cinema Mode intended to make open-ear listening more suitable for video.
Two products, two different use cases
The Sport Open Earbuds are built around movement. Bose uses a soft silicone C-arm that wraps around the ear and keeps the speaker positioned without inserting an ear tip into the ear canal. The company says the design was tested for demanding movement and is intended for running, workouts and outdoor activity. Physical buttons are used for controls, which is useful during exercise because users do not have to rely on precise touch gestures while moving or wearing gloves.
The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) take the same open-ear principle into a more premium everyday product. They retain the cuff-style shape associated with the first Ultra model but receive a refined finish, a redesigned flex joint, improved sound and a more robust charging case. Bose is targeting commuters, workers and people who want to listen throughout the day without sealing their ears from the surrounding environment.
Why Bose keeps the ear canal open
Open-ear audio solves a different problem from conventional in-ear headphones. A sealed earbud can provide strong bass and passive isolation because it controls the acoustic path into the ear. An open-ear product deliberately gives up that isolation so the listener can hear traffic, conversations, announcements and other environmental sounds. Bose says its OpenAudio system directs sound toward the ear while limiting the amount that escapes into the surrounding area.
This design is particularly relevant for outdoor activity. A runner may want music or a podcast without losing awareness of a bicycle, vehicle or person approaching from behind. A commuter may want to hear an announcement at a station without removing an earbud. The trade-off is that background noise can compete with the music, which is why Bose is adding features such as Auto Volume and stronger signal processing rather than trying to recreate the sealed-earbud experience.
Sport Open Earbuds focus on stability and durability
Bose says the Sport model uses a soft silicone C-arm that can stay in place during running and other movement. The company has emphasized physical stability because open-ear products cannot depend on an ear-tip seal to keep their position. The design instead uses the outside of the ear as the anchor point, allowing the speaker enclosure to sit above the ear canal.
The Sport Open Earbuds are rated IP54 for resistance to dust and water exposure. Battery life is rated at up to seven hours from the earbuds, with the charging case providing additional power. Bose is also using physical buttons, a choice that should make basic controls predictable during exercise. The product is So less about maximum feature density and more about maintaining a stable, simple listening experience while the user is moving.
Ultra Open 2nd Gen adds a larger entertainment focus
The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) are the more feature-rich product. Bose says the new model provides deeper bass and higher volume than its predecessor and adds TrueSpatial technology for a more immersive presentation. The company has also introduced Cinema Mode, which can create a theater-like sound experience for movies and other video content.
That matters because open-ear earbuds have traditionally been easier to position as background-listening products. Bose is trying to extend the category into situations where the audio itself is the main activity. Cinema Mode aims to provide a wider presentation while preserving the basic benefit of open ears. The Ultra model also supports Bluetooth multipoint and uses Bluetooth 5.4, giving it a more conventional premium-earbud feature set even though the physical design remains unusual.
Battery life gets a substantial increase
Bose rates the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) for up to nine hours of playback, compared with the shorter runtime of the previous generation. The company also adds wireless charging to the case. A quick-charge feature can provide additional playback after a short charging period, although actual battery life varies with volume, settings and features such as immersive audio.
The increase matters because open-ear products are often worn for long periods. The category is not limited to a 30-minute workout. Bose is explicitly targeting commutes, work, walks and downtime, so the earbuds have to survive a much longer portion of the day. The charging case is So part of the product design rather than merely an accessory.
SpeechClarity addresses a difficult microphone problem
Open-ear earbuds have an unusual challenge for voice calls because the microphones are exposed to the same environment that the user is intentionally allowed to hear. Wind, traffic and nearby conversations can So reach the microphones easily. Bose says its SpeechClarity technology uses AI-improved voice isolation to separate the speaker’s voice from surrounding sound.
The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) have two microphones per product according to Bose’s specifications, and a voice pickup system intended to improve call clarity. The real-world value will depend on conditions such as wind and road noise, but the feature is important because clear calls are a requirement for an everyday wearable rather than an optional extra.
Auto Volume and open-ear listening
Auto Volume can compensate for one of the inherent weaknesses of open-ear audio. When the environment becomes louder, music can become harder to hear. Bose says the feature can automatically adjust the playback level as the surroundings change. A user moving from a quiet office to a busy street should So spend less time reaching for the volume control.
Automatic volume adjustment does not eliminate environmental sound, and that is not its purpose. The goal is to maintain a consistent perceived listening level while preserving awareness. This is a different philosophy from noise cancellation, where the system attempts to reduce the amount of environmental sound reaching the listener.
Pricing and launch timing
Bose says the Sport Open Earbuds will sell for $199, while the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will cost $299. Preorders begin September 19 and retail availability is scheduled for October 1. Both models are provideed in multiple finishes, with additional limited colors planned for the Ultra line.
The price difference reflects the positioning. Sport is designed as the activity-focused model, while Ultra adds stronger audio capabilities, a more premium physical design, Cinema Mode, longer battery life and additional connectivity features. Buyers So have a choice between a simpler sports product and a more expensive open-ear model intended to stay in use throughout the day.
The open-ear category is moving beyond sports
Bose’s two-product launch shows how the company sees open-ear audio developing. The original argument for this category was primarily situational awareness during exercise. The new Ultra model broadens that argument to commuting, work, entertainment and calls. The ear remains open, but the product is no longer presented as something that only belongs on a running trail.
The challenge is making that trade-off worthwhile. Open-ear products cannot match sealed earbuds in every aspect of isolation and bass response, but they can provide a different kind of convenience. Bose is betting that enough users will value environmental awareness, comfort and all-day wear to accept those compromises. The new Sport and Ultra models are the company’s latest attempt to make that case with better audio, longer battery life and more capable software.
Source: https://www.bose.com/pressroom/bose-sport-open-earbuds-and-bose-ultra-open-earbuds-2nd-gen.