Bose is adding two open-ear earbuds to its lineup on October 1: the Bose Sport Open Earbuds and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen).
The second-generation Ultra Open Earbuds are the follow-up to Bose's 2024 model, which the company calls its 'flagship open-ear experience.' Bose says the new version improves sound, battery life, and design while keeping the same cuff-clip shape. The earbuds now have a beveled finish on the metallic caps, and the case has been redesigned to support wireless charging and stand upright.
On the audio side, Bose says a new driver delivers better bass and higher volume than the first-generation earbuds. The updated Ultra model also gets Cinema Mode for movies, TV shows, and video podcasts. Because of the open design, there is no noise canceling, but users do get a three-band EQ in the Bose app and an automatic volume control setting.
The Ultra Open Earbuds support multipoint connectivity with two devices over Bluetooth 5.4. Bose also plans to add support for Google Find Hub and Alexa+ in a firmware update on launch day. There is also a new Apple Music shortcut that takes users straight to preselected playlists.
Battery life rises to up to nine hours, up from 7.5 hours on the Gen 1 model. Bose says the wireless charging case holds just under 20 extra hours of power. Using Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode will cut into that battery life.
Bose's other new earbuds reuse the Sport Open name, even though Bose says they are a completely new product. They use the same OpenAudio tech as the Ultra model, which lets users listen to music without tuning out the world around them.
The Sport Open Earbuds also use a cuff-clip design, but Bose has aimed them at fitness and outdoor sport. The company says the C-arm cuff attaches gently to the ear but stays secure during head shakes and other fast movements. Physical controls are meant to make it easier to adjust volume or take calls during a workout.
They use custom-designed drivers, support Auto Volume and multipoint, and offer up to seven hours of battery life, with 22 hours in the wireless charging case. Bose says the earbuds have IP54 dust and water protection, which should cover sweat, but not a swim.
The Sport Open Earbuds come in Black and White Smoke and cost $199. The second-generation Ultra Open Earbuds come in Nue Black or White Smoke and cost $299.
Here's the thing: Bose is leaning harder into a category that treats awareness as a feature, not a bug. That's useful for runners, commuters, and anyone who wants the road and the room to stay audible.
But the price tags also show where premium audio keeps going: more features, more software, and more money for hardware that never fully disappears in your ear or in your wallet. The demo is not the product, and the product here is a costly compromise that Bose thinks enough people will happily wear.