Bose is updating its open-ear clip design with a second generation of the Ultra Open Earbuds, a product line that helped start the clip-on wireless earbud trend nearly two and a half years ago. The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) carry a redesigned shape and deliver improvements in sound quality and battery life, the company said. A new, lower-priced model, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds, joins the lineup with a fit intended to stay put during physical activity.
The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) open for preorder on September 19th at $299 and go on sale October 1st. Buyers can choose from black, white smoke, cherry chocolate, olive green, and sky pink. The Bose Sport Open Earbuds share the same preorder and availability dates but cost $100 less, at $199, and come in black, white smoke, and eucalyptus green.
As with the first version, the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) clip to the outer ear and send audio toward the ear canal through a transducer. Bose claims the design keeps sound leakage to a minimum. The earbuds still omit active noise cancellation because their purpose is the opposite, letting listeners hear their surroundings while playing music or a podcast.
The 2nd Gen model adds a beveled finish on the metal cap of each earbud and a new driver that produces higher volume with automatic adjustments and deeper bass. A new Cinema Mode uses Bose's TrueSpatial technology to create what the company describes as a wider, more immersive soundstage while keeping dialogue clear and centered. Battery life now reaches up to nine hours on the buds alone, up from seven hours, with another 19.5 hours from a redesigned case that stands upright and can be placed on a wireless charger.
The Bose Sport Open Earbuds use a similar clip-on approach that directs sound inward, but add a thinner cuff with a soft silicone matte finish for extra grip. Bose says the Sport version stays secure through head shakes, cartwheels, and running. Automatic volume adjustments respond to ambient noise so listening is not drowned out, and the customizable shortcut button at the end of each battery barrel has added texture so it is easier to locate during a workout. Battery life is rated at up to seven hours of playback plus 22 additional hours from the wireless charging case.
The announcement extends Bose's position in the open-ear category, where earbuds are built to leave the ear canal unobstructed rather than seal it off. Both new models reach the US market through the same preorder and release schedule, with the Sport version positioned as the less expensive option for active users.
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