Bose’s original Ultra Open Earbuds were released more than two years ago and sparked the proliferation of a new style of open earbuds that resemble clip-on earrings. I’d been waiting for the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) to arrive, and now they’re finally here, with improved sound, voice-calling performance and battery life, Bose says.
While the updated buds carry the same elevated $299 list price as their predecessor, the company has also unveiled its completely new Sport Open Earbuds that cost $199 and have a different design than the original Ultra Open Earbuds. Both new buds are available for preorder Sept. 19 and ship Oct. 1.
Read more: Best Clip-On Earbuds of 2026
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) highlights
According to Bose, the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) feature new drivers, allowing them to play louder and deliver deeper bass. Like Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), as well as its QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), they’re also equipped with the company’s TrueSpatial technology with head-tracking for Immersive Audio, which now includes a Cinema mode. They look very similar to the original, with a slightly upgraded version of the original’s “cuff-clip form factor” that a lot of other people found quite comfortable.
Bose
Available in black, white smoke and “limited-edition” cherry chocolate or olive green colors, they have an IPX4 rating (splash-resistant) and are rated for up to 9 hours of battery life (that’s up from 7 hours), though that number drops if you engage Immersive Audio.
Thanks to their secure fit and open design, the Ultra Open Earbuds worked well for running and biking, and the new version is also suitable for sporting activities, though Bose is billing the lighter Sport Open Earbuds as more durable and “purpose-built for active use,” with an even more secure fit.
Bose Sport Open Earbuds highlights
The Sport Open Earbuds look similar to Shokz OpenDots 2 earbuds, which also sell for $199. Bose says they “combine a secure cuff-style fit with soft silicone construction, IP54 sweat, splash and dust resistance, tactile controls and rich open audio, all while keeping listeners naturally aware of their surroundings.”
The Bose Sport Open Earbuds have an IP54 rating and come in three color options.Bose
The Sport Open Earbuds don’t support Bose’s Immersive Audio feature and are rated for up to 7 hours of battery life. They’re available in three colors: black, white smoke and “limited-edition” eucalyptus green (that same color is available for Bose’s recently released QuietComfort (2nd Gen) headphones).
My quick take
I haven’t tried the new buds yet, but I’ll be receiving review samples in advance of their Oct. 1 ship date and will post full hands-on reviews of them.
A lot has changed in the clip-on earbuds market since Bose first released the Ultra Open Earbuds in February 2024, with dozens of new clip-on models available, many of them at far lower prices than $300. While I suspect the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will be among the best-sounding open earbuds and certainly a good premium option in the category, I also think we’ll see these buds on sale fairly frequently; $300 just seems too high to pay for a pair of clip-on earbuds. (Apple’s new AirPods 5 don’t fit as securely as either of these open buds, but they do feature active noise canceling and start at $129.)
The Sport Open Earbuds have a lightweight cuff-clip form factor.Bose
As for the Sport Open Earbuds, I’ll see how they compare to the Shokz OpenDots 2, Anker Aero Clip 2 and Baseus’ XC1 clip-on earbuds ($100), which feature Sound by Bose. Like the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), I also expect the Sport Open Buds to see regular discounts to compete with all the new premium sport clip-on buds hitting the market, many of which feature improved sound and voice-calling performance.
David Carnoy
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