Bose has announced two new pairs of true wireless earbuds in the 2nd Gen Open Ultra Earbuds and the brand new Sport Open Earbuds.
The Open Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen represents Bose’s flagship performance in the open-headphones arena, while the Sport Open Earbuds are for those who want comfort and awareness while they’re working out and performing sports.
Let’s dig into the nitty gritty of these new Bose headphones
The original Open Ultra was something of a pioneer for the ‘cuff’ design that’s become popular, and the second gen model looks to improve on that foundation set in a number of ways.
Both feature Bose’s OpenAudio technology, which it states is “engineered to deliver rich, personal sound through a completely open design”, delivering clear sound to the ear with minimal leakage of audio. Considering bass was an area our review felt was on the weaker side, Bose says its amping the bass through its SoundDesign digital signal processing.
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Image Credit (Bose)
Neither model supports any active noise cancellation (or noise reduction), so you’ll remain aware of your surroundings at all times. For conversations over the phone, both earbuds feature Bose’s AI-enhanced voice-isolation SpeechClarity technology; with one dedicated microphone and one voice pickup unit in each earbud combining to isolate your voice from background noise. That’s another area we felt was lacking and hopefully it’s been improved.
Focusing on the new Ultra Open Earbuds, it also comes with an Auto Volume feature that adjusts the volume level of audio in response to background noise. Like the recent launch of the QuietComfort Headphones 2, the open-ears receive Cinema Mode that brings spatial audio to video content, adding to the Immersive Audio that was already supported on the original.
Battery life has been boosted to 9 hours per charge and wireless charging support is included from the off. Snapdragon Sound is included (as long as you have a compatible phone) with its aptX Adaptive Bluetooth streaming.
Image Credit (Bose)
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The Sport Open Earbuds are the first of its kind, prioritising “stability, comfort, and durability), Auto Volume is also present on this model, and the “textured” physical buttons should make it easier to control the headphones when you’re reaching for them with sweaty hands. They’re rated to IP54 to guard against water, sweat and grime; and like the flagship model it supports wireless charging with seven hours of battery per charge and a charging case with a translucent, textured lid for an easier grip.
The Open Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen are priced at £299.99, the same as the original and again, makes them the premium option within the open-ear headphones market. The Sport Open Earbuds are priced at £179.99. We’ll be looking to review them soon and you can get your hands on them from October 1st, with pre-orders starting now.