Bose
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
$299
Released 2024-02
Best Open Ear Earbuds · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Soundcore AeroFit 2 is cheaper at $129.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Bose
$299
Released 2024-02
Soundcore
$129.99Cheaper
Released 2025
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Soundcore AeroFit 2 is the cheaper at $129.99.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $299 | $129.99 |
| Brand | Bose | Soundcore |
| Released | 2024-02 | 2025 |
| Msrp usd | 299 | 129.99 |
| Fit style | cuff | hook |
| Driver size (mm) | — | — |
| Battery buds hours | 7 | 10 |
| Battery total hours | 27 | 42 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| IP rating | IPX4 | IP55 |
| Weight per bud grams | — | 10 |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Multipoint connect | Yes | Yes |
Sources — Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: bose.com (verified 2026-06-27). Soundcore AeroFit 2: soundcore.com (verified 2026-06-27).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 10). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
All four whitelisted outlets (SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi, TechRadar, Engadget) reviewed this exact model hands-on. All four praise the comfortable clip-on open fit that stays put during workouts and all-day wear. Three (SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi, TechRadar) explicitly flag the $299 / £299 price as high. They split sharply on sound: TechRadar and What Hi-Fi call the bass impressively full, while SoundGuys and Engadget find it subdued and the open design a genuine compromise. (4 sourced reviews, 4 lab-tested.)
Praised: Comfortable, secure clip-on open fit that stays put during workouts and all-day wear; Situational awareness suits running, cycling and office use; Very little sound leakage for an open design.
Flagged: Expensive at $299 / £299, on par with Bose's flagship in-ear ANC buds; Subdued bass and sound quality compromised versus sealed in-ear buds; Mediocre microphone / call quality in wind or ambient noise.
Two whitelisted outlets reviewed the exact ~$100 Soundcore AeroFit 2 (SoundGuys, tested over a week with HEAD acoustics MDAQS measurements; Digital Trends, hands-on but no instrumented measurements). Both praise the adjustable four-position comfort and in-case wireless charging, and both flag overly sensitive touch controls and the open design's weak bass and isolation. They split sharply on overall sound quality. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Adjustable four-position fit is comfortable and secure across ear sizes; Wireless charging in the case; Strong value at the ~$100 price (Digital Trends; SoundGuys calls them affordable but rates value low).
Flagged: Overly sensitive touch controls trigger accidental taps; Open design sacrifices bass and isolation; Microphones pick up wind noise.