Bose · Updated June 2026
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: price, specs & release date
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds costs $299, the most expensive open ear earbuds (median $179.99). It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 24/100 pay-blind standing, #8 of 9 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Comfortable, secure clip-on open fit that stays put during workouts and all-day wear; Situational awareness suits running, cycling and office use.
- Skip if Expensive at $299 / £299, on par with Bose's flagship in-ear ANC buds is a dealbreaker.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, released 2024-02. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: bose.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
Is the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds a good buy?
At $299, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds is the most expensive of the 9 open ear earbuds we track, where the median is $179.99. On the spec sheet, its msrp usd of 299 is the highest of the 9, its bluetooth version of 5.3 is the lowest of the 9, and its battery buds hours of 7 is below the median of the 9.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 3
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 5
- Outlets on record3 tested · 1 mention-only
- 4
3 independent labs measured this product, logging 5 distinct physical metrics between them — battery, mdaqs overall audio, mdaqs timbre score and 2 more. That is how much independent evidence stands behind any claim about it — not a rating of the product.
battery · mdaqs overall audio · mdaqs timbre score · mdaqs distortion score · mdaqs immersiveness score
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
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.
Tested by SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar, Engadget
Consistently praised
- Comfortable, secure clip-on open fit that stays put during workouts and all-day wear · 4 sources
- Situational awareness suits running, cycling and office use · 3 sources
- Very little sound leakage for an open design · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Expensive at $299 / £299, on par with Bose's flagship in-ear ANC buds · 3 sources
- Mediocre microphone / call quality in wind or ambient noise · 3 sources
- Subdued bass and sound quality compromised versus sealed in-ear buds · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree Sound quality genuinely splits the field: TechRadar (best-sounding open-ear buds, bar none) and What Hi-Fi (surprisingly solid, weighty bass) rate the audio highly, while SoundGuys (MDAQS 2.3, bass takes a massive hit) and Engadget (bass subdued) find the open design meaningfully compromises the sound.
The sources (4)
battery life (standardized real-world test): 8 hours 53 minutes · MDAQS overall audio quality score: 2.3 · MDAQS timbre score: 2.8 · MDAQS distortion score: 2.4 · MDAQS immersiveness score: 2.4
I had no issues with these earbuds staying in place while cycling downtown or performing any physical activity.
The irony is that the bass frequencies that usually get you moving take a massive hit with this earbud style.
With such a hefty price tag for such limited sound quality and applications, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are hard to recommend.
There's an impressive sense of weight and solidity to low frequencies.
One of the biggest compliments we can give the Ultra Open Earbuds is that they exhibit the same likeable Bose character we've heard from its other recent Bluetooth in-ears.
Sonically, they aren't perfect and they are quite expensive, which is why you see only four stars at the top of this review instead of five
battery life observed (to low-battery warning): about 6 hours
These are the best-sounding open ear buds we've ever tried, bar none.
the sound is incredible and satisfyingly bassy, and at times I forgot the buds were open at all – it was just that good.
They do feel a little wobbly thanks to the uneven weight distribution, but have so far refused to actually fall off
battery playtime observed (75% volume, Immersive Audio on): just over 5 hours
these are certainly the most comfy of the sort that I've tested thanks to the lack of a hook.
Bass is subdued, as are the crisp highs from Bose's other recent audio gear.
There also seems to be a reverb-y echo on the Ultra Open Earbuds, like the two sides are slightly out of sync.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $299 MSRP $299; currently on sale at bose.com for $199 as of 2026-06-27 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bose |
| Released | 2024-02 |
| Msrp usd | 299 |
| Fit style | cuff |
| Driver size (mm) | — |
| Battery buds hours | 7 |
| Battery total hours | 27 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 |
| IP rating | IPX4 |
| Weight per bud grams | — |
| Wireless charging | No |
| Multipoint connect | Yes |
Source: bose.com (verified 2026-06-27) · corroborated by soundguys.com. MSRP $299 confirmed from bose.com (currently showing $199 sale from $299 original). Battery 7h buds, 27h total per Bose spec. BT 5.3, IPX4 confirmed. Weight per bud not published by Bose — nulled. Driver size not published — nulled. Wireless charging: included case is USB-C only. Fit style: cuff clip-on.
Is the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds worth it vs cheaper open ear earbuds?
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds against its closest cheaper and pricier open ear earbuds on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 9 ranked →
| Product | Price | Msrp usd | Fit style | Battery buds hours | Battery total hours | Bluetooth version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose Ultra Open Earbuds this | $299 | 299 | cuff | 7 | 27 | 5.3 |
| Shokz OpenFit Pro | $249.95 | 249.95 | hook | 12 | 50 | 6.1 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds?
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. 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. (From 4 tester reviews, 4 lab-tested.)
How much does the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds cost?
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds has a US price of $299 (MSRP $299; currently on sale at bose.com for $199 as of 2026-06-27), as of 2026-06-27.
How does the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds compare on price?
At $299, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds is the most expensive of the 9 open ear earbuds we track, where the median is $179.99.
When was the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds released?
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds was released 2024-02.
What are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds's key specs?
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (Bose): msrp usd 299, fit style cuff, battery buds hours 7, battery total hours 27, bluetooth version 5.3. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-27.
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Compare with
Head-to-head
Cheaper open ear earbuds
- Shokz OpenFit Pro $249.95
- Sony LinkBuds Open (WF-L910) $199.99
- Shokz OpenDots One $199.95
- Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro $179.99
- Shokz OpenFit 2 $179.95
- JBL Soundgear Sense $149.95
Part of the Personal audio cluster
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