Bose is leaning further into an idea that’s simple on paper: great sound doesn’t always need to block out everything around you. The company just launched two new products, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen).
The Sport targets runners, gym regulars, and anyone training outdoors, while the Ultra aims higher, positioned as a premium option built for commuting, work, and everyday use throughout the day.
Both models run on Bose’s OpenAudio tech, which beams sound toward your ears while leaving your ear canals completely open. That means traffic, station announcements, and conversations around you stay audible while you listen. Don’t expect noise cancellation here, since that would work against the entire concept.
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Bose uses digital signal processing instead to keep bass and clarity intact while cutting down on sound leaking out to people nearby. There’s also SpeechClarity, an AI-driven system that uses dedicated microphones to isolate your voice from background noise, aimed at making your calls easier to hear.
Bose Sport Open Earbuds and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen)
The Sport Open Earbuds lean hard into fitness. A C-arm cuff wraps around your ear with a soft silicone finish, and the textured physical buttons make it easier to control music, calls, and volume even with sweaty hands.
They carry an IP54 rating too, so sweat, splashes, and dust won’t cause problems. You get seven hours of battery on the earbuds themselves, plus another 22 hours from the case, and a quick 10-minute charge buys you up to an hour of playback.
The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) keep that same cuff-style shape but push toward a more premium, all-day listening experience.
Bose redesigned the driver for deeper bass and higher volume, and added TrueSpatial-powered Cinema Mode, which widens the soundstage for movies, shows, and podcasts.
Battery life is up to nine hours, though that number drops to five hours once you turn on Immersive Audio. The case adds 19.5 hours on top, and a 10-minute charge gets you up to two hours of listening.
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Both earbuds support Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint connections across two devices, SBC and AAC codecs, Google Fast Pair, and shortcut customization through the Bose app. The Ultra goes a step further with Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive support for compatible Android phones.
Bose also plans a firmware update that’ll bring Google Find Hub, Alexa+, and Apple Music shortcuts to both models down the line.
Pricing draws a clear line between the two. The Sport Open Earbuds run $199, while the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) cost $299. Both launch October 1, with preorders starting September 19 through Bose and select retailers. Each comes in Black and White Smoke, plus limited-edition colors specific to each model.
What this lineup really shows is that Bose thinks the smartest earbuds aren’t always the ones trying to block out the world around you. The Sport is built to move with you, and the Ultra is built to stay on all day without ever fully muting real life.
