Bose Bets Big on the Open Earbud Category With 2 New Models

The second-gen Ultra Open and new Sport Open earbuds feature improved call quality and automatically adjusting volume

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Bose is continuing a busy season of releases. After dropping the sequel to its QuietComfort noise-canceling headphones in August, Bose is releasing two new open-ear earbud styles. The two models include the second-generation Ultra Open earbuds and a brand-new model, the Sport Open earbuds.

Preorders start on Sept. 19, and the earbuds officially release on Oct. 1. Both feature a clip-on fit, and the Ultra Open will cost $300, and the Sport Open will be $200. Both will be available in Black and White Smoke, while the Sport Open will also come in Eucalyptus Green and the Ultra Open will come in Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green, and Sky Pink.

preorder sept. 19

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

preorder sept. 19

Bose Sport Open Earbuds

The two new open earbud releases show the growing prominence of the category — brands ranging from Anker to Sony have released similar styles, which prioritize awareness over isolation.

The original Ultra Open earbuds were released in 2024 and kickstarted a wave of similar clip-on style earbuds. The latest iteration features some small tweaks to the fit and case, and Bose says it improved the sound quality with better bass. A new feature automatically adjusts the volume to your surroundings.

The biggest potential upgrade is improved call quality, a category the original model struggled with. Bose says it used SpeechClarity, a “proprietary AI-enhanced voice isolation technology” to improve voice pickup for phone calls.

As for the Sport Open earbuds, they’re, as the name suggests, targeted toward athletes. They feature physical buttons for easier control with sweaty hands, and the soft silicone finish is designed to be comfortable yet secure. Like the Ultra Open earbuds, the Sport Open model boasts the Auto Volume feature, adjusting the volume based on your surroundings.

Both models land online on Sept. 19 and officially release on Oct. 1. Meanwhile, Bose is running some deals on Bluetooth speakers as summer winds down, which you can shop below.

Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker

The deal applies to the poppy Citrus Yellow colorway.

Bose SoundLink Max Speaker

The larger Max speaker is likewise on sale, also in Citrus Yellow.