Bose just unveiled the successors to some of our favorite open earbuds and there's even a cheaper option to make Shokz a little, er, shocked

Date:
Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Bose has two new clip-style earbuds: a follow-up to one of our top-rated pairs, plus a more affordable model.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Bose unveils two new clip (or ear cuff style) earbuds Bose Sport Open Earbuds are a more affordable, simple option Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen supersede our top picks, with some refinements For a long time, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds took pride of place as the 'best premium open earbuds' in our round-up of the absolute best open earbuds . Even if the Shokz OpenDots 2 hadn't stolen that spot recently, it's likely a new competitor would have this category is growing like you
wouldn't believe.

And Bose is back too, with upgraded flagship open earbuds called, as you
might have guessed, the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), which bring some refinements over the first-gen clip-style buds. They're set to sell from October 1, for 299.95 (about $400, AU$600, but we're waiting on international pricing). This offering doesn't come alone. Likely taking inspiration from rival Shokz and the OpenDots Air , Bose has unveiled a cheaper alternative
and called it the Sport Open Earbuds. These buds cut some of the features,
use a different design, and will start selling on October 15, for 179.95 (roughly $240, AU$360). That makes them Bose's first affordable open earbuds. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

Naturally, we'll be grabbing these buds as soon as possible to see how well they work, so prepare for reviews in the near future. Perhaps Bose will claw its ranking spots back from Shokz sooner than expected... Lay me down on a
bed of Boses (Image credit: Bose) Let's start by looking at the sequel set: the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen). These mostly retain the angular look of the originals, but with a slightly revised look for a better hold, and a charging case that's easier to open and close (and has little feet so it can stay upright). You may like I tried these stylish, futuristic-looking open
earbuds, and although they boast sound by Bose, they're not as harsh on your wallet here's everything you need to know My favorite earbuds of the year just got an open-ear makeover, as this top cheap headphone brand debuts 7 new models The best open earbuds, all real-world tested by our experts

Under the hood, there have been a number of small refinements like a higher volume, extended battery life and improved bass response. They also feature Bose's TrueSpatial audio, improving on Bose Immersive Audio, to provide
better spatial audio while you're exercising.

Like the previous Ultras, these are a premium product, and I see most people skipping them for the price tag alone. That's where the other buds come in. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The Bose Sport Open Earbuds ditch the angular look of the Ultras, for a more standard curvy clip-style design. That is to say, despite being new, I've
been seeing these puppies for years.

Bose hasn't detailed the audio specs of these buds it rarely does for its headphones, frustratingly for coverage but reading between the lines, the Sport Open won't have quite the same bass response as the Ultras. I'm sure they won't sound bad , but you're not getting Ultra sound.

I'm pleased to see that the Sport Open have an IP54 rating, which makes them better-protected than the IPX4 Ultras, even if their battery life is slightly worse at 7 hours. However most features, specifically Bose ones, are likely missing here. There's no mention of TrueSpatial Audio, for example.

With the Bose Sport Open Earbuds, you'll likely miss some of the fancy tools of the Ultra. But just as in the Shokz rivals mentioned before, many users might not mind, if they're getting a more affordable product for it. I see
the Sport Open being the more popular of the two here.

A note, before you get too excited for the new buds. While researching this article, I noticed that the original Bose Ultra are enjoying quite a solid discount in the US, perhaps to clear stock. You can get them for just $200 at Amazon , which is a $100 saving, effectively making them a better pair of 'budget' buds than the Sport Open. Just food for thought. The best open earbuds for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best open earbuds 1. Best overall: Shokz OpenFit 2+ 2. Best cheap around-ear design: Huawei FreeArc 3. Best cheap clip design: Shokz OpenDots One 4. Best high-end clip design: Bose Ultra Open Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/bose-just-unveiled-the-success ors-to-some-of-our-favorite-open-earbuds-and-theres-even-a-cheaper-option-to-m ake-shokz-a-little-er-shocked


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