Bose Ultra Open Earbuds – Review

One of the biggest names in the headphone market, Bose has become quite well-known for its noise cancelling devices. But, the brand appears to be moving in a different direction with the Ultra Open Earbuds. They have been designed to leave your ear canal free, allowing you to be aware of your surroundings, but not compromising on audio. They are unique and classy and the audio proves to be quite impressive.

Design and build

The design of the Bose Ultra Open is called ‘cuff-design’ by the company, but they can also be referred to as ‘clip-on’ earbuds. The front speaker catches on your lower lobe, while the battery barrel is behind your ear. It sounds complicated, but is not really so. All-day comfort is promised and the buds seem to deliver. You do not experience any discomfort or pinching, even if you wear them for several hours. The weight of the earbuds also helps, as they weigh only 10g each.

They are also very secure and sturdy. They will stay on even during exercise, which is definitely a plus. They are available in White Smoke and Black color options. Soft silicon has been used to make the arm and the buttons and arms also boast brushed metallic silver finishes. The plastic case comes with USB-C charging on the back and is small enough to fit in your pocket. A button for pairing is also given on the back.

Smart features

You can pair the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds with your smartphone easily. For complete configuration, you will need the Bose Music app, which can be found for both Android and iOS. The homepage tells you the battery life of each bud in 10% increments and also has sections for tutorials, audio adjustments and connections. The bottom of each battery barrel has the bud buttons; you will not find any touch-sensitive controls.

You can use the buttons to adjust volume, playback, switch between audio modes and answer calls. The configurations can be changed within the app. Four preset EQ modes can be found in the app, which are Bass Booster, Bass Reducer, Treble Booster and Treble Reducer. The sliders can also be tweaked in accordance with your preference.

The app has a simple and clean layout, with lots of guides for controlling the buds. You can opt for auto volume, or change between the different Immersive Audio modes. It is also possible to switch between devices in the app, but no multipoint connectivity is offered. According to Bose, they will rectify this with a software update.

Sound Quality

Surprisingly, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds offer impressive audio, considering that they are a fully open-ear device. They come with 12mm drivers that offer support for Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec. Even the podcasts sound clear and there is minimal leakage. You can use them in a busy environment without any complaints. The dedicated spatial mode is Immersive Audio and it offers two options; Motion and Still. An auto volume feature is also given that increases and reduces the sound, depending on your surroundings.