REASONS TO BUY
Super comfy
Stable
Immersive audio
Impeccable awareness
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No ANC
Bose Ultra Open Review
Perfect for active users and those who want to be aware of their surroundings, but they lack ANC and are pricey
Credit: Natalie Kafader
By Graham Faulknor ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ November 25, 2025
Contributions From: Genaveve Bradshaw
RELATED: Best Wireless Earbuds of 2025
Our Verdict
The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are lightweight and airy, designed to rest gently on your ears, allowing for comfortable listening with minimal pressure. Even after wearing them for hours, we often forget they are there. They are also one of the few earbuds that stay securely in place, no matter the activity. The audio quality is good, though not the very best among our top-ranked earbuds. We appreciate their immersive sound, which makes it feel as though the music is coming from all around the room. These earbuds aren't ideal for places with too many distractions when concentration is the goal, as they don't feature any type of noise cancellation. However, some individuals prefer to remain aware while listening. Whether going for a jog or commuting to work, these are our favorite ambient-aware earbuds.
The Bose Ultra Opens come with a compact case that will easily fit into your pocket. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Our Bose Ultra Open Experience
The Bose Ultra Open has the best user experience of any buds in our lineup. Thanks to their unique design and intuitive features, we were eager to use them for all kinds of activities, from skiing to jogging around the neighborhood.
The clam-like design of the Open Ultra hugs the outside edge of the ear. Credit: Rachel Anderson
Immediately, it is clear that the Ultra Open is different. They don't have a nozzle, in-ear tip, or any additional parts for adjusting the fit, such as silicone sleeves, wings, or tips. These buds have a barrel-shaped design with a wrap-around speaker that gently hugs the pinna of your ear near your earlobe. Commonly described as similar to a clip-on earring, we'd have to say they are nothing like the clamping force of earrings; instead, they are like a small hug for your ear, and feel so inconsequential that we regularly forget they are there.
The Open Ultra case is compact enough to fit in pockets. Credit: Natalie Kafader
They pull from the small, matte finish case easily and only fit in one way, making ease of use a snap. They have enough flexibility to adjust to all ears easily and can be applied with one hand.
The app has several useful features, from EQ adjustments to immersive audio. Credit: Natalie Kafader
While testing with different mobile devices, the Bose Ultra Open buds are best paired with Android devices, but still work exceptionally well with Apple devices. We occasionally encountered connectivity issues with Apple, but these issues were minor, easily addressed, and well worth the effort if awareness or comfort are top priorities.
The Ultra Open stayed put even during intense workouts. Credit: Rachel Anderson
We did everything to shake these things off, but no matter what, they remained steady. We could do almost any activity, and it would be hard for these to fall out. We even pulled hoodies over our heads without shifting either bud, which easily happens with almost every competitor. We particularly loved them at the gym and on runs where being aware of what is going on around you is crucial. Whether it was swift lateral moves, jump box explosions, or decline chest presses, these bad boys held firm.
We appreciated the transparency and situational awareness provided by the Open Ultra while running. Credit: Natalie Kafader
We wore these buds from fresh out of bed to removing them last thing at night after brushing our teeth. We were surprised how often we forgot they were on. There are no other earbuds we can say the same about. Whether taking calls, logging time in meetings, hitting the treadmill, or waiting in line at a café, these buds made the day more enjoyable with constant listening and no fumbling with buds to hear the world.
Rock climbing didn't cause any issues while wearing the Ultra Open. Credit: Natalie Kafader
The differences between the Ultra Open and other Bose earbuds are vast. It's like comparing apples to bananas. Both play music, take calls, and have useful apps, but that is where the similarities end. Traditional Bose earbuds offer superior noise cancellation, something the Open are designednot to do. Additionally, they offer better sound quality and a more traditional soundstage, thanks to their in-ear design and emphasis on long listening sessions. However, the Open invites the world in and keeps it on the side stage to the music, so you have the best of both worlds: the ability to enjoy whatever you choose to listen to, and the ability to still engage with the world around you. The design that is right for you depends on your goals. If comfort, practicality, and awareness are your goals, no one does it better than the Open. If you want superior music or active noise cancellation to lessen distractions and block the chaos of the world, the traditional Bose models are top-of-the-line performers.
We think the Bose Ultra Open buds are great for active folks who spend a lot of time outdoors or in the gym. The only caveat is that you won't get noise canceling, but this makes these perfect for those who actually want to be aware of their surroundings during an early morning jog or when hiking in the woods. That said, we don't recommend these for those who want the best of the best sound quality or any sort of noise cancelling.
If you want a great pair of running or exercise earbuds that won't fall out during activity and also have noise-cancelling abilities, the Apple AirPod Pro 2, Apple AirPods Pro 3. and Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are great options (for iOS and Android, respectively). They also have better, crisper sound, and if you need to help silence the outside world, ANC. Alternatively, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) Earbuds have a similar price to the Open but bring the best Bose has to offer in noise cancellation and sound quality, but their comfort isn't a knockout.
Our Analysis and Test Results
We used our Bruel and Kjaer 5128-B head to record the frequency response of the Bose Ultra Open buds, which is then calculated by its connected software, SoundCheck. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sound Quality
Our panel of expert listeners felt the Bose Ultra Open buds weren't the best in the group. There is a slight lack of clarity across all frequencies. However, the sound quality is enjoyable, with a balanced mix.
The mid frequencies are warm and layered, but not as thick and full as in-ear buds. We were pleasantly surprised by the fullness and development of the treble range for an outside-of-the-ear model; they never sounded keening or sharp.
When bass frequencies are present, they are warm and lovely, albeit weak. Listeners with the most critical ears may notice a slightly compressed sound signature that can feel somewhat muddy compared to better earbuds, but most casual listeners will find the mix unoffensive and generally enjoyable.
Compare the bass response in the Bose Ultra Open to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) earbuds, which provide some of the best bass.
The frequency response aligns with what our panel of experts found. It follows our house curve for most of its frequency response, but the bass drops off significantly from our GearLab House Curve. The bass tends to fall off, so if bass-heavy workout playlists and top-tier sound quality are essential, they may not fit the bill.
Soundstage
The Bose Ultra Open earbuds' open design creates a unique soundstage. The sound feels like it bounces around instead of being contained. Background noises mingle freely, interacting with the music to enhance awareness of surroundings, which isn't necessarily a drawback. The experience can create lovely and engrossing soundscapes.
These sound decent, but the lack of presence in the bass holds them back from being great. Credit: Natalie Kafader
In “Foot of Your Bed” by Shakey Graves, there is plenty of sonic space for each texture. The percussive bassline enters at 0:01, becoming the recurring thread in a surreal tapestry of sound created by the twinkly acoustic guitar, mystical-sounding harp, various distortions, and layered vocals. The hints of trepidation are clear as day, and make enough room to explore the emotional ambiguity of the lyrics and the malleability of the sounds.
The airy design of the Bose Utra Open buds are far more comfortable than other models. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Comfort and Fit
The Bose Ultra Open are the most comfortable buds we have ever worn, to the point where we forgot they were even in our ears.
The open design of the Ultra Open increases safety and awareness when running. Credit: Natalie Kafader
We could wear these for hours on end, and especially loved wearing them for activities like running and hiking. Best of all, after wearing them for several hours, they didn't create that moist in-ear feeling. We tested these on many different ear shapes, and the consensus is that these are sure to fit perfectly for everyone.
Performance comparison of ANC for the Ultra Open and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
Noise Cancellation
The Bose Ultra Open doesn't offer noise cancelling (on purpose). Unlike common buds, the idea behind the Ultra Open is to stay aware of your surroundings and avoid limiting sounds from reaching your eardrums. If your goal is a cone of silence, look elsewhere. This is not a flaw; it is an intentional design for a specific goal, but it may not be suitable for everyone.
This style is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys walking, hiking, running, or simply listening to music or podcasts, while still needing to hear friends or coworkers for safety or personal interaction.
The app comes with EQ adjustments, which allow you to tune up the treble, mid, and bass frequencies. Credit: Natalie Kafader
App Features
The Bose Ultra Open buds come with an intuitive app that allows more discerning listeners to experiment with the EQ by dragging the bass, mid, or treble to preferred levels.
The Bose Ultra Open has one of the best apps we have tried, with adjustable sound and many other intuitive features. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Users who value simplicity can also choose one of the auto-adjustment options for bass and treble. Listeners can view the battery life of the left and right earbuds and turn shortcuts on and off.
Battery Life
The Bose Ultra Open battery lasts 8 hours and 20 minutes while continually playing music at 75% volume. That's almost an hour over the manufacturer's claimed battery life.
The case offers three additional charges, so with patience, they're great for long-haul flights and road trips with minimal downtime. Additionally, a quick 10-minute charge will provide up to two hours of use.
The Subway sound is dampened in our call and completely silences the screeching sound, though you can still hear some of the announcements. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Call Quality
We confidently took calls with the Bose Ultra Open almost anywhere. These buds offer some of the best call quality among competitors. We stress-tested these on the Subway, at the office, and in a quiet room.
We hardly heard any office noise during our call while wearing the Bose Ultra Opens. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Taking calls on a busy subway platform is a demanding test for any personal audio device. We were pleasantly surprised to have a clear conversation, with only faint, muffled background noise. Voices were clear and consistent without muddiness or breakups. While it isn't a quiet room result, it is still among the best we've seen.
We were able to make calls in ideal environments with crisp clarity.
In an open office, the voices are very clear for men and women. There is a slight amount of background noise, but it's very muffled and doesn't hinder the conversation or result in the dreaded, “Can you hear me now?” For quieter spaces, the Ultra Open provides an impressive amount of clarity to voices with no hiccups, graininess, or hum.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Bose Ultra Open versus top competing products:
—Graham Faulknor and Genaveve Bradshaw
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