Losing yourself in music is one of life’s joys, but when you’re out and about, it isn’t always either wise or practical. Announcements, colleagues and bartenders are just a few of the reasons you should keep one ear on the world around you. Don’t, and you could end up shunned, thirsty or late.
This used to mean taking an earbud out of your ear, or pressing pause and asking someone to repeat what they just said. But now there’s a new way of listening, one that exposes you to the sounds of your surroundings without disrupting your music listening. They’re called Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, and they give you the best of both worlds without missing a beat. No pressing pause, no taking them out, and absolutely no asking people to repeat themselves.
Friends, readers, music lovers, lend us your ears.
All ears
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have a unique open-ear design that doesn’t burrow into your ear canal like some earbuds. Instead, a high-powered transducer within a tightly controlled acoustic enclosure fires music towards your ear canal. Not only do they look unlike any other pair of earbuds around, they also allow an engrossing music listening experience without isolating you from the outside world or leaking sound from whatever you’re listening to.
They may be small, but they contain plenty of innovative technology. Bose OpenAudio intelligently prioritises your music so it’s not overwhelmed by whatever’s happening in the background while still keeping you aware of what’s happening around you. And Bose Immersive Audio adds a spatial element to the audio, so it sounds less like a pair of headphones and more like a live performance. Immersive Audio comes in two modes: Still and Motion, depending on whether you’re stationary or moving. Both put you right in the middle of the soundstage.
Designed for all-day wear
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds feature a unique hinged design. The flexible band contains the internal cabling, connecting the battery to the acoustic enclosure, but also acts to grip the earbud around the back of your ear. With just the right amount of purchase, it keeps them in place while remaining effortlessly comfortable.
Good job then that the battery life is all-day, too. With up to 7.5 hours of run time (or up to 4.5 hours with Immersive Audio switched on)*, it’ll last you a full day in the office, or the whole of a day out. And if you’re working – or playing – into overtime, the carry case provides up to an extra 19.5 hours of battery life**, lasting you into the wee hours and beyond.
A joy to use
Despite the advanced features and performance, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a cinch to use. The button controls make it simple to switch between stereo sound and Bose Immersive Audio, letting you listen your way, every time. These controls also let you switch to your calls, helping you to stay in touch with no awkward fumbling. But they have another trick up their sleeve: Auto Volume.
With this switched on, the earbuds intelligently and dynamically adjust the volume of what’s playing on the fly, so they can react to your surroundings. Walk past a pneumatic drill and the volume will escalate, so you can hear your music over the noise. Enter a library, and it’ll dial down, so you can still hold a conversation in hushed tones and hear every word. Just activate it within the Bose Music app and it’ll do the rest – then you don’t have to lift a finger, just enjoy the experience.
Speaking of the app, it gives you even greater control over how you listen to and interact with the earbuds. With complete control over the equaliser, you can tweak the bass, midrange and treble on the fly, depending on what you’re listening to. But the app has many more skills, letting you check the buds’ battery life, customise shortcuts and manage your connected devices. And it’s always in your pocket, at your beck and call.
Because they’re compatible with Bluetooth 5.3, they have a robust connection to your wireless devices, with a range of 9 metres. This version of Bluetooth also allows seamless switching between devices using Bluetooth multipoint (which will arrive via a software update). Bose SimpleSync technology makes them perfect for in-home use too – with effortless pairing with Bose soundbars and speakers, you can have a personal TV listening experience with independent volume control for when not everyone in the room wants to watch. Perfect for kicking back at the end of a long day.
They look stylish too, and will sit well with accessories like piercings, glasses and tattoos. Their brushed metallic finish looks more like a fashion accessory than a pair of earbuds, and with a choice of either black or white smoke finishes, you can match them to your personal style.
With a water-resistance rating of IPX4, they’re ideal for all sorts of activities in all kinds of conditions. Heavy rain, sweat, water fights… the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds laugh in their face, while their acoustic mesh keeps out moisture and debris so you can keep on listening whatever life – and the weather – throws at you.
With versatile use cases, standout performance and unique execution, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are first-class earbuds and a first of their kind. Using them is an experience like no other.
Click here to buy the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
* Testing conducted by Bose with audio playback at a loudness of 75 dBA. Battery life varies based on settings and usage.
** Testing conducted by Bose by inserting battery-depleted earbuds into a fully charged case, charging to 100% (or until the case battery was depleted), playing audio at a loudness of 75 dBA until earbud battery depletion, and repeating until case battery depletion.