Bose is giving its open-ear audio lineup a significant refresh with the introduction of the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), the successor to the original model launched in 2024. The new generation keeps the distinctive cuff-style design that allows listeners to hear music without blocking the ear canal, but Bose has made several improvements to audio processing, call quality, construction and battery life. Alongside the flagship model, the company has also introduced the new Sport Open Earbuds, offering a more fitness-focused alternative with better resistance against dust, sweat and water.
Open-ear earbuds have become increasingly popular because they offer a very different experience from conventional in-ear models. Instead of creating a seal inside the ear canal, they allow surrounding sounds to remain audible while music plays nearby. That makes the format particularly useful for commuting, running, working in an office or exercising outdoors, where maintaining awareness of traffic, announcements or other people can be more important than completely isolating yourself from the environment.
The Ultra Open Earbuds Keep Bose's Familiar Cuff Design
Bose has not dramatically changed the physical concept of its flagship open-ear earbuds. Each Ultra Open Earbud (2nd Gen) uses an adjustable flex joint that wraps around the side of the ear, creating a secure fit without placing an ear tip inside the ear canal. The design essentially positions the speaker close enough to the ear to provide personal audio while keeping the ear itself open to environmental sound.
The second-generation model receives a sleeker metal finish and what Bose describes as a more robust charging case, giving the product a somewhat more premium appearance. Water resistance remains unchanged at IPX4, which means the earbuds should handle sweat and light splashes but are not designed for immersion or particularly harsh outdoor conditions. For users who liked the comfort of the original design, the familiarity will probably be welcome because Bose appears to have concentrated on refining the experience rather than replacing it.
That approach also makes sense because the unusual cuff mechanism is one of the product's defining features. Conventional earbuds can become uncomfortable after long periods because they press inside the ear canal, while over-ear headphones can feel bulky or hot. An open-ear cuff provides an alternative for users who want something lighter and less intrusive while still avoiding the instability of simply resting a speaker outside the ear.
OpenAudio and TrueSpatial Tech Handle the Listening Experience
Bose continues to rely on its OpenAudio technology to deliver sound while limiting how much audio escapes to people nearby. Open-ear designs naturally face a challenge here because the speaker is not sealed against the ear, so manufacturers need careful acoustic engineering to direct sound toward the listener while minimising leakage. Bose says the new earbuds maintain rich and relatively private playback despite their open construction.
Immersive listening is provided through TrueSpatial Tech, while the second generation introduces a new Cinema Mode designed to create a more theatre-like presentation. This could be particularly useful for films and television, where a wider and more spacious soundstage can make dialogue, effects and music feel less confined to the small speakers sitting beside the ears.
There is still no active noise cancellation, but that is effectively the point of this category rather than a major omission. ANC normally works best when earbuds create some degree of acoustic isolation, whereas open-ear products are specifically designed to let the outside world remain audible. Anyone wanting Bose's strongest noise isolation will therefore still be better served by a conventional in-ear or over-ear model.
AI-Enhanced Microphones Target Clearer Calls
Call quality is another area receiving attention. Each Ultra Open Earbud incorporates a two-microphone setup paired with AI-assisted processing designed to separate the wearer's voice from surrounding noise. Bose is effectively using software to compensate for some of the acoustic disadvantages of having microphones positioned in an open design.
This could be particularly important when taking calls outdoors, where wind, traffic and surrounding conversation can quickly overwhelm a small microphone. Rather than simply increasing microphone sensitivity, voice-isolation processing attempts to identify speech and suppress everything around it in real time. As always with AI-powered voice cleanup, the real test will be whether it can remove distracting noise without making speech sound heavily processed.
Bose has also upgraded connectivity to Bluetooth 5.4, with support for Snapdragon Sound and aptX alongside adjustable EQ. Google Fast Pair is included for easier pairing with compatible Android devices, while multipoint connectivity makes it possible to remain connected to more than one device and switch between them without repeatedly pairing the earbuds.
Battery Life Climbs to Nine Hours
One of the clearest improvements over the first-generation Ultra Open Earbuds is endurance. The original model could deliver up to 7.5 hours of playback, while Bose now rates the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) for up to nine hours on a charge. That additional hour and a half may not sound dramatic on paper, but it can make the difference between comfortably lasting an entire workday and needing an afternoon top-up.
The charging case provides another 19.5 hours of listening time, allowing the earbuds to be recharged several times while away from a wall socket. Combined with the longer earbud battery life, the package should be considerably more practical for travel and extended everyday use.
Battery performance will naturally vary depending on volume, spatial audio features, call usage and wireless conditions. Still, improving endurance without fundamentally changing the size or wearing style is one of the more useful upgrades Bose could have made to an open-ear product designed to remain comfortable for long periods.
Sport Open Earbuds Take a More Active Approach
Bose is also expanding the range with the new Sport Open Earbuds, which adopt a C-arm cuff design similar to several clip-on earbuds introduced recently. The design wraps more securely around the ear and is aimed specifically at running, workouts and other activities where the earbuds need to remain stable during movement.
The biggest practical difference is durability. Sport Open Earbuds carry an IP54 rating, adding dust protection as well as stronger resistance to sweat and splashes compared with the IPX4-rated Ultra model. That makes them better suited to exercise environments where exposure to sweat, rain and dust is more likely.
Bose has simplified some of the audio features to keep the Sport model distinct. There is no active noise cancellation and no immersive spatial-audio mode, but users still receive the same SpeechClarity voice-isolation technology intended to improve phone calls. Bluetooth 5.4, Google Fast Pair and multipoint connectivity are included as well, so many of the connectivity improvements carry across both models.
The Sport Model Trades Some Features for Longer Case Endurance
Battery life for the Sport Open Earbuds is rated at seven hours per charge, which is shorter than the nine hours offered by the Ultra model. However, the Sport charging case contains another 22 hours of battery capacity, giving it slightly more reserve power than the case supplied with the premium earbuds.
That balance makes sense for a product primarily intended for workouts. Seven hours is far longer than most individual exercise sessions, while the larger case reserve means users can go through several workouts before needing to charge the entire package.
Choosing between the two models will therefore be less about which one is universally better and more about how the earbuds will be used. The Ultra model prioritises premium materials, immersive audio and longer continuous playback, while the Sport version concentrates on secure fit, durability and straightforward open-ear listening.
US Pricing Starts at US$199
Both models are scheduled to go on sale on 1 October 2026, although Bose has not confirmed whether every market will receive them on the same date. The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will cost US$299, approximately RM1,221, while the Sport Open Earbuds are priced at US$199, around RM812.
Bose has yet to announce official Malaysian pricing or a local release date. Interestingly, both models have already received SIRIM approval, which suggests that a Malaysian introduction is certainly possible even though the company has not yet provided commercial details.
Actual Malaysian prices are also unlikely to be a simple currency conversion because local taxes, distribution costs and retail positioning can affect the final figure. Buyers interested in either model will therefore need to wait for Bose Malaysia to confirm availability.
Open-Ear Audio Is Becoming a Much Bigger Category
Bose is entering a market that has become considerably more competitive since the first Ultra Open Earbuds appeared. Open-ear headphones and clip-style earbuds have attracted growing interest because they provide an alternative to the physical isolation of traditional earbuds. For runners and commuters in particular, being able to hear approaching vehicles or surrounding announcements can be an important safety advantage.
The trade-off is that open designs generally cannot provide the same bass impact or isolation as sealed in-ear headphones. Loud external environments can also overpower the music because the product deliberately leaves the ear exposed. That means open-ear earbuds should be viewed as a different listening category rather than direct replacements for noise-cancelling models.
Bose's strategy with its new lineup acknowledges that distinction. Instead of trying to make an open product behave like a sealed earbud, the company is improving the areas where the format makes the most sense: comfort, situational awareness, spatial presentation, call clarity and longer everyday battery life.
Final Thoughts
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) look more like a thoughtful refinement than a complete redesign, and that may be exactly what the product needed. The familiar cuff remains, while battery life increases to nine hours, the construction gets a more polished finish, connectivity moves to Bluetooth 5.4 and new processing features such as Cinema Mode and AI-assisted voice isolation expand what the earbuds can do.
The addition of the Sport Open Earbuds also gives Bose a clearer two-tier open-ear lineup. Users who prioritise immersive audio and premium features can choose the Ultra model, while runners and gym users get a tougher IP54-rated alternative with most of the essential connectivity and call features intact.
Neither model is intended for people who want complete isolation from the outside world. There is no ANC, and open-ear listening will always involve a compromise between environmental awareness and absolute sound immersion. For users who specifically value comfort and the ability to remain aware of their surroundings, however, that compromise is the attraction rather than the weakness.
With a 1 October launch planned and both models already appearing in Malaysia's SIRIM database, the remaining question for local buyers is when Bose will confirm Malaysian availability and pricing.
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