Bose Bose Ultra Open True Wireless Earbuds (Midnight Review

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are $299 ear-clips for people who hate things in their ears. Great for awareness, terrible for blocking out noise, and a tough sell when better-sounding buds cost less.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a fascinating experiment, but they're not for everyone. The one thing you need to know is this: they're a $299 pair of speakers that clip to your ears, not earbuds that go in them. The open-ear design means you hear everything around you, which is great for situational awareness but a total non-starter if you want to block out the world. They're comfortable and the sound is surprisingly rich for what they are, but you're paying a premium for a very specific, niche experience.

What surprised us was how decent the sound quality is for an open design. Bose's OpenAudio tech does a good job of projecting clear, detailed audio towards your ear canal. Our data shows sound quality lands in the 41st percentile, which sounds low, but it's actually pretty impressive for this category. You won't get the deep, thumping bass of in-ear rivals, but you get a balanced, pleasant listen. The real surprise is the battery life—it's in the 60th percentile, which is solid for such a small form factor.

Worth it? Only if the open-ear design is an absolute must-have for your lifestyle. For $299, you're buying a niche product with a Bose tax. You can get better sound, stellar noise cancellation, and longer battery life from competitors at this price. The value is entirely in the unique form factor, not in the raw specs.

If you want the best sound and noise cancellation, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is the obvious choice. It destroys the Bose Ultra Open in sound quality and ANC, and it's around the same price. If you're on a budget but still want great sound, the Nothing Ear (a) offers fantastic performance for a fraction of the cost. Even Bose's own QuietComfort Earbuds are a better all-around buy if you can tolerate something in your ear. The Ultra Open only wins if you physically cannot or will not wear in-ear buds.

If you're looking for a primary pair of earbuds to lose yourself in music or podcasts, this isn't it. The lack of noise isolation is a deal-breaker. Go get the Sony WF-1000XM5 instead. Also skip these if you're on a budget—the Nothing Ear (a) gives you 90% of the core audio experience for less than half the price.

We can only recommend the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds to a very specific person: someone who needs to be constantly aware of their surroundings, finds in-ear buds uncomfortable, and has $299 to spend on a luxury audio accessory. For everyone else—commuters, office workers in noisy spaces, gym-goers, or anyone who just wants great sound—there are far better and more versatile options. This is a cool piece of tech, but it's a solution in search of a widespread problem.