Bose Review

These earbuds are all about comfort, scoring in the 86th percentile. But the sound and microphone quality are below average, ranking at the 36th and 17th percentiles respectively. Buy them only if you prioritize comfort over everything else.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a niche product with a specific appeal. Their comfort score lands in the 86th percentile, which is genuinely impressive for any earbud. That means they're among the most comfortable you can buy, and for some people, that's the whole game. But the trade-offs are significant. Sound quality sits at the 36th percentile, and microphone performance is even lower at the 17th percentile. This isn't a pair of earbuds for everyone; it's for the person who prioritizes comfort above all else.

Performance here is a mixed bag, defined by its extremes. The comfort is the star, ranking in the 86th percentile. That's a top-tier score, meaning you can wear these for hours without fatigue. But the other metrics tell a different story. Sound quality is at the 36th percentile, which is below average. The microphone, crucial for calls, is in the 17th percentile, making it one of the weaker performers in our database for voice clarity. Battery life is a bit better, at the 64th percentile, so you'll get decent playtime. The build quality and ANC scores are both at the 36th percentile, so they're solid but not standout features.

At $25 for the silicone case cover, the accessory itself is a straightforward value if you own the earbuds. The real value question is for the earbuds themselves. Given their performance profile—top-tier comfort but below-average sound and mic—their value depends entirely on your needs. If comfort is your #1 priority, they might be worth it despite the other shortcomings. If you care about balanced performance, you're likely better off with a competitor.

Compared to top competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the Ultra Open Earbuds are playing a different sport. The Sony and Bose models dominate in sound (often 90+ percentile) and ANC (90+ percentile), but their comfort scores are typically lower, around the 50-70th percentile. The Ultra Open Earbuds flip that script: 86th percentile comfort vs. 36th percentile sound. Against something like the Jabra Evolve2 Buds, which are built for calls, the Ultra Open's 17th percentile mic looks even weaker. The Apple AirPods Pro offer a more balanced package, with good comfort, sound, and mic performance across the board.

Skip these if you care about call quality or immersive sound. The microphone ranks in the 17th percentile, making it one of the worst for voice calls in our comparison. The sound quality score is also below average at the 36th percentile. If your main uses are Zoom meetings, listening to music critically, or blocking out noise, the data says these aren't for you. Look at the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Jabra Evolve2 Buds instead.

We can only recommend the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for a very specific user: someone who finds most earbuds uncomfortable and needs that 86th percentile comfort score, and who doesn't mind below-average sound and a mic that ranks in the bottom quartile. For anyone who values call quality, immersive sound, or strong ANC, the data clearly points to several better options among its competitors.