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I’ve had the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for about six to seven months now. They come in multiple colors, and I chose black.
They’re different from normal earbuds: they clip around your ear instead of going in it. That’s the whole reason I end up reaching for them more than my in-ear pair.
Quick take
- Clip-on, open-ear fit. Nothing goes into your ear
- You can still hear what’s around you, which is great around the house or in the office
- No sweaty ears. Air still flows
- I use them more than my QuietComfort Ultra in-ear buds
- The catch: they don’t block noise, so they’re not my pick for the gym or loud places
What I liked
You can hear your surroundings
Because they clip on and don’t go in your ear, you can still hear what’s going on around you. That’s really good if you’re working around the house or in the office.
My ears don’t get sweaty
I also have the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds that go in the ear. I find that my ears, especially my right ear, get really sweaty with them. With these, I still get airflow, so I really like that about them.
They earned a spot in my work bag
I find I use these more than my QuietComfort earbuds, and they’ve become a staple in my work bag.
Things to know before you buy
- They don’t block noise. If you’re at the gym or somewhere loud, you’ll want earbuds that block out the noise.
- Open-ear means people around you are part of the mix. That’s the point, but it isn’t for everyone.
What I didn’t cover
I didn’t test battery life, call quality or water resistance in the video, so I’m not making claims about those.
Install notes
Nothing to install. They clip around your ear.
Specs from the Amazon listing
These come from the Amazon listing title. I didn’t test them myself:
- Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Bluetooth, clip-on open-ear design
- Water resistant
- Up to 48 hours of playtime (with the charging case, per the listing)
Who it’s for
Good fit if you: want to listen around the house or office and still hear people, or your ears get sweaty with in-ear buds.
Maybe skip it if you: mostly want earbuds for the gym or noisy places.
Bottom line
If you need to hear your surroundings, I recommend checking these out. They’re comfortable, they let air in, and they’re the pair I grab most.
Price and availability change on Amazon, so check the listing for current details.
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