When Bose dropped its Kith collab last month, it was clear that the future of headphones was trending toward fashion. This seems like the most natural progression, as headphones (from a design perspective) haven’t really changed all that much over the last decade. And with crazy drops like those Dyson Zone air purifier headphones that came out last year, labels are getting noticeably bolder with their designs. Building off of the buds Bose released with Kith, the company is back with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, a pair of clip-on earbuds that blend fashion with function.
The hook here is that these earbuds clip onto the sides of your ears rather than sitting inside the canal, which makes these sort of an open-ear hybrid. Using a flexible silicon joint, these buds have an adjustable fit that’s designed to fit a wide range of ear sizes. Bose describes it as a “cuff-like fit,” and you’re getting both Bose Immersive Audio and OpenAudio technology for a spatial audio experience that allows you to hear the outside world (no ANC here, unfortunately). Additionally, there are button controls on the buds that let you swap between stereo and immersive modes, and the Auto Volume function automatically adjusts your music depending on your environment.
As for the other specs, it’s equipped with up to 7.5 hours of playtime (or 4.5 hours with Immersive Audio), 48 hours of standby, and an extra 19.5 hours of battery life with the charging case. It also comes with IPX4 water resistance, which means you can go for a run without fretting about damage. The companion Bose Music app also opens up the adjustable EQ settings, so you can customize your listening experience even more.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are available now (with black and white colorways to choose from) for $299.
