Bose has unveiled the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), updating its distinctive open-ear headphones with deeper bass, higher volume, longer battery life and a wireless charging case.
The new earbuds will cost $299 and go on sale on October 1, with preorders having opened September 19. Bose announced the second-generation model alongside its new $199 Sport Open Earbuds as the audio company expands its open-ear product lineup.
The Ultra Open Earbuds retain the cuff-style design of the original model, allowing users to listen to music while continuing to hear traffic, conversations and other sounds around them.
Unlike traditional in-ear earbuds, they do not seal the ear canal. Bose instead uses its OpenAudio technology to direct sound toward the user’s ear while attempting to minimize sound leakage.
Bose promises deeper bass and louder sound
One of the biggest changes comes from a newly engineered driver.
Bose says the redesigned hardware delivers deeper bass and higher volume than the first-generation Ultra Open Earbuds. The company also continues to use its digital signal-processing technology to balance bass and clarity in an open-ear design.
The earbuds support Bose Immersive Audio and the company’s TrueSpatial technology, which are designed to create a wider and more spatial listening experience.
Bose has also introduced a new Cinema Mode specifically for video and podcast playback.
The company says Cinema Mode creates a wider soundstage while keeping dialogue centered and easier to hear, giving users a more theater-like experience without requiring content specifically produced for spatial audio.
Battery life increases to nine hours
Battery life has also been improved.
Bose rates the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) for up to nine hours of playback on a single charge, depending on features and usage.
The redesigned charging case provides up to 19.5 additional hours and now supports wireless charging, addressing one of the limitations of the original model.
Bose’s current product comparison lists the original Ultra Open Earbuds with seven hours of battery life, while the new model is rated at nine hours.
The company notes that real-world battery performance can vary depending on volume, listening modes and other settings.
AI-enhanced technology targets clearer phone calls
Bose has added its SpeechClarity technology to improve voice calls.
The system uses a dedicated microphone and voice pickup unit in each earbud alongside AI-enhanced voice isolation to separate the wearer’s speech from background noise. Bose says the technology is intended to preserve the natural tone of a person’s voice whil
