The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Are $100 Off Right Now

THE Bose Ultra Open Headphones take a sharp turn from usual dominance of the brand when it comes to noise cancellation. Instead of isolating you from the world, they sit outside your ears, letting ambient sound through while still delivering rich, detailed sound. Priced at $199 (down from the original $299), this is their lowest price yet (according to price trackers), and they are aimed at people who prefer awareness to isolation. Think of the cyclists, runnersor anyone who doesn’t want to miss a car horn while listening to music.

The adjustment takes a minute to figure out. The silicone band adds just enough tension to hold them in place, but the way you attach them changes the sound more than expected. Too high and it becomes spindly; too low and you lose stereo balance. Once you find alignment, however, they remain capable of walking or performing light workouts and handle sweat or drizzle without issue, thanks to their IPX4 rating.

Sonically, Bose mainly masters what is difficult to obtain in open audio: clarity. THE Ultra-apertures avoid the hollow sound that plagues similar models, keeping vocals crisp and highs bright. The lower mids have a pleasant warmth, although the deep bass doesn’t hit with much punch. You’ll notice this especially in EDM or hip-hop, where the kick seems restrained. Still, for casual listening, podcasts, and calls, the balanced setting works. Additionally, they use Bluetooth 5.3 and support AAC, AptX Adaptive, and SBC. codecswhich means Android users experience slightly better audio quality than iPhone users.

The volume remains stable even outdoors, and there is minimal distortion at full power – according to this PCMag Reviewthe headphones sound best around 70% volume, delivering a full, detailed mix while keeping you aware of what’s happening around you. If you prefer a more low-end presence, the setting equalizer in the Bose app you can change the sound. Battery life also holds up well, around 7.5 hours on a charge and around 27 hours with the case on. That said, wireless charging isn’t built in, although there is a separate case for that if you prefer it over the USB-C setup.