I took a much-deserved shot at Apple when it became clear that it wasn’t going to announce a set of open-ear earbuds to go with its fancy new AI-enhanced version of Siri.
Instead, it gave us the AirPods 5. They’re an improvement over the AirPods 4 with ANC, but despite Apple’s insistence on referring to them as “open” earbuds, they aren’t. They’re semi-open, and that makes a big difference when you’re trying to hear the world around you.
So I was thrilled to see that Bose is not only doubling down on its open-ear lineup with two new models, but the company also tells me these will be the first open-ear earbuds to get Alexa+ built-in.
Alexa+ is the newer, conversational version of Amazon’s voice assistant, and it makes chatting with Alexa a way better experience.
I’ve been using it for about 8 months on an Echo Dot smart speaker and an Echo Show 11, and it’s proven very helpful for everything from recipes to general info on almost any topic you can think of. To me, the combo of an open-ear design and an AI that never says, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” is a perfect match.
The new models are the Bose Sport Open Earbuds ($199 USD), and a second-gen version of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds ($299). Each can be preordered on September 19, and will be generally available starting October 1. Shortly after this date, Bose says both models will receive a firmware update that enables Alexa+, Google Find Hub, and shortcut support for Apple Music.
Another thing that makes me happy: Bose tells me Bluetooth Auracast is going to be added at some point after launch.
Both will be available in Black or White Smoke. The Sport Open Earbuds also get a limited-edition Eucalyptus Green, while the next-gen Ultra Open Earbuds get Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green, and Sky Pink as their limited-edition colors.
A new Sport
If “Bose Sport Open Earbuds” sounds vaguely familiar, it might be because this was the name of the product that effectively launched the open-ear category when it debuted in 2021. The earhook design set the standard for open-ears, but the sound quality was only so-so, the charging case was bulky, and the case didn’t have its own internal battery. Bose ended up discontinuing it less than a year later and didn’t re-enter the open-ear category until 2024 with the first-gen Ultra Open model.
Other than the name and the price, the new Bose Sport Open Earbuds (2026) have almost nothing in common with their predecessor.
They use a C-shape clip design that has become increasingly popular among open-ear users thanks to its comfort and better compatibility with eyeglasses. Where things get interesting is Bose’s claim that these buds are built for “the realities of active, strenuous movement,” which is not something I normally associate with clip-style open-ears.
The company says a soft silicone matte finish gives them enough stability that they won’t come loose during running, fitness, or even cartwheels.
They’re equipped with physical buttons — which I much prefer to touch controls — and the buds are rated IP54 for sweat, splash, and dust resistance.
Astonishingly, the charging case supports wireless charging (a feature Bose hasn’t always offered, even on its flagship earbuds) and the company says you can expect the earbuds to last up to 7 hours per charge. The case stores up to 3 full recharges (22 hours).
The returning champ
The second-gen Bose Ultra Open Earbuds keep their cuff-like shape, but their charging case has been redesigned to stand up, and it’s also wireless-capable (the first-gen was wired-only). The buds get more battery life per charge (9 hours vs. 7) but about the same total time when you include the case (28.5 hours vs. 27).
Bose’s excellent Immersive Audio mode with head-tracking is joined by a new Cinema mode, which the company says creates a wider, more immersive soundstage while keeping dialogue sharp, clear, and precisely centered. The result, apparently, is a “theater-like listening experience that works with any content source.”
The second-gen continues to support Snapdragon Sound with aptX codecs, for compatible phones or adapters.
Unfortunately, Bose has decided to drop support for its Bose Personal Surround on the second-gen Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. This feature let the first-gen earbuds act as a set of home theater surround speakers when connected to a compatible soundbar, like the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar.
Both models benefit from Auto Volume, which adjusts based on how noisy your environment is, and both get Bose SpeechClarity, a proprietary AI-enhanced voice-isolation technology that uses two mics for calls.
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