Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Are Now $100 Off.
Open-back headphones are gaining popularity, likely because active noise-cancelling technology has become so advanced that it’s become too easy to completely ignore the world around you . They’re also a great option for runners who want to better navigate their surroundings, especially in crowded areas.
The Ultra Open Earbuds are Bose’s attempt to ride the wave of modern technology, and they’re a pretty good option, earning an 8/10 rating from our colleagues at CNET . And at the current price of $199.99 (originally $299.99), they’re also a great deal. That’s the lowest price they’ve ever reached, according to price tracking tools , and they’re available in six different colors.
Open-back headphones aren’t for everyone, as they share the same drawbacks as bone conduction headphones : they let in noise, and bass and midrange can be weak. But this tradeoff can be worth it if you want to stay aware of your surroundings.
The Bose Ultra Open headphones aren’t waterproof, but they are water-resistant; they have an IPX4 rating , meaning they can withstand splashes but can’t be submerged. The charging case uses a USB-C cable, but you can purchase a wireless charging case (sold separately) for an additional $50 if you don’t want to rely on a cable. Either way, you’ll get about 7.5 hours of battery life from the headphones with Immersive Audio disabled, and about two full charges from the case, for a total of about 27 hours.
While these headphones don’t support multipoint connectivity, they do offer the ability to simultaneously pair two devices and switch between them with the press of a button on the earbud—a kind of controlled multipoint connection. They’re compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and support the AAC, AptX Adaptive, and SBC codecs , so Android users will experience higher-quality sound than Apple users. Both device types can adjust the equalizer in the app and utilize features that you can read more about in the CNET review .