Bose has recently unveiled the Open Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), and we’re intrigued to see what’s really different with the buds.
Although we’re yet to review the second gen pair, we have compared its specs to the originals and noted the key differences – plus any noteworthy similarities – between the two below.
Read on to see what separates the Open Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen from the Open Ultra Earbuds. When you’re done here, visit our round-up of the best wireless earbuds and best open headphones too.
Or if you want more from Bose’s recent launch, check out our Bose Sport Open Earbuds vs Sport Earbuds too.
Price and Availability
The Bose Open Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) will be available to buy from October 1st, and have an RRP of $299 / £299.95. At the time of writing, if you register with MyBose then you’ll be able to pre-order the buds to secure them for launch.
The 2nd Gen pair will be available in three colours, including Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green and Sky Pink.
Although the Bose Open Ultra Earbuds currently carry the same £299.95 RRP as the upcoming second generation, we do expect this price to drop in the coming months. In addition, as it’s an older generation, it has also been possible to pick up the buds for a deal too.
Both share the same open design, but the 2nd Gens have been tweaked
We’ll start with one of the most obvious similarities between the two: both have an open-ear design and deliver sound through the air near your ear rather than through bone vibrations, like other bone conduction headphones.
With this in mind, you shouldn’t expect either to be among the best noise cancelling headphones, as they are both designed to provide situational awareness. That means you can listen to your audio but without completely tuning out important sounds like public transport announcements.
Bose explains that the 2nd Gen is equipped with its OpenAudio and SoundDesign technology that promises to deliver rich and personal sound, while ensuring clarity is balanced too. In addition, thanks to a transducer and tightly controlled acoustic structure, the 2nd Gens promise minimal sound leakage too.
As we found the original Open Ultra Earbuds never struggled with sound leakage, even at higher volumes, we’re hopeful that the 2nd Gen pair will be just as reliable.
Bose Open Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen promises longer battery
Although the Open Ultra Earbuds offered a solid battery life, with 7.5 from the buds and an additional 19.5 hours within the charging case, Bose has managed to eke out a few extra hours with the 2nd Gen.
In fact, although it shares the same 19.5 hours within the redesigned charging case (though more on that later), the buds promise to deliver up to nine hours of playback on a single charge too.
Bose Open Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen introduces Cinema Mode
Bose has introduced Cinema Mode with the Open Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen. Powered by Bose’s True Spatial technology, Cinema Mode is designed to create a wider and more immersive soundstage, with a “theatre-like” listening experience. As we haven’t reviewed the 2nd Gen pair yet, we can’t verify how well Cinema Mode really works. However, considering the buds are open ears, we’re undoubtedly intrigued to see how they manage to create an immersive experience.
Bose Open Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen has an upgraded case
It’s not just the buds that have seen a refinement, but their accompanying charging case. Compared to the original pair, the 2nd Gen’s case has been redesigned and can stand upright too. In addition, the case now supports wireless charging too – although we don’t currently know how fast the speeds will be.
We should note that you can buy the original Open Ultra Earbuds with a charging case, however this is an extra cost of £49.95.
The 2nd Gen will offer Google Find Hub and Alexa+ support
Bose is planning a firmware update once the 2nd Gen pair have launched, which will introduce a range of new features.
Included among these features is Google Find Hub, which helps you locate the earbuds if they’re misplaced – much like Apple’s Find My. In addition, the 2nd Gen will support Alexa+, the latest version of Amazon’s voice assistant.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) look like a solid upgrade from the Ultra Open Earbuds, thanks to a refined design, wireless charging case with no extra cost and the intriguing inclusion of Cinema Mode.
That’s not to say the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds aren’t a solid option. In fact, we hailed the buds as being “one of the best examples of the open-headphone concept” even two years after launch. With that in mind, if you’re sporting the 2024 pair or just want a more affordable option, then the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds remain a brilliant option.