What is open-ear audio and what are its key benefits?
Open earbuds are an emerging class of audio wearables with premium sound built into a cuff-shaped design that doesn’t cover your ears. Traditional earbuds seal your ears, which may reduce comfort, increase the chance of falling out, and limit long-term wear. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) use proprietary Bose OpenAudio Technology to deliver rich, immersive sound privately, even though the speakers sit just outside your ear canal. This keeps you aware of your surroundings while enjoying your audio. The flexible cuff design gently wraps around your ear for a secure, comfortable fit you may forget you’re wearing. They are ideal for all-day use for music, calls, and videos.
How are Bose Ulta Earbuds (2nd Gen) different from the previous generation?
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) build on the original design with meaningful improvements in key areas:
- Enhanced sound performance: A newly engineered driver that delivers higher volume capability and deeper, more refined bass
- Clearer call quality: Updated voice pickup with Bose SpeechClarity Technology helps your voice come through more naturally, even in noisy environments
- More reliable connectivity: Platform-level upgrades provide a more stable and consistent listening experience across devices
- Improved battery life: Up to 9 hours of playback¹ (up from 7 hours)
- New premium design: Metallic cap with a refined finish and an updated charging case
- Wireless charging: Now supports wireless charging
Do Bose Ulta Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) have noise cancelling (ANC) and other modes?
Due to the open-ear design, the earbuds do not include active noise cancelling. Instead, they are designed to keep you aware of your surroundings. They focus on delivering high-quality audio with features like Bose Immersive Audio, which creates a wider, more natural soundstage that feels like it’s in front of you rather than inside your head. Available listening modes include:
- Immersion Mode: Optimized for music with a spacious, lifelike sound
- Cinema Mode: Optimized for video, enhancing audio to match what you’re watching
Are Bose Ulta Earbuds (2nd Gen) good for phone calls?
Yes. These earbuds feature enhanced voice pickup with SpeechClarity Technology so your voice sounds clearer on calls, whether you are in an office environment or on the go. SpeechClarity is a voice-isolation engine that enhances the clarity of human dialogue and sets it apart from background noise.
Can i wear Bose Ulta Earbuds (2nd Gen) for extended listening sessions?
Yes. The combination of skin-safe materials, an open design, long battery life of up to 9 hours with standard listening¹, and exceptional comfort makes them ideal for extended wear.
Can other people hear my music when I'm wearing the Bose Ulta Earbuds (2nd Gen)?
Bose OpenAudio Technology directs sound toward your ear while minimizing sound leakage. In most environments and at typical listening levels, people nearby won’t hear your audio. At maximum volume in a very quiet setting, others may notice sound, but they won’t hear clear details unless they are very close.
How do i Pair Bose Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)with mobile device, and what devices are supported?
Supported devices include any Bluetooth®-enabled phone, tablet, or computer. Pairing steps:
- Place both earbuds in the charging case and open the lid
- Press and hold the case Bluetooth button until the LED blinks blue
- On your device, go to Settings > Bluetooth and select “Bose Ultra Open 2 Earbuds”
- Confirm pairing, then start audio playback
Will the battery last long enough for me to wear the earbuds all day?
When the earbuds are fully charged, they can play audio for up to 9 hours (up to 5 hours with either Immersive Audio or Auto Volume set to On, or up to 4 hours with both set to On).
When the case is fully charged, it can provide up to an additional 19.5 hours of audio playback (up to an additional 11 hours with either Immersive Audio or Auto Volume set to On, or up to 8.5 hours with both set to On).
When fully charged, the earbuds can stay connected to a device while not playing audio for up to 20 hours.
Can I use just one bud?
Yes. You can use either the left or right bud independently for music or phone calls. Controls on your bud will remain the same as when you are using both buds, as will any shortcuts previously set. When one bud is placed into the case, the other bud will play mono audio. For optimal audio performance, both buds should be used together.
Do Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) support voice assistants?
Yes. Use the Bose app to set one or both earbud shortcut functions to access your phone’s native voice assistant, and then press and hold the earbud button. Your voice assistant will listen for a command from the microphone on your earbuds.
How do i charge my earbuds? Can I charge wirelessly? How fast is a quick charge?
You can either charge with a USB-C charging cord or wirelessly. For wireless charging, align the lower half of the back of the charging case with the centre of your wireless charger. For a quick charge, if the earbud battery level is low, a 10-minute charge with the case closed powers the earbuds for up to 2 hours².
How do i adjust volume or the controls?
You can control volume on your device or directly on the earbuds. Each earbud has a button on the top of the barrel. It allows you to control audio (play, pause, next, previous, volume, and shortcut) and calls (accept, decline, end). Press, then press and hold the button to trigger volume control. This function is a short press followed by a long press. When performed on the left earbud, the volume will slowly decrease as you hold the second press. When performed on the right earbud, the volume will slowly increase as you hold the second press. Release when you have reached the desired volume.
Can i wear Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd gen) with other items , such as glasses, hats , or jewelry?
Yes. The earbuds are designed to sit on a part of the ear that typically doesn’t interfere with glasses, hats, or most piercings. In some cases, the magnets may lightly interact with jewelry containing ferromagnetic metals (like nickel). If needed, adjust the earbud position slightly for comfort.
Do Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd gen)use bone conduction?
No. Bone conduction requires a tight fit between the bone-conduction device and your head and has significant limitations to both sound quality and comfort. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) use proprietary Bose OpenAudio Technology to deliver rich full-range sound while minimizing sound that others can hear, and they do not require a tight fit.