Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

A completely new style of Bose earbuds with an "open-ear" design

I might have to retire the phrase "barely there" when describing how headphones fit and feel. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the first I've ever tried where I literally forgot I was wearing them. They fit unlike any other earbuds — they actually hook onto the ears but don't cover them. And yet, Bose manages to deliver clear, spread-out sound with a well-defined sense of space.

The open-ear design freely allows in external sounds, so you can stay aware of your surroundings. Small, yet powerful drivers and special processing serve up a personal "halo" of sound. Music and podcasts play wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3, a newer, reliable version of the popular wireless technology.

How these earbuds fit and where they work best

Instead of going inside the ear canal — or even covering it — these earbuds hook around and grip the outside of your ear. A cylinder-shaped "barrel" rests behind the ear and gently anchors the earbuds. With just the slightest of adjustments, I was able to secure them into place without pressure on the outside of my ears.

This unique design avoids both in-ear pressure points and the stuffy earplug effect altogether. Obviously, if you're in a loud area — or you want a more focused listening experience, this wouldn't be the right choice. But they are helpful when you need to keep tabs on the kids, talk to coworkers, or walk down a busy street.

Control over music, calls, and more

There's a built-in four-mic system for clear phone, Zoom, and FaceTime calls. On top of each behind-the-ear "barrel," there's a tactile button for control over music, calls, volume, and more. You gain further control with the Bose Music app, a free download for Apple® and Android™, that lets you customize controls, test the fit, and choose from different listening modes.

Bose "immersive audio" processing adds even more space

Bose Immersive Audio technology creates a spacious 3D soundstage in which music and other audio sources come at you from all sides, behind you, and even above your head. And it works with any type of music (or music service).

The Bose Music app lets you choose between two different settings of immersive audio. In one setting, the enhanced soundstage moves along with your head. But you can also activate and use the earbuds' built-in headtracking — that keeps the sound presentation fixed and centered, as if you were listening in a room with speakers.