Bose just unveiled the successors to some of our favorite open earbuds — and there's even a cheaper option to make Shokz a little, er, shocked
Bose just told Shokz to hold its beer
by https://www.techradar.com/author/tom-bedford · TechRadarNews By Tom Bedford Published 17 September 2026
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- Bose unveils two new clip (or ear cuff style) earbuds
- Bose Sport Open Earbuds are a more affordable, simple option
- Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen supersede our top picks, with some refinements
For a long time, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds took pride of place as the 'best premium open earbuds' in our round-up of the absolute best open earbuds. Even if the Shokz OpenDots 2 hadn't stolen that spot recently, it's likely a new competitor would have — this category is growing like you wouldn't believe.
And Bose is back too, with upgraded flagship open earbuds called, as you might have guessed, the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), which bring some refinements over the first-gen clip-style buds. They're set to sell from October 1, for £299.95 (about $400, AU$600, but we're waiting on international pricing).
This offering doesn't come alone. Likely taking inspiration from rival Shokz and the OpenDots Air, Bose has unveiled a cheaper alternative and called it the Sport Open Earbuds. These buds cut some of the features, use a different design, and will start selling on October 15, for £179.95 (roughly $240, AU$360). That makes them Bose's first affordable open earbuds.
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Naturally, we'll be grabbing these buds as soon as possible to see how well they work, so prepare for reviews in the near future. Perhaps Bose will claw its ranking spots back from Shokz sooner than expected...
Lay me down on a bed of Boses
Let's start by looking at the sequel set: the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen). These mostly retain the angular look of the originals, but with a slightly revised look for a better hold, and a charging case that's easier to open and close (and has little feet so it can stay upright).
Under the hood, there have been a number of small refinements like a higher volume, extended battery life and improved bass response. They also feature Bose's TrueSpatial audio, improving on Bose Immersive Audio, to provide better spatial audio while you're exercising.
Like the previous Ultras, these are a premium product, and I see most people skipping them for the price tag alone. That's where the other buds come in.
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