More than two years after the original Ultra Open Earbuds dropped, Bose is back with a second generation. And the most surprising part? It’s still $299. In a market where brands quietly bump prices with every refresh, Bose held the line. That’s worth paying attention to.
As reported by Notebookcheck, the Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen are officially priced at $299 in the US and €299.95 in the Eurozone. Same as before. The original pair launched back in 2024 with a quirky Kith collaboration and no visible Bose branding. This time, Bose skips the collab and goes straight to a standard release. Clean and simple.
The biggest upgrade here is battery life. The 2nd Gen gets 9 hours of playback, up from 7.5 hours on the first generation. That’s a 20% improvement, and for open-style earbuds you’re likely wearing during long work-from-home sessions or commutes, that extra time actually matters. The clip-on design was already a differentiator in a crowded market of in-ear buds, and better battery makes it more practical.
On the connectivity side, these now run on Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and aptX support. That means higher-quality audio streaming for Android users with compatible devices. Bose also added Google Fast Pair, Google Find Hub, and Find My Android, so you can locate them if they fall somewhere weird. IPX4 water resistance carries over from the original, which is fine for sweat and light rain, though it’s worth noting the separate Sport Open Earbuds that Bose announced the same day get the more protective IP54 rating.
The 2nd Gen comes in four colors: Black, Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green, and White. There’s also a fifth option called Sky Pink, but for some reason Bose is keeping that one out of the US. No explanation given. It’s a strange call, especially for a colorway that would clearly sell well here.
Visually, not much has changed between generations. The clip-on silhouette is nearly identical, which will either reassure existing fans or feel like a missed opportunity depending on your perspective. Bose seems to be betting that refined internals matter more than a redesign, and honestly, for the core audience of this product, that’s probably the right call.
Open-ear audio has been picking up steam lately. Sony, Shokz, and a handful of others have been pushing the format, but Bose was early to the premium clip-on style. The 2nd Gen doesn’t reinvent anything, but it tightens what was already a solid product.
My Bose members can order today, with general availability starting October 1. Key specs at a glance:
- Battery life: 9 hours (20% longer than Gen 1)
- Bluetooth 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound and aptX
- Google Fast Pair, Find Hub, and Find My Android
- IPX4 water resistance
- Colors: Black, Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green, White (Sky Pink in select markets only)
- Price: $299 / €299.95
If you already own the original and are happy with them, there’s probably no rush to upgrade. But for anyone still on the fence about open-ear audio, the 2nd Gen is a more polished entry point than its predecessor, and that price staying flat is a genuine win for buyers.