Bose's New Open Ultra Earbuds: What's Actually Different?

Jennifer Moore · 2026-09-24

Bose just dropped the Open Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), and honestly? We're curious. Not in a hype-y way, but in a "wait, what actually changed?" kind of way. We haven't gotten our hands on a pair yet, so we can't give you a full review. But we did what any curious person would do: we lined up the specs side by side and dug into the details. Here's what we found. ### Price and Availability The 2nd Gen buds launch on October 1st with a retail price of $299. If you register with MyBose, you can pre-order now to lock in your pair for launch day. They come in three colors: Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green, and Sky Pink. The original Open Ultra Earbuds currently sit at the same $299 price point, but here's the thing: they're an older generation now. That means you'll likely see discounts pop up in the coming months. If you're not in a rush, waiting could save you some cash. ### Same Open Design, Refined Both pairs share the same open-ear design philosophy. They deliver sound through the air near your ear, not through bone vibrations like bone conduction headphones. That means you get situational awareness. You can hear your music and still catch that train announcement or someone calling your name. Neither pair is designed for noise cancellation. That's not a flaw; it's the whole point. Bose says the 2nd Gen uses its OpenAudio and SoundDesign tech to deliver rich, personal sound with balanced clarity. And thanks to a transducer and tightly controlled acoustic structure, they promise minimal sound leakage. We found the original Open Ultra Earbuds handled leakage well, even at higher volumes. So we're hopeful the 2nd Gen follows suit. ### Longer Battery Life The original Open Ultra Earbuds offered 7.5 hours from the buds and 19.5 hours from the charging case. Solid, right? Well, the 2nd Gen bumps that up to nine hours of playback on a single charge. The case still provides 19.5 hours, but it's been redesigned. ### Cinema Mode: A New Trick Here's where things get interesting. Bose introduced Cinema Mode with the 2nd Gen, powered by True Spatial technology. It's designed to create a wider, more immersive soundstage with a "theater-like" experience. We haven't tested it yet, so we can't say how well it works. But with open-ear buds? We're genuinely intrigued. Creating an immersive experience without sealing off your ears is a tall order. If Bose pulls it off, that's a big deal. ### Upgraded Charging Case The case got a glow-up too. It's been redesigned to stand upright, which is a small but welcome change. More importantly, it now supports wireless charging. We don't know the charging speeds yet, but wireless is always a nice convenience. ### The Bottom Line So what's actually new? Longer battery life, Cinema Mode, a redesigned case with wireless charging, and a few color options. The core open-ear design remains the same, which makes sense. It's what makes these buds what they are. If you already own the originals, the upgrades might not be enough to justify an immediate switch. But if you're new to open-ear earbuds, the 2nd Gen looks like a solid entry point. We'll reserve final judgment until we get our hands on a pair. Stay tuned.