I tried these stylish, futuristic-looking open earbuds, and although they boast sound by Bose, they're not as harsh on your wallet — here's everything you need to know

Indian tech company Noise has joined forces with audio giant Bose to launch a new pair of open earbuds called the Noise Master Buds Open. This marks the first time Noise has ventured into the open ear segment, but the Master Buds Open fit seamlessly into the brand's existing lineup of over-ear and in-ear headphones, also co-developed with Bose.

I had the chance to try the Master Buds Open at IFA Berlin 2026, and I spoke with Noise about the collaboration and the impressive features packed into these futuristic-looking earbuds.

First and foremost, it's important to note that the Master Buds Open do not represent a fully-fledged Bose product. Instead, they incorporate Bose's 'Sound by Bose' technology, which means Bose has helped fine-tune the audio experience and offers a specific Sound by Bose EQ profile for the model. Bose's partnership with Noise is far from ordinary; the audio company has invested in the Indian brand and has previously collaborated on several audio products, such as the Noise Master Buds 2 and Master Buds Max.

While the Master Buds Open may not match the exceptional build quality and sound performance of high-end earbuds like Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2, the collaboration between Noise and Bose certainly elevates the perceived value of Noise's budget-friendly audio gear. This positioning helps the brand stand out in competitive markets like the US, UK, and EU.

During my hands-on experience with the Master Buds Open, I was impressed by their sleek and futuristic design, especially in the Silver colorway, as well as their comfortable clip-on fit. The earbuds performed as expected, although I should mention that the unit I tested was a prototype, and the final product may sound slightly different at launch.

Using Bose's Sound by Bose EQ option, I found the Master Buds Open to deliver clear vocals, a noticeable amount of bass (for open earphones), and well-separated mid-range tones. A handful of personal tracks reinforced the earbuds' decent bass response, although they didn't deliver the thunderous bass found in some premium wireless earbuds.

While the audio on the Master Buds Open wasn't mind-blowing, they certainly performed impressively for their price point. The buds retail for around €119 (around $140 / £100), which is a remarkable bargain, especially when compared to Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, which carry a list price of $299 / £299 / AU$449.95.

One aspect that truly stood out during my experience with the Master Buds Open was their feature-rich companion app. The app proved to be user-friendly and packed with functionality. It includes a spatial audio setting designed to deliver "dynamic and realistic" audio, a Gaming Mode for low-latency audio during mobile gaming sessions, customizable touch controls, multi-point connectivity, Find My Device capabilities, and a Focus Mode that silences all controls except for playback when you want to focus on your music.

The app also offers customizable EQ settings, including a fully adjustable equalizer, and built-in microphones for taking calls on the go. Noise even demonstrated the Master Buds Open's AI assistant, which allows users to ask voice questions, read chat history, and transcribe meetings or discussions.