Bose announces active Sport Open Earbuds and upgrades the Ultra Open Earbuds — here’s what to expect (and what could still be missing)

Bose has unveiled two new members to its open-ear earbud family, with the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) and the newly introduced Sport Open earbuds taking center stage. The latter earbuds are specifically designed with stability and comfort during exercise in mind. The Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) bring a host of enhancements to the table, including immersive audio, a longer battery life, clearer calls, and a sleeker design.

While the original model already impressed with its features, the upgrades promise to be tested by Bose.

However, the Sport Open Earbuds are what really caught my attention. Sharing similarities with the Ultra Open Earbuds, such as stereo audio, onboard button controls, customization options via the Bose app, multipoint connectivity, and of course, the trusted ear cuff design, the Sport buds stand out with an IP54 durability rating. This means they can withstand water splashes, sweat, and dust. Bose claims they'll provide 22 hours of battery life, which is quite impressive for active users.

Pre-orders for the new buds commence on September 19 on Bose's official website and will become available on October 1. The upgraded Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen will be priced at $299, identical to the original edition. Meanwhile, the Sport Open Earbuds will set consumers back $199, a price point that seems fitting for high-end open-ear earbuds. The earbuds come in new color options, namely Black or White Smoke, with limited editions in Cherry Chocolate, Olive Green, and Sky Pink.

Notably, wireless charging and a novel feature called Cinema Mode are also being introduced. Both the Sport Open and Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) are compatible with wireless charging. Furthermore, the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will sport a claimed 28.5 hours of battery life with the charging case, a bit more than the original earbuds.

Bose claims that the newly engineered driver on the Ultra Open Earbuds (Gen 2) will deliver deeper bass and higher volume compared to its predecessor. Additionally, a new Cinema Mode powered by Bose TrueSpatial technology is designed to enhance video content with a wider, more immersive soundstage while keeping dialogue sharp.

One aspect that still remains to be seen is automatic wear detection, which was absent from the original open earbuds. This feature is crucial for users who listen to audiobooks or podcasts, as it helps prevent misplacement while they're engrossed in the content. Bose has not confirmed whether this feature will make its way to the new models, so I'll be among the first to test it out when Tom's Guide reviews the earbuds.