Bose Ultra Open vs Nothing Ear Open
AISummary
Bose Ultra Open vs. Nothing Ear Open: Open-Ear Earbuds Comparison The Nothing Ear Open and Bose Ultra Open both deliver open-ear audio for situational awareness during workouts, but differ sharply in design, sound, and features. Nothings flexible hook wraps behind the ear, positioning its 14.2mm dynamic driver closer to the canal for superior clarity, solid bass via enhancement algorithms, and customizable 8-band EQ through its appearning high marks (e.g., 9.5/10 sound scores) from experts for balanced mids, treble sparkle, and value at ~$150. Boses bolder L-shaped clip-on sits like an earring, leveraging OpenAudio and Immersive Audio for richer, spatial sound with subtle sub-bass, though it scores lower overall (2.3 timbre/distortion).
Bose Ultra Open
Launch Date8/15/2025
Launch Price299 USD
Expert Reviews
76/100
18 experts
User Reviews
83/100
10015 users
Nothing Ear Open
Launch Date9/23/2024
Launch Price149 USD, EUR, GBP
Expert Reviews
79/100
12 experts
User Reviews
82/100
419 users
Pros
- Comfortable open-ear cuff design that doesn't block the ear canal
- Innovative OpenAudio technology delivers richer bass than traditional open earbuds
- Bluetooth multipoint connectivity allows easy switching between two devices
- Good battery life with fast charging and substantial backup in charging case
- Water resistant (IPX4) suitable for active use
- Adjustable EQ and other settings via Bose app for personalized sound
- Maintains situational awareness since ears are not blocked
Cons
- No active noise cancellation due to open-ear design
- Sound quality may vary significantly depending on ambient environment
- No wireless charging support
- Limited bass and overall lower MDAQS sound score typical for open-ear earbuds
- May leak sound at high volume in very quiet environments
Pros
- High contrast transparent design
- Clear, decently loud sound with just enough bass presence
- Slim charging case with reasonable battery reserves
- Excellent fit and comfortable to wear
- Low price point ($149/129/149)
Cons
- A perfect fit isnt guaranteed
- IP54 resistance just OK for fitness-friendly earbuds
- Doesnt have the wider appeal of regular earphones
Specifications
Group by
| 2025(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 76.0 | 83.0 | 299 USD | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | no | Bose app for Adjustable EQ, Auto volume, firmware updates | 7.5 | 27 | 1 hour | Up to 7 hours (4 hours with Immersive Audio or Auto Volume) | 5.3 | Yes, connect to two devices simultaneously | 42 x 65 x 26 | 1.65" H x 2.56" W x 1.04" D | 0.097 lb | Included, hard plastic | USB-C port | AAC, SBC, aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound | yes | Simple button controls with customizable shortcut via Bose app | - | 0.73" H x 0.67" W x 1.07" D | 0.014 lb | Up to 19.5 hours additional | Open Ear with cuff-shaped design | - | no | Plastic (PC-ABS), Metal, Silicone, Gold Plating | yes | Built-in Microphone | yes | No | Yes | Up to 48 hours | no | IPX1 | IPX4 | IPX4 | 56.8 | 6.4 | no | Bluetooth, A2DP, HFP, Bluetooth Low Energy, AAC, SBC | |
| 2024(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 79.0 | 82.0 | 149 USD, EUR, GBP | No | {"buds":"8hrs","case":"30hrs"} | Bluetooth 5.3 | AAC, SBC | {"buds":"51x41x14mm, 8g each","case":"126x44x19mm, 62g"} | 14.2mm dynamic | IP54 | no | - | 8 | 30 | - | - | 5.3 | - | 125.9 x 44.0 x 19.0 | - | - | - | - | SBC, AAC | yes | - | 14.2 | - | - | - | - | 20 - 20,000 | no | - | yes | - | yes | - | - | - | no | IP54 | IP54 | - | 80 | 8.1 | no | - | |

