Best open earbuds 2026: Mashable’s vetted 6 picks

Read our full review of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds.

If you want to use open earbuds but don’t want to sacrifice having the best sound quality possible, the Bose Ultra Opens easily compare to in-ear options. You’ll just have to shell out.

It’s hard not to be at least a little floored the first time you try the Bose Ultra Open earbuds — they simply sound way better than any pair of open earbuds has a right to. Sure, they can be a little more distant depending on the angle (easily adjustable) and have less of a booming bass than some in-ear designs (a plus for some people), but despite their quirks, they more than deliver on the sound front. Mashable contributor RJ Andersen writes in her review, “The sound was well-balanced, and even with my ear completely uncovered, I didn’t notice any issues with the audio sounding distant or muddy. Instead, the Ultra Open Earbuds sounded clear, natural, and pretty lush.”

While they sound great out of the box, Bose gives you the option between stereo and Immersive Audio (aka Bose’s spatial audio setting) once you connect it to the companion app. Of course, you’ll also have access to four equalizer presets and one custom equalizer setting. For $300, we expected to be impressed, and based on the sound alone, we were.

But Bose didn’t stop there. Although the Ultra Opens share the same cuff-like design as our top pick earbuds, we didn’t find any uncomfortable pinching or squeezing, even after hours of wear. They stood out as the most comfortable pair of open earbuds we tested. The design thoughtfulness extended to the on-ear controls, which feature a button at the top of the battery barrel that sits on the outside of your ear. The result was a control that was just as easy to use as a touch control, but way less likely to be triggered by accident.

For all their good, the Ultra Open earbuds aren’t quite perfect. Their battery life is on the lower end, their mic quality wasn’t great on calls, and their IP rating makes them the least outdoor workout-friendly. (As IPX4 earbuds, they have an unknown amount of dust resistance and splash resistance, meaning they can handle sweat fine, but might not fare as well if you’re out in heavier rain). Still, while they’re not the most rugged pair, they are the most premium-sounding — if you mainly work out indoors, and don’t find yourself on extra-long runs all that often, these drawbacks are workable.