Bose has introduced new headphones together with the fashion label Kith: The Ultra Open Earbuds use Bose’s OpenAudio technology, which delivers sound to the ear from outside. The headphones are not stuck in the ear canal like in-ears, but are attached to the side of the ear.
A clip mechanism is used for this: the earbuds can be opened and are attached to the back of the auricle like a clip earring. Since the sound is played from outside, the ambient noise can still be heard by users.
External attachment of the Ultra Open Earbuds could benefit users who don’t like traditional in-ear headphones but also don’t want to use large over-ear headphones. Thanks to OpenAudio technology, the headphones should also be safer in traffic, as the traffic can still be heard.
Technical details are still missing
Technical details about the headphones are still scarce after Bose and Kith’s announcement. On the Kith website there is at least information that the battery life of the earbuds should be 7.5 hours. If Immersive Audio with Spatial Audio is activated, the running time is 4.5 hours.
The headphones are charged in a charging case that has Bose-style Kith lettering printed on them. It is not known how often the Ultra Open Earbuds can be charged with the case. It is also unknown which Bluetooth version and which codecs the headphones support.
The Ultra Open Earbuds will be available in limited quantities from Bose and Kith from January 22, 2024. The price is 300 US dollars; neither Bose nor has a euro price Kith published.