On October 30, 2026, Gizmodo published its review of the Bose Sport Open Earbuds, the sporty version of the clip-on earbuds of the brand earbuds, priced at $199 with a score of 3.5. The verdict is that they are solid but fall short of the second-generation Ultra Open Earbuds. Their greatest strength is the fit: the C-shaped clip feels snug and stable, does not move when running or doing sit-ups or pull-ups, and can be worn for hours without fatigue or a feeling of pressure on the ears.
The design also scores points with IP54 resistance to water splashes and dust – designed for sweat and light rain – and a finish the reviewer praises, especially the eucalyptus green color and the semi-transparent top of the case. On sound, though, the assessment is more restrained: quality is good but not excellent, with bass that is a bit muddy and overprocessed on bass-heavy songs, and without Bose immersive audio. In return, calls were a pleasant surprise, with good suppression of ambient noise and a score of seven out of ten from the person on the other end of the line.
The biggest drawbacks are battery life – seven hours versus nine for the Ultra Open – and volume in noisy environments, such as walking on a New York sidewalk or riding the subway, where the Sport Open struggle more to cut through outside noise. With strong competition from brands like Shokz and the Ultra Open only $100 more, the conclusion is that the Sport Open are good but not excellent, and buying them makes more sense for someone who prioritizes sporty fit and durability above all.
Source: Gizmodo (https://gizmodo.com/bose-sport-open-earbuds-review-2000831813)
