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Nothing Ear (Open) vs Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Best open earbuds?
Open-ear earbuds are gaining popularity among athletes and outdoor commuters who want to stay aware of their surroundings while enjoying music. Two notable contenders in this space from 2024 are the Nothing Ear (Open) and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. In this comparison, we’ll examine how these two models compare in terms of design, features, sound quality, and more.
Editor’s note: This is the first version of this article, which was published on October 8, 2024. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What’s it like to use the Nothing Ear (Open) compared to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds?
The Nothing Ear (Open) and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds take different approaches to open-ear design. The Nothing Ear (Open) features a more ergonomic design with a flexible, hooked shape that wraps around the back of your ear. This design allows the driver to be placed closer to the ear canal, which significantly improves sound quality. Overall, the design is quite ergonomic and comfortable.
On the other hand, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds employ a unique cuff-like, clip-on design consisting of three parts: an L-shaped piece that sits over the ear canal, a flexible rubberized section that goes around the ridge of the ear, and a barrel-shaped piece containing the electronics and controls that sits behind and hugs the ear. While not uncomfortable, the feeling of having something attached to your outer ear can take some getting used to.
Both models offer a secure fit suitable for workouts and outdoor activities. The Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds and case both have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, while the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have an IPX4 rating for water resistance.
| Action | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Action Single pinch | Left earbud Play / pause / answer / hang up | Right earbud Play / pause / answer / hang up |
| Action Double pinch | Left earbud Next track / reject call | Right earbud Next track / reject call |
| Action Triple pinch | Left earbud Previous track | Right earbud Next track / reject call |
| Action Pinch and hold | Left earbud Volume - | Right earbud Volume + |
| Action | Left Earbud | Right Earbud | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Press x1 | Left Earbud Play / Pause / Answer call | Right Earbud Play / Pause / Answer call | ||
| Action Press x2 | Left Earbud Next track / End call | Right Earbud Next track / End call | ||
| Action Press x3 | Left Earbud Previous track | Right Earbud Previous track | ||
| Action Press x1 and hold | Left Earbud Assignable shortcut | Right Earbud Assignable shortcut | ||
| Action Press x2 and hold | Left Earbud Volume - | Right Earbud Volume + |
Do the Nothing Ear (Open) or Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have more features?
Both earbuds offer companion apps for customization, but the Nothing Ear (Open) appears to have a slight edge in terms of features.
The Nothing X app provides a parametric equalizer, giving users full control over the entire frequency range. It also offers customizable touch controls, fast pairing, a low lag mode for gaming, and a voice assistant setup for ChatGPT.
The Bose Music app, while more limited, still offers some useful features. It provides a basic 3-band EQ, the ability to assign shortcut commands, device switching, and access to Bose’s Immersive Audio mode. However, in our review we found the Immersive Audio to be a tad redundant, without much practical application.
Both earbuds support multipoint connectivity, allowing users to connect to two devices simultaneously.
How do the Nothing Ear (Open) and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds connect?
The Nothing Ear (Open) connects via Bluetooth 5.3 and supports SBC and AAC codecs. It also offers Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair for easy connectivity.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds also use Bluetooth 5.3 but support a wider range of codecs, including AAC, SBC, Snapdragon Sound, and AptX Adaptive.
Is battery life better on the Nothing Ear (Open) or Bose Ultra Open Earbuds?
The Nothing Ear (Open) advertises 8 hours of playback on a single charge, with a total of 30 hours, including case top-ups.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds officially claim 7.5 hours of playback, but in our standardized testing, they exceeded expectations with 8 hours and 53 minutes of playtime. The Bose earbuds also offer a quick charge feature, providing an additional 2 hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge.
Do the Nothing Ear (Open) or Bose Ultra Open Earbuds block noise better?
Neither the Nothing Ear (Open) nor the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are designed to block out noise. Both models’ open-ear design provides little to no isolation and allows outside noise to enter your ears unimpeded. After all, that is the primary purpose of these earbuds.
We do not recommend just cranking up the volume to drown out outside noise. Monitoring volume levels is important when using open-ear earbuds to avoid the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, especially in loud environments.
Do the Nothing Ear (Open) sound better than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds?
The Nothing Ear (Open) offers better bass response compared to other open-ear models we’ve tested, including the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
Generally, we see lower scores in this category due to the driver being placed outside your ear canal. Still, with an overall score of 3.6, the Nothing Ear (Open) MDAQS results are the highest we’ve seen in our open-ear category so far.
On the other hand, without the ability to produce the low-end that most listeners crave when listening to their music, the Bose Ultra Open has an overall score of 2.3, which is on the low side but par for the course when it comes to open-ear earbuds.
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
Objective Measurements
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Both models deviate significantly from our ideal frequency response curve, which is expected for open-ear designs. However, the Nothing Ear (Open) does offer a more balanced and enjoyable listening experience overall.
Do the Nothing Ear (Open) or Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have a better microphone?
The Nothing Ear (Open) has a slightly better microphone performance than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. While certainly not the best quality when it comes to earbuds, itès suitable for chatting with friends without problems in ideal conditions. It also does a decent job of rejecting background noise in simulated office and street environments, although it struggles with wind noise.
In contrast, the microphone of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds is fairly subpar. While it offers clarity in ideal conditions, in our review, Dave Carr characterized it as talking through a “High School PA system from 1976.” The Bose earbuds also struggled significantly with wind noise rejection in simulated outdoor tests, which is particularly disappointing given their intended use for outdoor activities.
Nothing Ear (Open) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Nothing Ear (Open) microphone demo (Wind conditions):
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds microphone demo (Wind conditions):
Nothing Ear (Open) vs Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Price and availability
The Nothing Ear (Open) is priced at $149.99 at Manufacturer site and was released on September 24, 2024.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, released on February 14, 2024, cost significantly more at $299 at Amazon.
Should you get the Nothing Ear (Open) or Bose Ultra Open Earbuds?
Choose the Nothing Ear (Open) if you:
- Want better overall sound quality, especially bass response
- Prefer a more ergonomic design
- Are looking for more comprehensive EQ options
- Want a more affordable option
- Need better microphone performance for calls
Choose the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds if you:
- Prefer the unique clip-on design
- Need slightly longer battery life
- Want support for a wider range of Bluetooth codecs
- Are a dedicated Bose fan and prefer their ecosystem
Overall, the Nothing Ear (Open) offers better value for money, superior sound quality, and a more feature-rich experience than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. While both models keep users aware of their surroundings, the Nothing Ear (Open) makes fewer compromises in terms of audio quality and user experience. It is definitely one of the best open-ear earbuds we have tested so far.
Great controls
Good sound quality
Long battery life
Alternatives to consider
If you’re exploring other options in the open-ear earbuds market, there are a few alternatives worth considering. The Anker Soundcore AeroFit series offers two models: the AeroFit ($129.99 at Amazon) and AeroFit Pro ($169.99 at Amazon). Both feature a hook design similar to the Nothing Ear (Open) and come with a more compact charging case. The AeroFit boasts an IPX7 rating, while the Pro version offers IPX5 protection, physical controls, a companion app, and an impressive 17-plus hour playback time on a single charge.
Another option is the Shokz OpenFit ($179 at Amazon), which provides a companion app with EQ options, an IPX54 rating, and 7 hours of playback time. It features a unique design that wraps over your ears, evenly distributing its 8.4g weight. These alternatives offer various features and price points, potentially providing better value than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds while still delivering the open-ear experience. Your choice among these options will depend on your specific needs, such as battery life, water resistance, and budget.
Frequently asked questions
No, neither the Nothing Ear (Open) nor the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds use bone conduction technology. They are open-ear earbuds that place the driver outside your ear canal, allowing you to hear your surroundings naturally while listening to audio.
Yes, both the Nothing Ear (Open) and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are compatible with both iPhone and Android devices. They connect via Bluetooth, which is universally supported by smartphones.
The Nothing Ear (Open) does not support wireless charging. For the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, the charging case included with the earbuds is not capable of charging wirelessly. However, this functionality can be added with the Bose Wireless Charging Case Cover accessory, which is compatible with Qi-certified chargers.