Verdict: the $199 Bose Sport Open Earbuds are the open-ear workout buds to beat right now. Bose's revived sport model takes the cuff-style comfort of its premium open-ear line, then toughens it up for exercise with an IP54 sweat-and-dust build and textured physical buttons that work with sweaty fingers. You give up noise cancellation (physically impossible in this format) and Bose's top-tier immersive audio features, but for traffic-aware runs, gym sessions, and all-day awareness listening, early hands-on reports say this is the sweet spot of the lineup.
| Spec | Bose Sport Open Earbuds (2026) |
|---|---|
| Price | $199 |
| Release date | Announced September 17, 2026; preorders from September 19; on sale in the US from October 1, 2026 |
| Design | Open-ear C-arm cuff, soft matte silicone finish; textured physical buttons |
| Water/dust resistance | IP54 (sweat, splash, and dust) |
| Battery life | Up to 7 hours per charge; up to 29 hours total with the charging case (22 extra hours) |
| Charging | Wireless-charging case; quick top-up supported |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint (2 devices) and Google Fast Pair |
| Audio | Bose OpenAudio with custom dynamic drivers; Auto Volume; 3-band EQ via the Bose app |
| Codecs | SBC and AAC |
| Calls | SpeechClarity AI: dedicated mic plus voice pickup unit in each bud |
| Noise cancellation | None (by design — open-ear format) |
| Colors | Black, White Smoke, limited-edition Eucalyptus Green |
| Extras | Post-launch firmware update to add Google Find Hub, hands-free Alexa+, and Apple Music shortcuts |
Design and fit: built for motion
Don't let the name fool you: this is a completely new product, not a rehash. The 2021 Sport Open Earbuds used a chunky over-ear hook; the 2026 version switches to the soft-silicone C-arm cuff format Bose established with the Ultra Open series, redesigned for sport. The cuff is claimed to stay put through headshakes and even cartwheels, and the switch from capacitive touch to textured physical buttons is a practical call — swiping a touch surface with sweaty fingers mid-run never ends well. The IP54 rating covers sweat, splashes, and dust, an upgrade over the original model's IPX4, and launch colors include a sharp limited-edition Eucalyptus Green.
Sound and calls: awareness-first audio
Open-ear sound projects audio through the air toward your ear instead of sealing the canal, so traffic, announcements, and conversations stay audible. Bose's OpenAudio system uses custom dynamic drivers aimed at the ear, and Auto Volume nudges playback up or down as your surroundings change. For calls, SpeechClarity pairs a dedicated mic with a voice pickup unit in each bud, using AI to isolate your voice from background noise. Codecs are SBC and AAC only — aptX Adaptive and the Immersive Audio/Cinema Mode features stay exclusive to the $299 Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen). EFTM's Trevor Long, who tested the new Sport Open for two weeks ahead of his October 9 review, came away impressed, ranking its comfort between the Shokz OpenDots 2 and Sennheiser's latest open-ear buds.
Battery, connectivity, and the competition
Battery life is rated at up to 7 hours per charge with another 22 hours in the wireless-charging case — 29 hours total, the biggest combined figure of Bose's two new models (the Ultra 2nd Gen manages 9 + 19.5). One caveat: leaving Auto Volume on can reportedly drop single-charge playback to around 4 hours. Bluetooth 5.4 brings multipoint pairing across two devices plus Google Fast Pair, and Bose plans a firmware update adding Google Find Hub tracking, hands-free Alexa+, and Apple Music shortcuts. At $199, the Sport Open undercuts its flagship sibling by $100 and takes on rivals like the Shokz OpenDots One, OpenFit 2+, and Sony's clip-on LinkBuds.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Workout-first design: IP54 sweat/dust resistance, secure cuff fit, physical buttons for sweaty hands
- 29 hours total battery (7 + 22 via the case) with wireless charging
- Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, Google Fast Pair, and a useful planned firmware update
- $100 cheaper than the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) with the core Bose open-ear experience intact
Cons
- No noise cancellation — inherent to open-ear, but sealed buds isolate far better in loud gyms
- No aptX Adaptive, Immersive Audio, or Cinema Mode (Ultra 2nd Gen exclusives)
- Bass and max volume trail sealed buds; Auto Volume reportedly cuts single-charge battery to around 4 hours
Where to buy
Watch: "Seriously, you need to hear these! My picks for the 2 new Bose open-ear earbuds" — YoungDVB (0DB Review) tests both new 2026 Bose open-ear models, including the Sport Open, covering design, connectivity, latency, battery, calls, and sound.