Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Black (first generation) review

Bose's original Ultra Open Earbuds are first-generation cuff-style Bluetooth earbuds, assessed here in U.S. Black. This is not the separate 2026 Ultra Open 2. Bose documents an open fit, no ANC and firmware-added Multipoint; none establishes personal comfort, awareness in every environment, or battery life in an older unit.

Identify the first generation and the open cuff

Bose's U.S. launch material described the Ultra Open design as a cuff that rests around the ear rather than a tip inserted into the canal. The Black color selection on Bose's original U.S. product route and the product image below identify the edition; the model-specific manual calls the hardware type 438926. Bose later introduced a separately named Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), with a different product code and its own case and operating claims. A shared family name is not enough to establish which generation or charging package a seller has.

An open cuff differs from a sealed tip, which matters if you do not want something in the canal. Fit remains personal: ear shape, cuff angle and pressure points can suit one listener and not another. Bose's adjustment advice is not a comfort test. Openness also does not guarantee that traffic, announcements or conversation will always be audible at a particular volume.

Multipoint came through a firmware update

The first-generation manual says the earbuds can store up to six devices and remain actively connected to two at once. It also makes the limitation explicit: audio plays from only one device at a time. Bose's firmware history says version 4.0.22, dated July 10, 2024, added this two-device Multipoint function. An original unit whose software was never updated may not expose the same feature until its owner uses the Bose app and installs the update. For a used set, check the actual device and app state rather than assuming the feature from the model name.

Bose's support specifications list Bluetooth 5.3 and SBC/AAC. The manual separately documents aptX Adaptive from a compatible Snapdragon Sound-certified source, not every Android device. I keep aptX Adaptive in a single-source plan rather than assume it works alongside Multipoint. SBC/AAC are also documented on the two-device, one-stream arrangement.

Keep the base case separate from the wireless cover

The base charging case uses a USB-C connection. Bose sells a separate Ultra Open Earbuds Wireless Charging Case Cover and describes that cover as an upgrade that adds wireless charging; its own box contents name the cover, carabiner, and quick-start guide. Bose also lists an Ultra Open plus wireless-cover set. Those are real package variations, but the optional accessory is not silently included in this Black base-model assessment. If a listing promises wireless charging, confirm that it actually includes the compatible cover and inspect its condition. A product-family name or a photo of a separate accessory does not establish what arrives in a seller's box.

The two observed Bose U.S. set pages clarify the difference. SET-UOE-WLSCH identifies Desert Gold first-generation earbuds ULT-HEADPHONEOPN-DSGLD-WW with a Black wireless charging case cover CMWB-FULT_WLSCH-COVERCASE-BLK; that change in supplied charging capability is assessed separately. SET-ULTOPN-SILCC pairs the same Desert Gold earbud component with Black silicone case cover CMWB-FULT_SILCN-COVERCASE-BLK. Bose describes the silicone cover as protection and carrying, with the case LED and USB port accessible—not as adding wireless charging. Both listings are package variants, not new earbud generations. The Black base-model image above is not a photograph of either Desert Gold set, and a product image alone cannot establish an offer's contents.

Moisture protection is also component-specific. Bose's manual rates the earbuds IPX4 and the standard case IPX1, and warns against splashing or submerging the case. It also advises wiping sweat from both earbuds and case before charging. Consequently, the earbuds' IPX4 statement does not mean the case is unrated, much less splash-proof. Do not shower, swim, or charge wet components; follow the exact unit's instructions and account for the fact that resistance can diminish with normal wear.

Battery claims are not perfectly aligned

Bose's original U.S. announcement and model-specific owner's guide give up to 7.5 hours of music with Immersive Audio and Auto Volume off, 4.5 hours with either feature switched on, and 3.5 hours with both enabled. Bose's current product support specification instead lists 7, 4, and 3 hours for those corresponding settings. The support page does not explain why its numbers differ, so this assessment preserves both source sets rather than selecting the more generous value. The manufacturer says the case can add up to 19.5 hours; the manual further gives setting-dependent case additions of 12 hours with either feature on and 9 hours with both. These are manufacturer maximum claims under stated conditions, not measurements of the pair reviewed here or a forecast for an aged battery.

There is no ANC runtime to compare: Bose's product-set specifications say Noise Cancelling is not included, and the open-ear design is not a sealed noise-isolating tip. If you require active cancellation or a tested passive seal, compare a different configuration instead of treating Immersive Audio as ANC. The published runtime figures above refer to regular music playback and do not imply noise-reduction performance.

Who should put this version on a shortlist?

This first-generation Black model is relevant when an open cuff is a deliberate priority and its tradeoffs fit your routine: no active ANC, firmware-dependent Multipoint, one stream at a time, and a USB-C base case whose water rating is IPX1. Its codecs also depend on the source device, while the aptX Adaptive path specifically needs a compatible Snapdragon Sound host. If wireless case charging is required, price and identify the separate compatible cover or a set that demonstrably includes it; do not count the bare base model as wireless-capable.

Before buying an earlier-generation listing, check the exact product code, included earbuds and case, firmware, cable, separate case-cover accessory if relevant, return window, seller and battery condition. Bose's documentation establishes supported features and maximum claims, not current inventory or the state of a specific second-hand unit. No hands-on use, measurement, fit trial, or battery test was performed for this assessment.

Primary references: Bose's U.S. introduction; the Black U.S. product route; the model 438926 owner's guide; Bose's current product specifications and firmware history; and the separate wireless charging case cover and Ultra Open wireless-cover set. Product claims are not independent test results.