Usually, when we pit two pairs of against each other, they're cut from a similar cloth. While manufacturers and even prices tend to vary, it's rare for us to compare directly wireless buds that, on the face of it at least, seem to be pulling in very different creative directions. This apparent design divergence is what makes comparing both sets of Bose buds so interesting.
Despite being made by the same big-name manufacturer, the five-star take a completely different approach to the novel, open design of the , the latter of which ditch the conventional in-ear setup for a less intrusive, more awareness-orientated configuration. What we have here, then, is two very different approaches to the wireless earbud, with one pair taking the more traditional route and the other striving for more cutting-edge territory. The only way you'll know which is right for you, though, is, of course, by reading on.
Bose QC Ultra Earbuds vs Ultra Open Earbuds: price The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds debuted at £300 / $299 / AU$450, a fairly meaty price tag that eclipsed the substantial sum attached to their rival (£259 / $299 / AU$419). The Bose have been around for a decent chunk of time, though, so a few welcome discounts are seeing those prices drop intermittently to the £250 / $250 / AU$400 mark. The Ultra Open Earbuds are newer than the flagship QC Ultra Earbuds, landing with pretty much exactly the same prices as their established stablemates.
We also tested the Open Earbuds at £299 / $299 .