In what we could call an unexpected turn of events, audio giant Bose has re-entered the open-ear earbud market with a limited-edition offering, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. These clip-style earbuds, designed to keep users aware of their surroundings while enjoying music, are a collaborative effort with fashion and lifestyle brand Kith. Priced at $300, they will be exclusively available at Kith stores and online starting January 22, but only in extremely limited quantities.
This marks the first time Bose has partnered with another brand to release a product bearing both companies' logos. The Kith for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds come as a fashionable accessory, breaking away from the traditional audio wearable design. They represent a shift in Bose's product strategy, focusing on a unique form factor compared to their previous offerings like the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
“This is our first partnership with a fashion brand, and we couldn’t imagine a better choice than Kith. With this product launch, we’re bringing together two passionate communities that inspire one another — music lovers and fashion trendsetters — to show them they don’t have to sacrifice exceptional sound for fashion,” said Jim Mollica, Chief Marketing Officer at Bose.
“The Kith for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are an incomparable, all-day wearable that elevate your style and let you immerse yourself in music while staying connected to what’s around you.”
Unlike traditional in-ear earbuds that block the ear canal, the Ultra Open Earbuds clip onto the outer ear, allowing ambient sounds to enter the ear canal. This design promotes situational awareness, making them a viable alternative to bone conduction headphones.
The collaboration with Kith has resulted in a sleek matte black colorway with the Kith brand name prominently featured in Bose's iconic font on both the earbuds and the charging case.
These earbuds use Bose's OpenAudio technology, directing sound toward the ears without significant sound leakage, thanks to the cuff-shaped design. While Bose has not disclosed certain technical details, such as water resistance and driver specifications, they promise 7.5 hours of continuous listening on a single charge. Additionally, they incorporate Bose's spatial audio processing, offering an immersive listening experience.
Bose's return to the open-ear earbud market follows the discontinuation of the Bose Sport Open Earbuds in 2022, marking a change in their approach to audio wearables. By teaming up with a fashion brand like Kith, Bose seems to be exploring a new angle in the competitive fitness earbuds market, with a design that prioritizes style and comfort over noise cancellation.
“In one of my first meetings with Bose, I told them about how I have never been able to find earbuds that fit me. They then showed me the Ultra Open Earbuds, gave me a demo, and I fell in love,” said Ronnie Fieg, Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Kith.
“I truly believe Bose to be the best-in-class when it comes to sound, so having them be Kith’s official sound partner and bringing this product to market with them for the first time are important notches in our timeline.”
This collaboration may be the beginning of an exciting partnership between Bose and Kith, hinting at more innovative products to come. However, it remains to be seen whether this fashion-forward approach will resonate with a broader audience in the audio industry that has been increasingly focused on noise-cancellation and premium audio features.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds in collaboration with Kith offer a fresh take on open-ear earbuds, prioritizing style, comfort, and situational awareness. With their unique design and limited availability, they represent a bold move by Bose to capture a niche market segment that values both fashion and audio quality.
Whether this partnership will lead to more successful products in the future remains to be seen, but it's certainly a noteworthy development in the world of audio wearables.
