When it comes to wireless earbuds in 2024, we're spoiled for choice. Today, let's compare two fascinating options: Apple's AirPods 3rd Generation ($169) and the brand new Bose Ultra Open Earbuds ($299). While they might look like they're competing for the same space, they actually take remarkably different approaches to personal audio.
Wireless earbuds have come a long way since the first AirPods launched in 2016. Today's models pack impressive features like spatial audio (which creates a 3D soundstage around your head), advanced battery life, and various approaches to balancing audio quality with environmental awareness.
The key things most people care about are:
The AirPods 3 and Bose Ultra Open represent two distinct philosophies in earbud design. The AirPods follow the traditional route - they sit in your ear canal, creating a partial seal that helps improve bass response and block some outside noise. The Bose takes a radical departure, using an open-ear design that sits completely outside your ear canal, letting you hear everything around you while still delivering your music.
The AirPods 3, released in late 2021, refined Apple's iconic design with shorter stems and a more ergonomic fit. They're light and comfortable, though some users find they can become noticeable after several hours. They use a semi-open design that doesn't completely seal your ear canal, striking a balance between audio quality and awareness.
The Bose Ultra Open, released in February 2024, uses a completely different approach. Their cuff-like design hooks over your outer ear, leaving your ear canal completely open. This makes them incredibly comfortable for long-term wear, especially for people who use glasses or sunglasses. They're also more stable during exercise, though both models have IPX4 water resistance for sweat protection.
Here's where things get interesting. The AirPods 3 deliver what you'd expect from traditional earbuds - clear, balanced sound with decent bass response. They support spatial audio with dynamic head tracking (which adjusts the sound as you move your head) and feature Adaptive EQ that automatically tunes the audio based on how they fit in your ears.
The Bose Ultra Open somehow manage to deliver surprisingly good sound despite not being in your ear canal at all. They use Bose's OpenAudio technology, which directs sound into your ear while minimizing how much leaks out to others. The bass isn't as powerful as traditional earbuds, but the overall sound is clean and natural. They also support spatial audio, though it works differently than Apple's version.
The Bose Ultra Open win on pure battery life, offering 7.5 hours of listening time (4.5 hours with spatial audio), while the AirPods 3 provide 6 hours (5 hours with spatial audio). However, the AirPods case holds more charge, offering a total of 30 hours compared to the Bose's 27 hours. The AirPods case also supports wireless charging, while the Bose is USB-C only.
This is a crucial difference. The AirPods 3 are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, offering instant pairing, automatic device switching, and Find My tracking. While they work with Android devices, you lose many features.
The Bose Ultra Open are more platform-agnostic. They work equally well with any device and support multi-point pairing, letting you connect to two devices simultaneously. Their spatial audio features work on any device, unlike AirPods which require Apple hardware for spatial audio.
For home theater use, both have pros and cons. The AirPods 3 offer excellent integration with Apple TV, including automatic spatial audio for supported content. The Bose Ultra Open are great for watching TV while maintaining awareness of your surroundings and can connect to any TV with Bluetooth audio support.
I've used both models extensively, and they excel in different situations. The AirPods 3 are my go-to for commuting or when I want to focus on my music. The sound isolation helps in noisy environments, and the seamless switching between Apple devices is genuinely useful.
The Bose Ultra Open have become my preferred choice for office work and running. Being able to hear everything around me while enjoying music is game-changing for safety and situational awareness. The comfort is unmatched - I often forget I'm wearing them.
At $169, the AirPods 3 represent solid value, especially for Apple users. They're not cheap, but they deliver premium features and proven reliability.
The Bose Ultra Open at $299 are definitely an investment. However, if their unique benefits - outstanding comfort, environmental awareness, and platform flexibility - match your needs, they're worth considering despite the higher price.
Choose the AirPods 3 if you:
Choose the Bose Ultra Open if you:
Since their release in 2021, the AirPods 3 have received several firmware updates improving connection stability and battery management. Their design influenced many competitors and set a standard for mid-range wireless earbuds.
The Bose Ultra Open, being brand new in 2024, incorporate the latest Bluetooth technologies and represent a fresh approach to the category. They've already received updates adding features like multi-point connectivity, showing Bose's commitment to improvement.
Both products show where wireless audio is heading - toward more personalized, adaptable experiences that fit different lifestyles. The AirPods 3 perfect the traditional approach, while the Bose Ultra Open explore new possibilities in how we might interact with our audio and environment simultaneously.
Remember, the "best" choice depends entirely on your specific needs and preferences. Consider how you'll primarily use them, what devices you own, and whether environmental awareness is important to you. Both are excellent products that serve their intended purposes well - it's just a matter of matching those purposes to your needs.
| Apple AirPods 3rd Generation ($169) | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds ($299) |
|---|---|
| Design Style - Determines comfort and environmental awareness | |
| Semi-sealed in-ear design | Open-ear cuff design that sits outside ear canal |
| Battery Life - Important for all-day use without recharging | |
| 6 hours (5 with spatial audio), 30 hours total with case | 7.5 hours (4.5 with spatial audio), 27 hours total with case |
| Ecosystem Integration - Critical for seamless device switching and features | |
| Full Apple ecosystem features, limited Android support | Universal compatibility, works equally well with all devices |
| Water Resistance - Matters for exercise and outdoor use | |
| IPX4 (splash resistant) | IPX4 (splash resistant) |
| Spatial Audio - Creates more immersive sound experience | |
| Only works with Apple devices | Works with any device |
| Environmental Awareness - Important for safety and office use | |
| Partial awareness due to semi-open design | Complete awareness due to open-ear design |
| Case Charging - Affects convenience of recharging | |
| Wireless, MagSafe, and USB-C charging | USB-C only |
| Multipoint Connection - Useful for switching between devices | |
| Apple-only automatic switching | True multipoint connection with any two devices |
| Use While Wearing Glasses - Important for eyeglass wearers | |
| May cause discomfort with glasses | No interference with glasses |
| Sound Isolation - Matters for noisy environments | |
| Moderate isolation from ambient noise | Minimal isolation, full ambient sound passes through |
The Apple AirPods 3 ($169) offer better sound isolation and deeper bass, making them superior for movie watching. They also provide seamless integration with Apple TV. While the Bose Ultra Open ($299) work well for movies, their open design means ambient noise might interfere with quiet scenes.
The Bose Ultra Open are more comfortable for extended viewing, as their open-ear design doesn't create pressure in the ear canal. The AirPods 3 are comfortable but may cause fatigue after several hours of use.
The Bose Ultra Open offer 7.5 hours of listening time compared to 6 hours for the AirPods 3. However, with spatial audio enabled, Bose drops to 4.5 hours while AirPods maintain 5 hours.
Yes, but differently. The AirPods 3 only support spatial audio with Apple devices, while the Bose Ultra Open provide spatial audio with any device, including smart TVs and streaming boxes.
The AirPods 3 work best with Apple TV but can connect to any TV with Bluetooth. The Bose Ultra Open offer more universal compatibility and can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled TV or streaming device.
The Bose Ultra Open excel at this, allowing full awareness of your surroundings. The AirPods 3 provide some awareness but block more external sound.
Both perform similarly well, but the AirPods 3 have slightly better latency when used with Apple devices. The Bose Ultra Open maintain consistent low latency across all devices.
The Bose Ultra Open support true multipoint connectivity with any two devices. The AirPods 3 only offer automatic switching between Apple devices.
At $169, the AirPods 3 offer better value for Apple users. The Bose Ultra Open at $299 are pricier but justify their cost if you need their unique open-ear design and universal compatibility.
Both work well, but the Bose Ultra Open are better for maintaining awareness of household activities. The AirPods 3 provide more isolation when you want to focus on your content.
The AirPods 3 deliver fuller bass and better sound isolation, making them superior for movie audio. The Bose Ultra Open offer clear sound but sacrifice some low-end impact due to their open design.
The AirPods 3 work better for gaming with Apple devices due to lower latency. The Bose Ultra Open perform adequately but aren't specifically optimized for gaming.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: recordingnow.com - apple.com - youtube.com - bestbuy.com - support.apple.com - apple.com - portableone.com - apple.com - bhphotovideo.com - apple.com - apple.com - rtings.com - techradar.com - consumerreports.org - runnersworld.com - soundguys.com - bose.com - nfm.com - bose.com - youtube.com - bose.com - bose.com - colorware.com
