When it comes to wireless earbuds in 2024, we're seeing some fascinating innovations in how manufacturers approach personal audio. Today, we're comparing two distinctly different approaches: the unconventional open-ear design of the $299 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and the traditional sealed-fit $216 JBL Live Beam 3.
Let's start with what makes these earbuds fundamentally different. Traditional earbuds, like the JBL Live Beam 3, create a seal in your ear canal. Think of it like closing a door to keep outside noise out and your music in. The Bose Ultra Open, released in January 2024, takes a completely different approach – imagine leaving that door open but having a really good speaker pointed directly at your ear.
The JBL Live Beam 3, launched in mid-2023, represents the latest evolution of conventional earbud design, with features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) – technology that uses microphones to detect outside noise and create opposite sound waves to cancel it out.
Here's where things get interesting. The JBL Live Beam 3 delivers what most people expect from premium earbuds: rich bass, clear midrange, and crisp highs. Its sealed design allows for the full frequency range that music producers intended. The active noise cancellation helps create an immersive listening experience, particularly useful on planes or in noisy offices.
The Bose Ultra Open takes a different path. Due to its open design, it can't produce the same deep bass – physics simply won't allow it. However, it excels at creating a natural, airy sound that feels less "in your head" and more like listening to small speakers. The midrange and vocals are particularly clear, though you'll notice less impact in bass-heavy music.
The Bose Ultra Open really shines during outdoor activities. As a runner myself, I appreciate being able to hear approaching cars or other cyclists while still enjoying music. The open design means you stay aware of your surroundings naturally, without relying on electronic pass-through features.
The JBL's traditional design works better for gym workouts where external awareness isn't as crucial. Both are sweat-resistant (IPX4 for Bose, IP55 for JBL), but the Bose's cuff design tends to stay in place better during vigorous movement.
Here's where your personal preferences really matter. The JBL Live Beam 3 excels at blocking out office chatter and helping you focus. Its smart case with a touchscreen display makes quick adjustments easy without reaching for your phone.
The Bose Ultra Open takes a different approach – you can hear when colleagues talk to you, and you won't have to remove them for quick conversations. They're also incredibly comfortable for long wearing sessions, especially if you wear glasses.
For home theater use, the JBL has a clear advantage. Its sealed design and support for low-latency codecs means better sound isolation and synchronization with video. The Bose's open design means you'll hear more room noise, and while they support Snapdragon Sound for low latency, the audio experience isn't as immersive.
The JBL leads in battery life with up to 12 hours per charge (10 with ANC), while the Bose manages about 7.5 hours (4.5 with their Immersive Audio feature enabled). Both cases provide additional charges, but the JBL's case includes wireless charging support, which the Bose lacks.
At $299, the Bose Ultra Open commands a premium price for its specialized design. You're paying for unique technology and comfort, but sacrificing some traditional earbud features.
The $216 JBL Live Beam 3 offers more traditional features at a lower price point, including noise cancellation and longer battery life. It's arguably better value if you're looking for conventional earbud functionality.
Choose the Bose Ultra Open if:
Choose the JBL Live Beam 3 if:
These products represent two different approaches to personal audio. The Bose Ultra Open pioneers a new category focused on awareness and comfort, while the JBL Live Beam 3 perfects the traditional sealed design with modern features.
Your choice should ultimately depend on your primary use case. If you need to stay aware of your surroundings while enjoying music, the Bose is worth its premium price. If you're looking for traditional earbud functionality with excellent features and value, the JBL is your better bet.
| Bose Ultra Open Earbuds - $299 | JBL Live Beam 3 - $216 |
|---|---|
| Design Type - Determines isolation and awareness | |
| Open-ear cuff design (allows full environmental awareness) | Traditional sealed in-ear (blocks external sound) |
| Battery Life - Critical for all-day use | |
| 7.5 hours (4.5 with Immersive Audio) | 12 hours (10 with ANC) |
| Water Resistance - Important for exercise and outdoor use | |
| IPX4 (splash resistant) | IP55 (better dust and water protection) |
| Noise Cancellation - Key for commuting and office use | |
| None (by design) | True Adaptive ANC (excellent isolation) |
| Bass Response - Critical for music enjoyment | |
| Limited (physics of open design) | Full range (sealed design allows deep bass) |
| Comfort for Extended Wear - Important for all-day use | |
| Excellent (especially with glasses) | Good (but may cause fatigue after hours) |
| Case Features - Convenience factor | |
| Basic charging case | Smart case with touchscreen, wireless charging |
| Special Features - Value-add capabilities | |
| Immersive Audio, excellent stability for exercise | ANC, ambient mode, multipoint connection |
| Use Case Optimization - Where they excel | |
| Outdoor activities, awareness-critical scenarios | Commuting, office work, focused listening |
The JBL Live Beam 3 is significantly better for movies and TV. Its sealed design provides better bass and isolation, while its low-latency support ensures audio stays in sync with video. The Bose Ultra Open isn't ideal for home theater use due to its open design allowing ambient noise in.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds cost $299, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is priced at $216, making the JBL more budget-friendly with more traditional features.
The JBL Live Beam 3 offers superior battery life with 12 hours per charge (10 with ANC), compared to the Bose Ultra Open's 7.5 hours (4.5 with Immersive Audio).
Both work well for calls, but serve different purposes. The Bose Ultra Open lets you hear your own voice naturally and maintain awareness of your surroundings. The JBL Live Beam 3 offers better noise isolation for focused calls in noisy environments.
The JBL Live Beam 3 features True Adaptive Noise Cancellation, while the Bose Ultra Open doesn't offer noise cancellation by design, as it's meant to allow environmental awareness.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds excel during exercise, especially outdoor activities, due to their stable fit and awareness of surroundings. The JBL Live Beam 3 works better for gym workouts where isolation is preferred.
The Bose Ultra Open typically offers better long-term comfort, especially for glasses wearers, due to its unique cuff design. The JBL Live Beam 3 uses traditional in-ear tips that may cause fatigue after extended use.
Both the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and JBL Live Beam 3 support multipoint connection, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously.
The JBL Live Beam 3 delivers fuller sound with better bass response due to its sealed design. The Bose Ultra Open offers clear mids but limited bass due to its open design.
The JBL Live Beam 3 is better suited for late-night TV watching due to its isolation and sealed design. The Bose Ultra Open might disturb others nearby due to sound leakage.
The JBL Live Beam 3 has superior water and dust resistance (IP55) compared to the Bose Ultra Open's IPX4 rating, making it more durable against sweat and rain.
The JBL Live Beam 3 offers more smart features, including a touchscreen charging case, wireless charging, and ANC. The Bose Ultra Open focuses on core features like Immersive Audio and app customization.
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: rtings.com - techradar.com - consumerreports.org - runnersworld.com - soundguys.com - bose.com - nfm.com - bose.com - youtube.com - bose.com - bose.com - colorware.com - audio46.com - target.com - walmart.com - crutchfield.com - whathifi.com - in.jbl.com - rcwilley.com - youtube.com - jbl.com - soundguys.com - jbl.com - store.utah.edu
