When it comes to wireless earbuds in 2024, we're seeing some fascinating innovations in how manufacturers approach the fundamental challenge of delivering great sound to our ears. I've spent considerable time with both the Jabra Elite 7 Pro ($199) and the newer Bose Ultra Open Earbuds ($299), and they represent two distinctly different philosophies in personal audio.
The wireless earbud market has evolved dramatically since Apple launched the original AirPods in 2016. The Jabra Elite 7 Pro arrived in late 2021, representing a refinement of traditional sealed earbud design, while the Bose Ultra Open launched in early 2024, showcasing a bold new approach to personal audio.
The Jabra takes the conventional approach: silicone tips create a seal in your ear canal, blocking outside noise and providing a foundation for strong bass response. This design has dominated the market because it works - when you want to focus on your music or calls, isolation helps tremendously.
Bose's new approach places the speaker next to your ear rather than in it, using advanced audio processing (which they call OpenAudio technology) to direct sound into your ear canal while minimizing leakage to others nearby. Think of it like having tiny personal speakers that somehow manage to deliver private audio without completely blocking your ears.
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro delivers what most people expect from premium earbuds: rich bass, clear mids, and detailed highs. The sealed design allows for proper bass response, which is essential for genres like hip-hop or electronic music. Through the Jabra Sound+ app, you can adjust the EQ to your preferences.
The Bose Ultra Open takes a hit in bass response - it's physics, really. Without a sealed ear canal, deep bass is harder to deliver. However, the mids and highs are surprisingly good, and the open design creates a more natural, spacious sound. It's particularly good for acoustic music, podcasts, and calls.
Here's where things get interesting. The Bose design excels at maintaining awareness - you can have a conversation while wearing them without removing an earbud or activating transparency mode. For runners, cyclists, or office workers who need to stay aware of their surroundings, this is a game-changer.
The Jabra counters with HearThrough mode (their version of transparency mode), which uses the microphones to pipe in outside sound. It works well but doesn't feel as natural as simply having your ears open.
Both handle calls differently:
The Bose Ultra Open shines in all-day comfort. Since nothing goes into your ear canal, there's no pressure or fatigue. They hook over your ear securely - I've used them during workouts without issues.
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro is quite comfortable for a sealed design, but like all such earbuds, you'll likely want to take breaks during long sessions. They're 30% smaller than their predecessors, which helps with comfort substantially.
Both offer solid battery life:
Both support quick charging, though the Jabra adds wireless charging capability, which the Bose lacks.
The Bose includes "Immersive Audio" - their take on spatial audio that creates a more speaker-like experience. It's an interesting feature but comes with a significant battery life penalty.
For home theater use, the Jabra's sealed design provides better immersion and stronger bass response, making it more suitable for movie watching. However, if you need to hear others in the room or your doorbell, the Bose's open design might be preferable.
Both support multipoint connection, allowing you to switch between your TV and phone easily. However, neither is specifically optimized for home theater use - you might experience slight audio lag depending on your TV's Bluetooth implementation.
At $199, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro offers excellent value, providing premium features like wireless charging, superior water resistance, and excellent call quality. The Bose Ultra Open at $299 commands a premium price for its innovative design, which might be worth it if the open-ear approach solves specific needs for you.
Choose the Jabra if:
Choose the Bose if:
Both products excel in their intended use cases. The Jabra Elite 7 Pro represents the pinnacle of traditional earbud design, while the Bose Ultra Open pioneers a new approach that sacrifices some audio performance for unique benefits.
The choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you're unsure, consider your primary use case: for pure music enjoyment, go with the Jabra; for awareness and comfort, choose the Bose. Either way, both represent excellent examples of modern wireless audio technology.
Jabra Elite 7 Pro ($199) |
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds ($299) |
|---|---|
| Design Type - Fundamentally affects sound isolation and comfort | |
| Traditional sealed in-ear design | Open-ear cuff design that doesn't block ear canal |
| Sound Isolation - Critical for commuting or noisy environments | |
| Excellent isolation with ANC | Minimal isolation by design |
| Bass Response - Important for music enjoyment and movie watching | |
| Full bass response with sealed design | Limited bass due to open design |
| Environmental Awareness - Key for safety during outdoor activities | |
| Requires HearThrough mode activation | Always aware of surroundings naturally |
| Battery Life - Critical for all-day use | |
| 8 hours (30 with case) | 7.5 hours (27 with case), 4.5 with spatial audio |
| Water/Dust Protection - Important for exercise or outdoor use | |
| IP57 (fully dustproof, water resistant) | IPX4 (splash resistant only) |
| Call Quality Features - Essential for business users | |
| MultiSensor Voice with bone conduction | Standard microphone array |
| Comfort Duration - Critical for extended wear | |
| Good for 2-3 hours, may need breaks | Excellent for 6+ hours continuous wear |
| Charging Options - Affects convenience | |
| USB-C and Qi wireless charging | USB-C only |
| Fit Security - Important for active use | |
| Secure with proper tip size selection | Very secure with over-ear hook design |
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro provides better movie audio due to its sealed design and stronger bass response. For home theater use, the isolation and fuller sound spectrum make it the superior choice over the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
Both work well for late-night viewing, but the Jabra Elite 7 Pro offers better sound isolation. The Bose Ultra Open might be preferred if you need to hear children or other household sounds while watching.
Both the Jabra Elite 7 Pro and Bose Ultra Open support modern Bluetooth codecs for low latency. However, actual performance depends on your TV's Bluetooth implementation.
Yes, both models support Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect to your TV and phone at the same time. This feature works equally well on both models.
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro offers slightly better battery life at 8 hours versus the Bose Ultra Open's 7.5 hours (or 4.5 hours with spatial audio enabled).
The Bose Ultra Open is more comfortable for extended viewing due to its non-intrusive design. The Jabra Elite 7 Pro may require occasional breaks during longer sessions.
Both earbuds will work with any TV that has Bluetooth capability. If your TV doesn't have Bluetooth, you'll need a separate Bluetooth transmitter.
Neither is ideal for sharing as each person would need their own pair. However, both models can connect to the same Bluetooth transmitter if it supports multiple connections.
The Bose Ultra Open is far superior for this purpose, as its open design allows natural awareness of surroundings. The Jabra requires activating its HearThrough mode.
At $199, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro offers better value for home theater use compared to the $299 Bose Ultra Open, primarily due to its superior sound isolation and bass response.
Yes, both models work with any TV that supports Bluetooth audio. They're universally compatible with Samsung, LG, Sony, and other major TV brands.
Both models can connect to AV receivers or soundbars with Bluetooth capability, though neither offers specialized home theater features beyond standard Bluetooth audio.
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: nextpit.com - jabra.com - youtube.com - techradar.com - soyacincau.com - soundguys.com - jabra.com - jabra.com - headsetadvisor.com - jabra.com - youtube.com - jabra.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
