Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs Shokz OpenSwim Pro
Quick take: The Shokz OpenSwim Pro costs $19 less; the Shokz OpenSwim Pro lasts longer per charge (9 hrs).
| Spec | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | Shokz OpenSwim Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$199 | ~$180 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Open-Ear & Bone Conduction | Open-Ear & Bone Conduction |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 7.5 hrs | 9 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 27 hrs | — |
| Quick Charge | 10 min → 2 hrs | 10 min = 3 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | Bluetooth + 32GB MP3 mode (plays MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, M4A files) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | — | — |
| Weight | 6.4 g | 27 g |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IP68 |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | No |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
- ✓Best sound of any open-ear product, period
- ✓6.4g cuffs clip on like jewelry — canal stays empty
- ✓aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound for Android
- ✓Multipoint added via firmware after rocky launch
- ✓Lowest leakage in the open-ear category
- ✓$100 cheaper than its $299 launch price
- ✗Immersive Audio drops battery from 7.5 to 4.5 hours
- ✗IPX4 is the weakest rating among sports rivals
- ✗Cuff turns pinchy on some ears after hours
- ✗Fit takes a day or two to learn
- ✗No wireless charging case at $199
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
- ✓True swim-rated IP68 build, tested to about 2 meters
- ✓32GB MP3 mode holds ~8,000 songs for underwater listening
- ✓Wraparound fit stays secure through flip turns, with or without a cap
- ✓9-hour Bluetooth battery; 10-min quick charge adds 3 hours
- ✓Multipoint pairing across phone and watch
- ✓Bone conduction sounds clearer underwater than most swim earbuds
- ✓Doubles as a regular open-ear sport headphone on land
- ✗Bluetooth is useless underwater — you must pre-load files over USB, no streaming apps
- ✗MP3 mode drops battery to 6 hours
- ✗Physical buttons take real learning; owners call them fiddly
- ✗Thin bass on dry land, like all bone conduction
- ✗Proprietary magnetic charging cable
- ✗$180 is a lot if you only swim occasionally