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If you’ve ever wanted to wear earbuds that don’t actually go in your ears, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds might be the oddball pick you’ve been looking for. These open-style earbuds clip on and hook around your ear instead of sitting inside it, letting ambient noise in by design. That makes them great for runs, walks, or commuting—basically, situations where you want to hear your music but also that car barreling around the corner. And for the next six days or until it sells out, Woot’s offering refurbished models of these earbuds, in black, moonstone blue, and white smoke for $179—much cheaper than Amazon’s current $261.99 price.
Since these are refurbished, they might show a bit of wear, but they’ve been tested and cleared to function properly. You also get a 90-day Woot limited warranty, which is shorter than Bose’s standard, but fair for the price cut, and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, shipping is free (otherwise it’s $6). Just a heads-up: Woot ships only within the 48 contiguous states.
What do you think so far?
Bose doesn’t skimp on audio quality here: Despite the open design, they deliver solid sound with real punch and clarity. The bass won’t rumble like in-ear buds, but you still get that signature Bose balance. They also have Immersive Audio support, which adds spatial depth—though it’s a little inconsistent depending on what you’re listening to and can feel gimmicky, according to this PCMag review. They also support Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive and work especially well with podcasts and mellow playlists. That said, the biggest downside is that they don’t have any noise cancellation, which, again, is kind of the point, but still worth noting if you’re used to ANC earbuds. Battery life clocks in around 7.5 hours on a single charge (with Immersive Audio off), and the charging case gives you almost two full charges, which is decent enough. If you’re someone who prioritizes awareness and comfort over total sound isolation—and doesn’t mind a pre-loved gadget—this deal makes a pretty compelling case. If you’re more of a noise-canceling, zone-out-on-the-plane kind of listener, these probably won’t cut it for you.
