The best earbuds for multitasking: The ultimate guide

How can I listen to music and my surroundings at the same time? The question is often posed by those who multitask throughout the day, and until now, there was no good answer. When earbuds sit inside your ear canal, they naturally block out ambient noises — even active noise cancellation with Aware Mode has its limits. But for those who want to listen to music and life at the same time, open-ear headphones are the ultimate game changer.

The new Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the best earbuds for multitasking thanks to their innovative design. Not only do these cuff-style earbuds allow you to hear what’s happening around you, but they’re also incredibly comfortable and stable for long-term wear. Plus, they look good.

At first glance, the design of these cuff-style headphones may raise a few questions: How well can you actually hear the sound? Won’t people around you be able to hear the audio, too? They’re not situated inside your ear canal, so does that mean the earbuds use bone conduction technology?

Even though these earbuds don’t sit inside your ear canal, they’re not using bone conduction to transmit sound (which can be uncomfortable and lead to poor sound quality). Instead, these open-ear headphones use OpenAudio technology, which projects deep, rich sound across the short distance between your earbud and ear canal. Each earbud features a tiny dipole transducer system that’s engineered to deliver clear, crisp audio to the wearer. The design minimizes sound spillage so you can clearly hear every note, and no one around you will be bothered by it.

Thanks to their open-ear design, the Ultra Open Earbuds are some of the best earbuds for multitasking around the house. They’ll stay securely in place while you’re doing chores, running errands, cooking a meal, tending to the garden, or working remotely, and while using them, you’ll still be able to stay tuned in to what’s going on around you.

Even as you enjoy your favorite tunes or catch up on the latest podcasts, you’ll be able to hear the doorbell ring, the oven timer going off, your baby waking up from a nap, or a family member calling your name from across the house. This means that, unlike with most in-ear headphones, you don’t have to choose between being entertained and available — now, you can do both. That’s just one of the differentiators between earbuds vs. headphones!

Even if you have a long list of chores to tackle, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds will be along for the ride. The unique cuff shape of the Ultra Open Earbuds is comfortable and secure, perfect for hours of use. The flexible band wraps around your outer ear to keep the earbuds in place, and you can slide them up or down your ear to find just the right placement for comfort and to avoid any jewelry you might be wearing. In fact, these earbuds are so comfortable that you might want to leave them on all day, even when you’re not using them. You may even forget you have them on!

And don’t worry — the Ultra Open Earbuds have a long-lasting battery to match. On a full charge, they offer up to 7 hours of play time, helping you power through the workday, an intense workout session, or your household chores. If the battery does run out, just pop the earbuds back into their charging case for 10 minutes or so, and the quick charge delivers an additional two hours of play time.

If you’re always on the go, the Ultra Open Earbuds make it easier and more convenient to enjoy your favorite music along the way. With their innovative open-ear design, you never have to pause life. You can simply enjoy rich, clear audio while staying aware of what’s going on around you — no need to pause your tunes, lower the volume, adjust noise cancellation settings, or pull out an earbud. These open-ear earbuds are the perfect sidekick for multitasking.