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The Bose Sport Earbuds true wireless workout earbuds sit outside of the closed charging case, all objects are covered in sprinkles of water.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys

Bose Sport Earbuds review

The Bose Sport Earbuds meets all the demands of an athlete, but is comfort alone worth the price?
By
May 15, 2023
7.5
Bose Sport Earbuds
The bottom line
The Bose Sport Earbuds is the most comfortable set of workout earbuds around, and makes huge improvements over the original Bose SoundSport Free. Bose's feature set isn't as impressive as one would hope, given the high cost of the Sport Earbuds, but most everything can be fixed with appropriate software or firmware updates.

Bose Sport Earbuds

The Bose Sport Earbuds is the most comfortable set of workout earbuds around, and makes huge improvements over the original Bose SoundSport Free. Bose's feature set isn't as impressive as one would hope, given the high cost of the Sport Earbuds, but most everything can be fixed with appropriate software or firmware updates.
What we like
Comfortable, secure fit
Fast charging, USB-C case
IPX4 rating
Active EQ and custom EQ
Auto play/pause and mono listening (right bud only)
What we don't like
No Bluetooth multipoint
Bose Music app required to switch between devices
SBC and AAC only, no aptX
7.5
SoundGuys Rating
7.7
User Rating
Rating Metric
Our Rating
User Rating
Sound Quality
9.5
7.6
8.0
Bass
9.1
8.0
8.0
Midrange
9.8
7.2
7.0
Highs
9.5
8.4
8.0
Isolation / Attenuation
1.0
6.6
7.0
Durability / Build Quality
8.0
7.5
8.0
Value
7.3
7.5
8.0
Design
7.2
8.1
8.0
Connectivity
5.0
7.7
8.0
Microphone
6.4
7.5
8.0
Portability
9.1
8.0
8.0
Battery Life
5.7
7.7
8.0
Feature
8.0
7.6
8.0
Comfort
8.8
7.9
8.0

Everyone deserves a second chance, or at least Bose hopes you feel that way. The Bose Sport Earbuds is the company’s sophomore true wireless workout earbuds, and is sure to be a mainstay among gym-goers. Did Bose actually make improvements from the original SoundSport Free, or did it just repackage old issues? Let’s find out in our full Bose Sport Earbuds review.

Editor’s note: this Bose Sport Earbuds review was updated on May 15, 2023 to include answer user submitted FAQs, and update formatting.

About this Bose Sport Earbuds review: We tested the Bose Sport Earbuds over a period of 10 days. It was running firmware version 1.0.7-10904+620b71c, and the Bose Music app ran version 4.1.1. SoundGuys purchased the unit for this review.

Athletes should get these earphones because they have an IPX4 rating and feature easily operable touch contorls. Anyone can use the Bose Sport Earbuds, because the proprietary ear tips keep the buds in place no matter what. The embedded mics make it easy to take hands-free calls from anywhere, and you can charge the bud and case up in a pinch.

What’s it like to use the Bose Sport Earbuds?

Bose selected plastic for its Sport Earbuds, which is a smart move since weight and durability are key to great workout earbuds. The earbuds’ design is very plain, but in a modern way. There isn’t a rough edge or corner to be found on the Sport Earbuds. The oblong shape protrudes from the ear, but it doesn’t draw nearly as much attention as the original SoundSport Free true wireless earbuds.

The Bose Sport Earbuds true wireless workout earbuds sit outside of the closed charging case, all objects are covered in sprinkles of water.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
The Bose Sport Earbuds boast an IPX4 water-resistance rating.

The earbuds are free of any buttons, and the outside of each housing serves as a touch panel. Initially, controls were very limited, but Bose has since added the ability for you to use the right earbud to make volume adjustments. You can pause playback with a double-tap of the right earbud, or by removing it. Only the right bud houses a sensor for automatic ear detection for automatic play/pause functionality. Another thing exclusive to the right earbud is mono listening. If your right ear is hearing impaired, you can’t yet use the left earbud alone, which is a real shame.

The StayHear Max ear tips are one of the best features the Bose Sport Earbuds has to offer. At a glance, the ear tips look intimidating and are much larger than your standard sleeve, but they work wonders. No matter how much I shake my head, the earbuds stay in place. They’re also extremely comfortable: the wing tips lightly grip your concha, and the ear tips create a relatively pain-free seal to your ear canals. (Ed. note: this won’t be true for everyone. Some people just can’t wear in-ears without some discomfort)

The Bose Sport Earbuds true wireless workout earbuds in the charging case, adjacent to a pair of yellow rock-climbing shoes.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
Be careful if you decide to rock climb with these earbuds because they’re not dust resistant.

The case isn’t anything special, though it’s much more compact than the one included with the Bose SoundSport Free. Unlike most true wireless headset cases, the Bose Sport Earbuds case doesn’t rely on magnets to keep it shut. Instead, you have to press a button which releases a lever, opening the lid. While it’s not as satisfying to use as something like the Google Pixel Buds A-Series case, it’s more functional because it guards against accidental openings anytime you drop it.

Four LEDs line the outside of the case and indicate the remaining battery levels, while a single Bluetooth pairing button rests inside. This is something you’ll end up pressing a bit, because the Sport Earbuds has its fair share of connection quirks.

How do you control the Bose Sport Earbuds?

The Bose Sport Earbuds has far fewer onboard controls than the original Bose SoundSport Earbuds. The possible controls for the Bose Sport Earbuds are as follows:

ActionLeft sideRight side
Action
Two taps
Left side
Skip songs
Right side
Pause/play music
Action

Left side
Check battery percentage
Right side
Pickup/end phone call
Action
Hold
Left side

Right side
Access smart assistant
Action

Left side

Right side
Reject incoming calls
Action
Remove/insert
Left side

Right side
Pause/play music
Action
Swipe
Left side

Right side
Volume up/down

Should you get the Bose Music app?

A woman uses the The Bose Sport Earbuds true wireless workout earbuds' mobile app, the Bose Music app.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
The most useful thing about the Bose Music app is access to firmware updates, otherwise it’s very barebones.

You should get the Bose Music app (Android/iOS) for firmware updates, and to assign a function to the left earbud, but otherwise, it’s pretty sparse. Initially, you couldn’t create a custom EQ but with firmware 2.0.7+ and app version 5.0.2+ (iOS) or 5.0.1+ (Android) you can. For those who don’t want to tinker, you can rely on Bose’s championed Active EQ software. When you download the app, you must agree to its EULA and give it some permissions before accessing it.

You can use the Bose Music app to switch between paired devices. Alternatively, you can just use your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings and disable call and audio streaming, but that is a little more involved than the Bose Music app options. You can also toggle Bose’s voice prompts, if you find them redundant. The app also displays clear battery readings and lets you customize the name of the earbuds. I don’t really care for the latter feature, but Bose does have some creative name options.

How does the Sport Earbuds connect?

The Bose Sport Earbuds true wireless workout earbuds StayHear Max ear tips in view; the buds are against a beige background.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
If you want to listen in mono mode, you must use the right earbud.

Both the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs are supported, which is good news for iPhone owners since AAC plays well on iOS. If, however, you have an Android phone, your handset may have trouble maintaining high-quality AAC streaming to the Bose Sport Earbuds. If connection issues become too egregious, sometimes the best option is for you to force SBC streaming from the developer settings of your smartphone.

The Bose Sport Earbuds operates via Bluetooth 5.1. At first go, connection quality was unstable, but Bose fixes this with an update to firmware version 1.0.7-10904+620b71c.

Bluetooth 5.1 has more advanced location features than Bluetooth 5.0, in that it can pinpoint the directionality of your peripheral’s location, relative to its source device (the distance and direction between your earbuds and smartphone). Bluetooth 5.1 can improve the accuracy of features like “find my earbuds,” which isn’t supported by version 4.1.1 of the Bose Music app.

The Google Maps app open on a Google Pixel 3 smartphone, which is flanked by a Tamron lens cap and Casio watch on a white table.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
Headphone apps don’t collect location data to track users, instead it’s to locate and connect to the designated Bluetooth headset.

The 5.1 firmware has a revamped caching system which makes it even more energy-efficient than Bluetooth 5.0. You can expect a minor bump in battery life between 5.1 and 5.0 Bluetooth devices. With this new caching system comes the ability to make faster connections, so automatically connecting to a smartphone should be instantaneous, though it isn’t quite perfect with these earbuds. It also makes it easier to broadcast the Bose Sport Earbuds connection status if you’re trying to pair it to a device.

Bluetooth 5.0 and Bluetooth 5.1 both fall under the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) standard; they are not a part of LE Audio. LE Audio is supported in Bluetooth Core Specification version 5.2.

How long does the battery last on the Bose Sport Earbuds?

A woman opens the Bose Sport Earbuds charging case with one hand.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
You need to press a button to open the charging case.

Upon subjecting the Bose Sport Earbuds to a constant 75dB(SPL) output, the earbuds last 5 hours, 17 minutes before the batteries depletes. This is above average for true wireless earbuds, and you can always fast charge the earbuds when in a bind: 15 minutes in the case provides two hours of playback. It takes two hours to fully charge the earbuds, and three hours for the case. The Bose Sport Earbuds case doesn’t support wireless charging, so you can keep that Qi charging mat tucked away.

Unfortunately, true wireless earbuds are subject to physical limitations which directly affect battery life and product longevity. See, your earbuds house tiny lithium-ion battery cells, much like your smartphone, and these degrade over time. More often than not, you use earbuds for one hour, maybe two, at a time before you place them in the case to be topped up completely. This constant partial-depletion, full-charge cycle hastens battery degradation and results in earbuds that may be unable to hold a significant charge past the two-year mark.

How well does the Bose Sport Earbuds block out noise?

Chart showing the isolation performance of the Bose Sport Earbuds.
Although a little noise is blocked out by the StayHear Max tips, much of it remains audible, which is a good thing for outdoor athletes.

Isolation performance isn’t excellent, or even good, really. It’s clear that Bose prioritizes comfort and stability with its ear tips over blocking out as much external noise as possible. This is actually a good thing in the context of workout earbuds because it allows you to remain aware of your surroundings. Even if you exercise at the gym instead of outdoors, it’s important to be aware of what your fellow gym mates are doing, and could save you from injury. As the chart shows, this is not the pair of earbuds for blocking out low-frequency sounds like a loud A/C unit at your office.

How does the Bose Sport Earbuds sound?

Chart shows the Bose Sport Earbuds frequency response compared to the SoundGuys ideal frequency response.
The Bose Sport Earbuds (cyan) follows our ideal curve (pink) closely, except for in the sub-bass frequencies.

The Bose Sport Earbuds features a tame frequency response for workout earbuds, and it reproduces vocals and string instruments well. Typically, anything billed as a workout headset receives a hefty dose of bass emphasis, but here, bass notes sound reasonable. This makes it a bit easier to hear low-end sounds like a kick drum, without introducing much auditory masking. Bose under-emphasizes treble frequencies between 5-9kHz, but it’s otherwise not far off the mark of our ideal.

Lows, mids, and highs

Devon Cole’s song July For the Whole Year opens with a C-E-Am-F chord progression, which is produced to sound quiet and distorted. While these chords are strummed, finger snaps ring through clearly, thanks to the exaggerated upper-midrange response. Cole begins the chorus at 0:42, which happens to be when the initial bass drops. Despite Cole’s high vocal range, her voice remains audible on the downbeat. A great example of this is when she sings the phrase, “and the days got colder,” at 2:35.

The earbuds don't block out much outside noise, but this is more of a feature than a drawback.

During the final chorus, Cole harmonizes with herself while singing the lyrics, “July for the whole year.” Her background vocals are easy to hear, even amid the din of the song’s outro, which is an impressive feat for workout earbuds. Again, the bass notes may feel a bit underwhelming for your taste, but to get the best bass response, all you have to do is find the best-fitting ear tips.

Can you use the Bose Sport Earbuds for phone calls?

A woman wears the Bose Sport Earbuds true wireless workout earbuds with a biking helmet in the background.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
These earbuds are much more compact and covert than the honking beasts that are the SoundSport Free earbuds.

The Bose Sport Earbuds have a four-microphone array, which is impressive, but it’s still an embedded microphone system. Low-frequency sounds are heavily attenuated to reduce the proximity effect, but it’s taken to an extreme and can make those with moderately and extremely low voices sound “off.” Bose deserves credit where credit is due, though: the mics do a great job at reducing predictable, low-frequency background noise like the hum of a microwave.

The Sport Earbuds does a good job of prioritizing your voice in windy conditions, though it still picks up the noise. It also has a tendency to sometimes catch some sibilant sounds (those and sh sounds), although it isn’t distracting.

Bose Sport Earbuds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Bose Sport Earbuds microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

3587 votes

Should you buy the Bose Sport Earbuds?

The Bose Sport Earbuds goes unchallenged as the most comfortable workout earbuds you can buy. Bose’s proprietary StayHear Max ear tips create a secure fit, without causing any discomfort from a strong suction-like sensation.

The Bose Sport Earbuds true wireless workout earbuds outside of the open charging case; the earbuds are facing belly-up so the StayHear Max ear tips are in full view.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
Bose’s StayHear Max ear tips may not look the most comfortable, but they most certainly are.

Even though Bose’s earbuds are very good, the company shouldn’t grow complacent: there are plenty of improvements it can make to its earphones via firmware updates. We’ve seen other companies release big feature drops after the initial release of a product, and Bose already added features and improved connection stability, which is a good sign. Bose soon added a custom EQ module to the Bose Music app, which is a trend for the company as it did the same for the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 at the behest of its users.

Though there’s plenty of room for improvement, there’s a lot to love about Bose’s second-generation totally wireless workout earphones. If you want a versatile pair of earbuds that sound very good, you might want to snag this on promotion. Anyone interested in the Bose Sport Earbuds but wants something bone conduction-esque should consider the Bose Sport Open Earbuds.

Bose Sport EarbudsBose Sport Earbuds
Bose Sport Earbuds
Secure fit • Fast charging • Custom and Active EQ
MSRP: $179.00
The Bose Sport Earbuds is the most comfortable set of workout earbuds around, and makes huge improvements over the original Bose SoundSport Free. Bose's feature set is always expanding as the company reliably releases useful firmware and app updates. For a comfortable, durable, and capable set of workout earbuds, look no further than Bose.

If you want a similarly durable set of Bose earbuds with some of the best noise canceling around, we recommend the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (yes, over the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II). The Bose QC Earbuds is a great deal now that the QC Earbuds II is out. The active noise canceling is very good and the default sound profile is significantly better than that of the QC Earbuds II. You even get wireless charging with the first-gen QC Earbuds, which is missing from the Sport Earbuds and QC Earbuds II. The original QuietComfort Earbuds costs $169 at Amazon and the QuietComfort Earbuds II costs $249 at Amazon.

What should you get instead of the Bose Sport Earbuds?

The competition is stiff these days in the market of workout-friendly true wireless earbuds. Newer models appear to directly challenge the Bose Sport Earbuds, but the Sport Earbuds still makes our list of best wireless workout options. What else is out there, you say?

If you have an iPhone, consider the Apple AirPods Pro

The Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 and the Apple AirPods Gen 3 sitting across from each other with their cases open on top of a wooden surface.
Software support for both of these earbuds is excellent if you have an iOS device, but Android users are still parched for support.

The AirPods Pro (1st generation) compares favorably against the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), with a similar feature set and ANC performance. You get automatic device switching across deviced synched up to the same iCloud account and features like personlized Spatial Audio. While the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) is more future-proof with its H2 and U1 chips, the AirPods Pro (1st generation) is a great deal and costs on the product’s website. You’ll pay a higher price tag for the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) ($239 at Amazon).

What makes the Beats Fit Pro a great alternative to the Bose Sport Earbuds?

The Beats Fit Pro noise canceling true wireless earbuds in the open case and next to the two extra pairs of ear tips, all of which are in the purple variant.
Lily Katz / SoundGuys
Beats includes three pairs of ear tips for its wing-tipped workout buds.

Like Bose’s workout earbuds, the Fit Pro from Beats features a stable fit for athletes. The Fit Pro earbuds have built-in ear wings that secure the buds to your ears no matter how hard you shake your head. Some may prefer the more malleable material of the Bose Sport Earbuds’ ear tips, but that boils down to personal preference. Similar to the Beats Studio Buds, the Fit Pro works nearly as well on Android as it does on iOS because Android phone owners can download the Beats app to customize their experience. When paired with an iPhone, you get all the premium comforts like personalized Spatial Audio, Apple Find My support, automatic device switching, and more.

What makes the Beats Fit Pro stand out from the Sport Earbuds is Beats’ noise canceling technology. This is quite good and rivals the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), though the AirPods has better ANC. You also get automatic ear detection on the Fit Pro, which Bose’s earbuds lack. The Beats Fit Pro comes in a few colors (Beats Black, Beats White, Sage Gray, Stone Purple; and Kim K Special Editions Earth, Dune, and Moon) and costs $159 at Amazon.

The Jaybird Vista 2 brings solid noise cancellation and durable construction

The Jaybird Vista 2 in black on top of a wood surface.
The Vista 2 is Jaybird’s debut noise canceling earphones.

The Vista 2 builds upon the success of the first-gen Vista earphones, and this time around, Jaybird includes active noise canceling. While the Vista 2 can’t compete with the Sony WF-1000XM4 or even the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless, the passive isolation does most of the heavy lifting to keep background noise out.

The earbuds feature an IP68 rating while the case merits MIL-STD-810G certifications. This headset is pretty pricy, but for the right buyer, it’s worth it ($117 at Amazon).

Try the Jabra Elite Active 75t instead

The Jabra Elite Active 75t true wireless workout earbuds (navy) covered in water droplets behind a Casio digital watch.
The IP57 rating means the Elite Active 75t are resistant to dust and water.

Don’t forget that there are plenty of attractive alternatives like the Jabra Elite Active 75t. With an IP57 rating you can feel safe it’ll survive whatever workout you throw at it. Audio tinkerers will appreciate Jabra’s custom EQ settings where you can tone down the emphatic bass response.

You can even hold meetings while running, because the microphone is quite good. The onboard ANC leaves something to be desired, but if that’s not a deal breaker, the Elite Active 75t may make you reconsider if you want Bose. With newer Jabra earphones on the market, you can get the Elite Active 75t for a pretty good deal. Currently, the Elite Active 75t costs $149.99 at Verizon.

If you want a more premium workout experience, check out the Jabra Elite 4 Active and Jabra Elite 7 Active.

Frequently asked questions about the Bose Sport Earbuds

No, the Bose Sport Earbuds does not have internal storage.

Yes, the Sport Earbuds will work with Bose SimpleSync. If you have something like the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, you can synchronize audio output with the Sport Earbuds and even non-Bose earbuds and headphones.

Yes, the Sport Earbuds case charges via USB-C cable, which Bose provides.

The Bose Sport Earbuds makes huge improvements over the Bose SoundSport Free, but it’s far from perfect.

While some may prefer the more futuristic touch controls found on the Sport Earbuds, it’s more limited than the SoundSport Free’s buttons. The company’s debut true wireless earbuds let you control playback, access your smart assistant, and control the volume. The Sport Earbuds have automatic ear detection in the right bud, but I prefer more comprehensive controls at the expense of newer, less functional tech.

Neither headset’s app supports any kind of EQ, so the sound profile Bose provides is all that you get. The earphones have similar frequency responses. If you like how the older model reproduces your favorite songs, you’ll be pleased with the Sport Earbuds. Bose’s Sport Earbuds is the better overall headset, despite the few onboard controls. The SoundSport Free costs $383 at Amazon and is hard to find.

The Bose Sport Earbuds and the Sony WF-SP800N offer very similar experiences, but there are definitely some meaningful differences. The Sony earbuds are more expensive, but they feature a superior IP55 rating, which will be important if you need something a little more rugged. Basically, if you exercise outside, rather than at the gym, you may want them instead of the Bose earbuds.

Sony WF-SP800NSony WF-SP800N
Sony WF-SP800N
Sony 360 Reality Audio • Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration • IP55 rating
360 Reality Audio is cool, but not enough to make these buds worth it.
With so many other great options available at this price point, the Sony WF-SP800N is too finicky for me to recommend to anyone. Sure, Sony 360 Reality Audio is super cool, but this isn't the only headset with full compatibility. Plus, it shouldn't be the main selling point for a pair of workout earbuds.