This article is part of our seriesBattle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.
The open earbuds market experienced a rough start. Models like the Bose Sport Earbuds and the Sony LinkBuds introduced ultramodern designs that sought to blend optimal ambient sound with the versatile performance of the best true wireless earbuds. But neither made too big of an impact.
However, the category has regained some momentum in the wireless audio space, thanks to two new releases: the Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. Both products share notable characteristics, including companion app support, multiple listening modes, spatial audio and sweat resistance. They’re also different in key areas, however, and have distinctive appearances.
After two weeks of thorough testing, we broke down the two models to see which comes out on top.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds vs. Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro at a glance
Bose’s latest creation is an extraordinary pickup for brand enthusiasts wanting premium sound in one of the sleekest on-ear designs ever.
Read our review
Anker’s flagship open earbuds provide hybrid awareness for exercising and working, along with excellent battery life and streaming playback.
Read our review
Quick comparison
| Battery life (rated) | 7.5 hours (per charge) | 14 hours (per charge) |
|---|---|---|
| Fast charging | 10-minute charge = 2 hours | 10-minute charge = 5.5 hours |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Sweat and water resistance | IPX4 (buds | IPX5 (buds) |
| Software support | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Colors | Black, White Smoke | Aqua Blue, Calm White, Electric Purple, Midnight Black |
| Weight | 0.22 ounces (buds); 1.55 ounces (charging case) | 0.43 ounces (buds); 2.26 ounces (charging case) |
The Ultra Open Earbuds offer more refined sound
Bose equipped their buds with the same drivers and sound features as the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. That explains their ample bass output and spacious delivery. Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec dynamically scales the bitrate to capture more details from recordings with reduced latency. You can use the custom equalizer (EQ) to create a sound profile or select different bass/treble presets to tweak the low or midrange. A few listening modes are made available in the Bose Music app. Stereo is the most dynamic, and Immersive turns on 3D sound. The others are just shortcuts that enable a flat frequency response or spatial audio.
The AeroFit Pro cater to bass lovers who want punchier sound. Anker’s default EQ (Soundcore Signature) dishes out impactful lows, but it also masks some mids and highs. You can swap it out between three decent EQs (Podcast, Treble Booster, Volume Booster) or make your own sound profile by adjusting frequencies in the custom EQ. Sony’s LDAC codec ensures high-quality audio streaming with minimal latency on Android devices.
Bose’s Immersive Audio mode is superior to Anker’s spatial audio format. Music is engaging and mids are accentuated, which makes ballads and live performances more intimate. Accurate head-tracking positions sound to your head movement. Anker’s spatial audio does make content more immersive, and head-tracking is spot-on, but the airy presentation diminishes bass.
TL;DR: While we love the AeroFit Pro’s dominant bass response, the Ultra Open Earbuds are more fine-tuned.
Style vs. stability
Fashion goes to the Ultra Open Earbuds and form goes to the AeroFit Pro. Functionality is equal among the two competitors; Anker and Bose’s multifunctional buttons are cleverly programmed and produce solid tactility to help you reliably control your music playback.
Wearing the Ultra Open Earbuds in any environment will earn you cool points, especially if you can score the limited-edition Kith set. These buds have IPX4 coating for sweat and water resistance. Not having an in-ear sound port helps avoid unwanted pressure. The clip-on design is awesome and locks onto the ear firmly. However, the tight clamp force can cause soreness after about an hour of usage.
The AeroFit Pro’s design wraps around the ear and doesn’t feel as obtrusive as some of the best workout headphones. Bundled with the buds is an adjustable neckband, which comes in handy when performing lateral-heavy exercises or running. No in-ear sound port means less pressure on the ear canal. An IPX5 rating keeps these buds sweat- and waterproof.
TL;DR: One pair appeals to fitness buffs and the other to hypebeasts — it’s evident which is which.
Anker offers twice as much battery life as Bose
Expect longer playtimes from the AeroFit Pro: up to 14 hours per charge and 45 hours with the charging case. That’s more than the 8 to 10 hours you’ll get from our favorite wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM5. Anker also has the more powerful quick-charging technology: A 10-minute charge supplies 5.5 hours of listening time.
Meanwhile, the Ultra Open Earbuds hold a max of 7.5 hours per charge and 27 hours with the charging case. Quick-charging is standard, with a 10-minute charge generating 2 hours of use.
Bear in mind that high volume and spatial audio drop battery life by about 2 to 3 hours on both models.
TL;DR: The Ultra Open Earbuds suffice for short commutes, but the AeroFit Pro can last throughout long international flights.
Two of the more feature-filled open earbuds out there
One advantage that Anker and Bose have over numerous rivals is extended functionality via companion apps that you can find on both iOS and Android. Anker users have the Soundcore app to access many features, including auto power off, Bluetooth multipoint, control customization, EQ, find device music presets, spatial audio and volume balance. The Bose Music app has its own set of tricks like auto volume, control shortcut, device switch enabling, EQ, Immersive Audio and multiple listening modes. These are some of the lengthier feature sets we’ve seen in the open wireless category.
Bluetooth 5.3 is used on both models and it operates smoothly. The AeroFit Pro have multipoint to pair to two devices simultaneously, while the Ultra Open Earbuds have one-tap Google Fast Pair to instantly connect with recognized devices.
TL;DR: You’ll get plenty of serviceable features, no matter the model.
Bottom line
Investing in open wireless earbuds can be a risk for those attached to their true wireless earbuds. But if you’re thinking of testing the waters, then these are the two choices I highly recommend. As for the better purchase, they’re equally great, making this contest a draw.
Battery life is steady. Durability is on-point. Sound is satisfying. Most importantly, Anker and Bose loaded their respective buds with many useful features. One can argue that the AeroFit Pro are a better value due to their lower price point, but the contemporary look and performance of the Ultra Open Earbuds justify their high MSRP.
In the end, I’ll summarize it with this: buy the AeroFit Pro if you like bass-forward audio in a secure and transparent design, or purchase the Ultra Open Earbuds if you fancy open earbuds that sound as terrific as they look.
