These headphones have two major wins going for them. If you need a pair where you can still interact with the outside world, and need something that has all-day comfort - these will fit the bill very nicely. If you're looking for something to block out noise on an airplane, then these won't do that, but what they do, they do well. First is the comfort. I can wear the traditional stick in your ear, sound isolating earbuds for a couple hours, then I start to get a light ache in the ear, which makes sense. The sound isolating headphones try and block that outside noise by cramming themselves in your ear, putting pressure on it. These simply don't. It's a little speaker sitting right next to your ear. Second is the interaction with the outside world. You can still hear people and converse with them in a very natural way. I know some other headphones have a feature where you can enable the mic's to broadcast what's going on to your headphones, but this is a different experience, more natural. Finally, physical buttons. I love it. A lot of small headphones have touch sensitive buttons and maybe you slide right, maybe you pressed it a couple times, maybe it registered. Due to the design, these support physical buttons, with tactile feedback, so you know what you pressed and what you didn't. It's good to have a real button. If you need sound isolation - these aren't the headphones for you. If you don't, for example in an office environment, then these perform great and could meet your need. I'd recommend them for people looking for something small, comfortable, and not needing isolation from the outside world.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Enjoying my open earbuds tremendously! I get my music and still converse with walking buddies. So easy to wrap around ear and so secure I don’t notice I have them on. No more knocking off with hat, no more silent strolls. They stay charged longer than any other earphones I have had.

Great sound for music. However, I got these to use for work meetings on my laptop and I've been told it's hard to hear me and I sound echo-y. Ditto for using with my iPhone for Facetime; my family actually gets frustrated. Can't recommend if you want to use them for more than music!

I use the open buds and the quiet comfort buds interchangeably. The open buds are mainly reserved for long runs, when I want to go through an audiobook or listen to my favorite tunes. A long, peaceful stretch of forest? One click, the headphones go quiet and you're fully immersed in nature. Tedious highway and legs getting tired? Another click and distraction arrives. The open buds are extremely comfortable, so much so that I often forget I'm wearing them. The sound quality is great and they look kind of groovy, too. The quiet comforts take over when I want to hide the world away, for example when I'm working in a coffee shop, travel in public transport or take a long haul flight. However they're a little dangerous for outdoor workouts (as the noise cancelling is 'too good'), and I don't like the way my steps are conducted as audible beat to my ears.

Immediately I noticed this is the design I was needing to work with the shape of my ears. I’ve been through at least 5 different ear buds of various brands and none of them would fit securely or comfortably. These do both very well! So light I hardly notice them, and I don’t have to worry about them dropping out of my ears. Well done Bose! I do miss the depth of sound I have with my QC ultras but that’s to be expected with the open design. The sound quality is what you would expect from Bose, clear highs, strong lows. Additionally, the same tuning and customization as the QC Ultras is available on these, except for the noise canceling. The two immersion modes offer variety in your listening experience. This feature really opens up the sound and allows you to feel a part of the music, especially if you’re trying to focus on the details. Lastly, I appreciate the compact size of the charging case. It seems most earbud cases are getting larger nowadays, but not these. The case fits comfortably in my front hip pocket and will even fit in the coin pocket of some of my jeans.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I bought these a little less than a month ago and I love them. I can’t even feel them on my ears. The sound is great. I use them mostly to listen to audiobooks. One of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Thank you Bose

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] At first it was hard to get use to the way they felt on my ears. I am so happy I continued to wear them because I LOVE THEM! Bose never lets me down. The quality is is amazing and they are extremely easy to use!

These are great open ear earbuds! I love the design and the Bose sound quality. With the new design, it is best use a mirror the first few times you put them on, till you get the hang of it. Once you do, it’s an easy process, and you’ll find that they are very comfortable and don’t fall off, with the Bose sound quality that we have grown to love.

These earbuds are incredible! I am a stay at home mom with 7 kids, ages 12,10, 8, two 4 year olds, 2, and 8 months. Needless to say my house is loud with kids noise most of the time. These earbuds give me the best of both worlds! When I wear them I can tune out some of the noise but still be present enough to know what’s going on in the house. I can hear my family speaking and I can answer them back all while dulling the noise of kids shows or clicking toys. I don’t wear mine for long periods of time, maybe 30 min to and hour at a time, but they are so comfortable I could wear them for much longer if I wanted to. Every mom needs a pair of these!!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I tried my brothers out while helping him clean up from the hurricane in the Tampa area. I like that I do not really feel them there. Sound quality is superb. I typically wear bone conductive and these allow the same level of awareness and ability k to hear what’s going on around me . Negative - left ear at 60% right ear 10% I got my wife a set too.