Bose × LISA Ultra Open Earbuds review: I tested the Blackpink singer's latest collaboration - they're the most comfortable earphones I've ever worn
The Blackpink singer has joined forces with Bose on a new pair of headphones – and they're seriously chic.
The Ultra Open Earbuds have a glossy black finish and a cuff-like fit, and almost look like fancy earrings.
Upon closer inspection, they even feature Lisa's signature chrome star, which is a sweet nod to her latest album.
Unlike traditional earphones which cover your ears, the Ultra Open Earbuds sit a short distance from the ear canal.
This makes them super comfortable to wear, but does result in some sound leakage, which could lead to embarrassment if your playlists look anything like mine.
MailOnline's Science and Technology Editor, Shivali Best, tested them out this week.
At £379.95, they're definitely not cheap – so, would you buy them?
Bose × LISA Ultra Open Earbuds
Our verdict
The Bose x LISA Ultra Open Earbuds are the most comfortable earphones I've tried yet.
They're barely noticeable on your ear, and could easily pass as jewellery amongst your other earrings.
Despite not physically going into your ear, the sound quality is excellent - albeit with some sound leakage at higher volumes.
At £379.95, they're definitely on the pricier side, so unless you're a die-hard Lisa fan, I'd advise saving yourself £130 and opting for the almost identical Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
How we test earphones
When testing earphones, we try them across multiple real-world settings, including the office, our homes, and out and about.
We evaluate the devices across a range of measures, including design, comfort, price and sound quality.
Each pair of earphones goes through several days of hands-on testing, allowing us to provide an in-depth review to help consumers make informed decisions.
Why trust us
Shivali Best is the Science & Technology Editor at MailOnline and has been testing products and writing reviews for nine years. She completed a Master's degree in Science Journalism at City University London in 2014 and previously worked at The Mirror as Deputy Science & Technology Editor.
Bose x LISA Ultra Open Earbuds review
Design
Lisa is one of the biggest fashion stars around the world, so it comes as no surprise that her earphones are seriously stylish.
The case itself has a glossy black finish, and the chrome star - one of Lisa's signature designs - emblazoned on the back is lovely touch.
Opening up the case, you're met with the chrome earphones, which could easily pass as jewellery.
This is particularly the case when you put them on alongside other earrings, with the shiny wraparound design easily blending in with more traditional hoops and studs.
I wore the earphones around the office to show my colleagues, who all agreed they were much cooler than standard in-ear alternatives.
There's no doubt about it - these are some of the best looking earphones on the market.
Comfort
Unlike traditional earphones which cover your ears, the Ultra Open Earbuds wrap around your helix and sit a short distance from the ear canal.
As someone who usually wears in-ear earphones, this open ear design certainly took some getting used to.
Clipping them over my helixes for the first time, I was convinced I'd done something wrong.
I could barely feel there was anything there at all. Surely this couldn't be right?
Upon inspection in a mirror, I was amazed to discover that they were properly secured - something that I confirmed with a tentative shake of the head.
I also really like that you can slide the earbud slightly up or down the outside of your ear - ideal if, like me, you like to mix up the number of earrings you wear.
This design is an absolute gamechanger for comfort, and it's also probably a lot more sanitary than in-ear earphones, which can accumulate sweat, earwax and dirt.
Sound quality
It's all well and good looking great, but one thing is obviously key with earphones - the sound quality.
Without a bud in my ear, I was initally worried that the sound quality would be compromised, but thankfully this wasn't the case.
The earphones feature Bose's OpenAudio technology, which allows for deep, rich audio, even when they're a short distance from the ear canal.
I tested the earphones in the noisy office, and was pleasantly surprised to hear my songs and podcasts with great clarity.
The one slight downside is the sound leakage.
Bose claims that in most environments and at most listening levels, people around you won't hear a thing.
However, when I cranked the volume up, my colleague could hear that something was playing, and after a few seconds could even name the song.
£379.95 Shop
This could prove rather embarrassing if your playlists are as eclectic as mine...
Price
The Bose x LISA Open Earbuds are some of the most expensive earphones on the market.
At £379.95, they're £150 more than Apple's AirPods Pro 2, £220 more than Huawei's FreeBuds Pro 4, and £190 more than the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2.
What's more, they're £130 more than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which are identical, simply without the Lisa branding.
Unless you're a die-hard fan or desperate for the chrome star emblem, it's probably best to save your cash and opt for the unbranded versions!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Shoppers are rushing to Morrisons to nab world's first Dubai chocolate cocktail in a can – and it comes in under £2
LOOKING for that perfect Saturday night tipple? Well you might want to head to Morrisons to nab their latest offering that's set to be a hit with anyone with a sweet tooth. The Drinks Bureau, a female mixologist founded, ready-to-drink cocktail brand, has launched the world's first Dubai Chocolate Style Espresso Martini in a can, exclusively in the supermarket. This limited edition cocktail captures the viral Dubai chocolate phenomenon that's trending across social media ll for only £2.50/can or £1.80 with a More Card. The new cocktail combines vodka and dark roast coffee with moreish notes of chocolate and pistachio, delivering a rich, smooth and nutty twist on the classic espresso martini. At 8% ABV in a generous 200ml serving, it celebrates being mid-strength – punchy but easily quaffable, with a delicious balance of the chocolate and pistachio flavours. Along with being seriously tasty, this sumptuous sipper is faff-free, with no ice or cocktail shaker needed. To drink, simply chill, give a little shake and sip straight for the can, making it the perfect cocktail to pack for summer events. Or if you're feeling fancy, pour into a martini glass. The Drinks Bureau Founder and mixologist Frankie Snobel said: "We want to have some fun with our cocktails and this exciting launch really showcases our love of innovation and playfulness. 'We've captured a delicious viral trend and canned it for a rich, indulgent and utterly Instagram-worthy treat. It's a limited edition though, so you'll need to move quickly to get some before they're gone.' Those hoping to get their hands on a can will have to hurry as according to the brand's Instagram page they are proving popular. Commenting on a post about the drink, one fan wrote: 'ahh so exciting!!! i can't wait to try these, they sound unreal.' 'Obsessed with the idea of this!!' added another, while a third warned, 'None in my local store!' Shoppers in frenzy over cheapest Dubai chocolate arrival in major Irish store at just €1.79 The Dubai chocolate trend has exploded internationally, with major coffee chains like Costa and Starbucks launching Dubai chocolate-inspired drinks. Dubai Duty Free sold over 1.2 million bars in the first quarter of 20251, generating $22 million in sales. The limited edition Dubai Chocolate Style Espresso Martini is available exclusively in Morrisons stores nationwide from 30th July while stocks last. How to save at Morrisons Buying a delivery pass can slash the cost of shopping online if you're a Morrisons regular. You also get priorities for Christmas delivery slots. How much it costs depends on which you get anytime or mid-week, and if it's for the year, six-months or monthly. You'll need to work out the cost compared to how much you spend on delivery without one to see if it's worthwhile. Morrisons does a range of wonky veg that can work out cheaper than the main range. Check websites like Quidco and TopCashback BEFORE you place your order. Cashback websites PAY you to shop. All you have to do is click through their links and the money is added to your online account. Search for discount codes on websites like and to see if you can get money off at the till. Follow your favourite shops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and sign up to its deals newsletter to get the latest on any offers. We post the best deals in our Sun Money FB group too. Try switching all of your branded or premium goods for lower level ones and see if you notice the difference. Morrisons regularly adds new products to its 'own-brand "savers" range. This is its value range where prices start from as little as 20p. It includes all sorts of products including peas, spaghetti, marmalade, jaffa cakes and washing up liquid. Swap your usual items for savers alternatives and see if you can tell the difference. Shoppers can earn points with the More Than loyalty scheme when they spend online or in store. How many points you earn will depend on the offers available at the time, plus you get five points for every litre of fuel at Morrisons petrol stations. Reach 5,000 points and you get £5 off your shopping, plus there are other offers and coupons and the checkout and via the app. Shoppers also get cheaper prices that are just for members.
BBC News
23 minutes ago
- BBC News
Biddy Baxter obituary: Blue Peter's formidable editor dies aged 92
Biddy Baxter, who has died at the age of 92, turned Blue Peter into a television recipe of pets, charity appeals, gymnastic displays, foreign travel reports and occasional history lessons stood the test of of course, for more than 25 years, she introduced generations of children to sticky-backed plastic and the pleasures of making rockets from plastic was passionate about getting her viewers involved in the programme, long before audience participation became an industry she also gained a reputation as a formidable figure: a tyrant who fell out with presenters and jealously guarded the Blue Peter brand. Make do and mend Joan Maureen Baxter was born in Leicester in May 1933. Her father was the director of a sportswear company and her mother a were too many Joans in her class at school, so a nickname was made up on the upbringing during the war instilled in Biddy an ability to make-do and mend which later became part of the Blue Peter ethos."My friends and I held bring-and-buy sales for the Spitfire fund and put on plays and concerts for the British Red Cross and Aid to France." She was educated at a local grammar school before going to St Mary's College, Durham University in 1952. At that time, only 6% of undergraduates were experience shaped the rest of her life. "For three memorable years, Durham was my life."Baxter had intended to become a prison officer or a social worker. But, by chance, she noticed the BBC was advertising for turned down suggestions from a university careers officer that women were best suited to teaching or secretarial work. Listen with mother "He said to me, 'No-one from Durham has ever worked for the BBC,' so I applied. I really should be grateful to him."She joined the BBC in 1955 as a radio trainee studio manager, creating sound effects. She was promoted to producing Schools Junior English programmes and Listen With Mother in had a brief spell in children's television to cover a period of illness and applied for a permanent job soon after. One radio colleague branded her a traitor for defecting to 1962, she was asked to take over as producer of Blue Peter, a programme whose life expectancy was as something for children who had outgrown Watch with Mother, its survival was resting on the fact it was cheap to programmes, which lasted 15 minutes, were presented by Christopher Trace and a former Miss Great Britain, Leila Williams. Pets Williams was fired just before Baxter joined the programme and a new presenter, Valerie Singleton, was recruited to work with tore into the programme like a whirlwind. Within a year she had introduced the iconic Blue Peter badge after commissioning a young artist called Tony Hart to design the ship also decided to recruit a dog, so viewers who did not have a pet could share in a sense of ownership. Unfortunately, the animal died just two days after its first appearance at Christmas and her producer, Edward Barnes decided not to inform the viewers but instead substituted a sad-looking mongrel they discovered in a south London pet audience, innocent of the switch, were asked to come up with a name for the puppy. They chose years later when children were asked to write in for a photo of the dog, more than 60,000 applied. Editor When Petra died in 1977 there were newspaper obituaries worthy of a film star."Fur and feather are more important than flesh," she used to tell was reported that she once threw her handbag at a director who failed to get a close up of Goldie, the programme's golden stroke of genius was to tap the resources of her viewers by asking them to contribute ideas for things they wanted to see in the letters poured in and Baxter set up a complicated card index system so children would get personal replies rather than a formatted letter. "We could check the index and reply, 'Last time you wrote, your hamster had a sore paw. I do hope it's better.' It's only a tiny thing, but children aren't stupid."Baxter later estimated that 75% of the show's content was based on ideas submitted by its was appointed the programme's editor in 1965 and the transformation of Blue Peter filming was introduced, more pets appeared, and appeals were launched to collect old toys and silver paper for good causes. It was early example of recycling and designed so that even the poorest viewers could take part. With ratings improving, Blue Peter was now on twice a fought hard for the programme, insisting on the best studios and found a piece of waste ground behind Television Centre, and created a garden. Michael Grade - now Lord Grade - crossed her path when he was Controller of BBC1."Her life was that show." he recalled "Without that obsessional talent, the programme would never have maintained the quality that it did.' Stiletto heels The iconic Blue Peter annuals began to appear with their mixture of entertaining but also informative abolished gender stereotyping before the phrase was invented. Male presenters were expected to take their share of cooking while the presenters were the public face of Blue Peter there was never any doubt about who ran the show and most of her team were in awe of her. One studio manager recalled that her habit of striding across the studio in stiletto heels damaged the floor but no-one had the courage to tell firmly believed no presenter was bigger than the programme and gave short shrift to any of them who she felt had fallen below the standards she expected."They can always go and work somewhere else," she once Purves, who joined Blue Peter as a presenter in 1967 recalled: "This woman controlled our lives, and she didn't do it very nicely."Valerie Singleton complained she treated presenters like children. John Noakes called her awful: "She was a bully who treated me like some country yokel from Yorkshire. I couldn't abide her." Old Fashioned One former producer was once asked whether there was a hierarchy. "Yes," he replied. "There was Biddy at the top and everyone else at the bottom."Noakes famously fell out with Baxter when he left Blue Peter. He'd intended to appear with his excitable dog, Shep in pet food commercials. Baxter was horrified."I think it would have been immoral," she said. "How can you have a Blue Peter presenter on commercial television advertising dog food so children think, 'I must buy this.'" In the event, Noakes did the adverts with a lookalike by 1980, Blue Peter was looking decidedly old-fashioned against brash newcomers to children's TV like ATV's Tiswas. Childhood was changing and it was decidedly uncool to admit to watching the also came under attack from commentators who bemoaned its lack of diversity and claimed it peddled middle-class values."All these people who witter on," exclaimed Baxter. The bottom line is do people want to watch it? They did and do in their millions. Therefore I do not believe it's smug, self-satisfied and class-ridden." Biddy Baxter left the programme in 1988. There are different stories about her departure. At the time, it was reported that she decided to leave when her husband, the musicologist John Hosier, was offered a job in China and she decided to go with him. But Richard Marson - her colleague-turned-biographer - insisted that she was was "manoeuvred out in the summer of 1988 by a new head of children's programmes who wanted the show to evolve without its all-powerful matriarch."She was devastated, but did not complain in public. On her departure she was awarded a Blue Peter Gold Badge, the programme's highest honour. She worked as a freelance consultant to various BBC Directors General until her retirement in 2013, she was given a special BAFTA award. One former BBC chief told the Guardian that "somehow she was overlooked. If anyone deserves to be recognised she does. Blue Peter is a legend and she is Blue Peter."Peter Salmon, a senior BBC executive who worked on Blue Peter as a junior producer, summed up what he thought was the secret of Baxter's success."She got the diet just right for Middle England - meat and potatoes, all the greens in the right place. And sponge pudding to follow. It's comfortable and regular. Sometimes you'll even enjoy it."
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘I've done enough for them' – James Wade snubs major darts event for trip to Disneyland after ‘disrespectful' row
JAMES WADE chose Disneyland Paris with his family over the Australian Darts Masters. Stars such as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and reigning champion Gerwyn Price are set for the Darts Oceanic double-header. 3 3 But the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall will not play in the 16-man tournament or the second in New Zealand next weekend. Neither will Wade - because the 42-year-old took a trip to Disneyland with his wife and family. He wrote on Facebook: 'Morning all, we have had the best family holiday away at Disneyland Paris. "Thanks for such a great time!! We all loved it and it was very well needed to spend some quality time with the family. Also got to wear my new bag." Wade, who showed off his Donald Duck bag, confirmed he turned down an invitation from the PDC for the first time. He told Dartsnews: "I'd already booked a family holiday. 'As much as I want to go to Australia, I'm going to Disneyland Paris instead. I won't put darts before my family. 'But for the last 20 years, I have put the PDC before James, before my family, and before relatives. I've done enough for them, I think.' Wade's PDC snub comes after he was accused of being 'disrespectful' following his World Matchplay final defeat to Luke Littler. The World No.5 lost 18-13 to the teen sensation Littler - who became the youngest champion in the tournament's history. Luke Littler in fiery reaction to crowd during Australian Darts Masters win over Damon Heta Wade slipped quietly off the oche following their bout as Littler soaked up the spotlight solo. Sky Sports pundits Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy took aim at Wade for his actions in Blackpool. Bridge said: 'I got it clarified that there were no issues with Luke or the crowd or anything like that. 'He was just angry at himself, which is fine, but we would have liked to have heard from him.' Murphy added: 'I thought it was disrespectful for him not to be on the stage at the end. 'Whether he does an interview or not is up to him, but not to be there when Luke is receiving the trophy, that is disrespectful. 'Just stand there for a minute and applaud, and then say, 'I don't want to talk.' There's a serious side with James of course. 'We know about his mental health and his mental illnesses that he suffers with and that he's trying to combat all the time. 'But I think he maybe needs a little bit of guidance and support with that. 'If he's not up to doing a press conference straight after a match, maybe he should be approaching the PDC and asking about facilitating his press conference when he returns for the next round in a better frame of mind.' 3
