Our Verdict
Good for neutral listening. The Bose SoundSport Free are well-balanced and have a good amount of bass. Instruments and vocals also sound clear but a bit forward. However, their semi-open, in-ear design doesn't create a spacious and open soundstage, which might not be the most ideal audio reproduction for more neutral listeners.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Stable and comfortable fit.
- Sturdy and durable build quality.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Bulky truly wireless design.
- High latency on PCs.
Not bad for commute and travel. The Bose SoundSport Free have weak noise isolation which won't be ideal for the loud environments involved in commuting. While decently comfortable, they have a stiff control scheme and a somewhat bulky design for a truly wireless earbud which slightly reduces their portability. Their battery life isn't great, either: at just under five hours of continuous playtime, you might not make it through long flights without giving them a charge.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Stable and comfortable fit.
- Sturdy and durable build quality.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Bulky truly wireless design.
- High latency on PCs.
Great for sports. The Bose SoundSport Free are portable, truly wireless earbuds that you can take with you to the gym or outdoors. They've got a stable fit thanks to their stability fins, and their semi-open fit means that runners will be able to monitor their surroundings with ease. However, you might not have a lot of pocket space for the case, as it's a little bulky.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Stable and comfortable fit.
- Sturdy and durable build quality.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Bulky truly wireless design.
- High latency on PCs.
Mediocre for office use. The Bose SoundSport Free, while comfortable, have very poor noise isolation due to their semi-open ear design, so you'll hear most of your coworkers' chatter around you. On the plus side, they don't leak too much, so if you need to tune people out, you can turn up the volume. However, these earbuds have mediocre battery life and might not be able to get you through your work day without an additional charge.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Stable and comfortable fit.
- Sturdy and durable build quality.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Bulky truly wireless design.
- High latency on PCs.
Disappointing for wireless gaming. The Bose SoundSport Free are Bluetooth headphones that can't be used wirelessly on either the PS4 or Xbox One. While they can be used on PC via Bluetooth, these headphones aren't recommended for gaming due to their high latency and mediocre microphone.
The Bose SoundSport Free are Bluetooth-only earbuds and can't be used wired.
Disappointing for phone calls. The Bose SoundSport Free's microphone has poor recording quality, making your voice sound thin and muffled. While the mic doesn't have as much of a problem in quiet environments, if you're taking calls at the office or on a bus, it'll have trouble separating your voice from background noise, and you might not be understood by the other person on the line.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Stable and comfortable fit.
- Sturdy and durable build quality.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Bulky truly wireless design.
- High latency on PCs.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 05, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 29, 2021: We've updated App Support, and tested PS5 and Xbox Series X compatibility.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Bose SoundSport Free are the first truly wireless headphones from Bose and are one of the best sounding wireless earbuds we've tested. They have a good and well-balanced sound quality and a sturdy and durable design. However, they're not as portable as some of the other truly wireless designs. They also have a few bugs when using their companion app and their high latency on PCs makes them poorly suited for watching videos. See our recommendations for the best true wireless earbuds and the best Bluetooth earbuds.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless and the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless have about the same performance in a slightly different format. The SoundSport Wireless are truly wireless earbuds that are a bit better for working out since they do not have a cable to hinder your movements. The Free also have a slightly better-balanced sound and a longer total battery life than the SoundSport Wireless. On the other hand, the SoundSport Wireless last a bit longer on a single charge.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless are better everyday truly headphones than the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless due to their superior noise isolation performance. The Sony have a decent ANC system and block ambient noise well, especially if you have a good fit. Their battery life is also better and their app offers more control and customization options. On the other hand, the Bose have an open-back design that's great for running outside and staying aware of your surroundings. They also have a more neutral sound profile, but it can't be customized with an EQ.
The Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless and the Jabra Elite Sport Truly Wireless have about the same performance overall. The Bose have a more comfortable earbud fit that you can wear for a lot longer than the Jabra. They also have a much better default sound but do not have an EQ like the Jabra. On the upside, the Jabra have a more rugged design, better controls, and a more compact case that will easily fit into your pockets, unlike the Bose. They also have more customizable options and more sports-optimized app that gives workout data. The Jabra are slightly better sports headphones overall and isolate better in noisy conditions, but do not sound as good as the Bose even with a good EQ.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless. The Beats have an easier to use control scheme, and their ear-hook design is more stable for sports. Additionally, they have a noticeably better battery life on a single charge and have better wireless range. On the other hand, some may prefer the earbud fit of the Bose, which doesn’t enter your ear canal as deeply. Also, even if their case is quite bulkier, it's easier to carry around than the Beats’ case. The Bose are open-back headphones, which mean they barely isolate against ambient noise, but even the closed-back Powerbeats aren’t great in that regard.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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