Bose's SoundSport Free wireless earbuds sound better than AirPods, but the design, poorer battery life, and higher price translate into a poor AirPods substitute.

Have volume buttons on right earbud • Great sound quality with good bass • Water-repellent • Fit very snugly in ears

Audio lag makes them unusable for video • Large size • Bulky charging case • Charging case uses Micro USB • Only last up to 5 hours on one charge • Quick charging is slower than competitors

I must admit, I don't like Bluetooth headphones. For someone who really enjoys listening to music, Bluetooth headphones just seem like an unnecessarily expensive convenience product.

Bose's first truly wireless earbuds don't quite hit the mark, even if there's a lot to like.

Secure fit; Good sound quality; Robust build; Decent battery life

Chunky design; Difficult-to-use buttons; Large charging case

But that comes at a cost in more ways than one

Fantastic sound; Water resistant; Rock solid connection

They struggle in loud environments; Don't always sync with video; High price tag

With good battery life and sweatproofing, Bose's SoundSport Free are a solid first entry into the fully wireless headphone market.

5 hours of battery life; IPX4-rated waterproofing; Good bass response; Comfortable

Large form factor; Pricier than similar competitors

With how lucrative and attention growing the true wireless earbuds segment has quickly become, it was only a matter of time before Bose became involved. In recent decades, the brand has been a dominant force the speaker and headphones space. Why wouldn’t they want to bring their storied reputation to the next big thing in wireless audio?

As a first effort in the true wireless category, the Bose SoundSport Free are an impressive effort. Unfortunately, they're also one dragged down by an slightly iffy form-factor and high pricetag.

Good sound; Reliable connectivity, minimal dropouts;

High price-tag; Iffy form-factor;

With how lucrative and attention growing the true wireless earbuds segment has quickly become, it was only a matter of time before Bose became involved. In recent decades, the brand has been a dominant force the speaker and headphones space.

Good sound; Reliable connectivity; minimal dropouts

High price-tag; Iffy form-factor

I was starting to wonder until recently if I'd ever review a pair of true wireless earphones that isn't overshadowed by its flaws. With the SoundSport Free, Bose gets the design, fit, ease of use, and sound quality down in a way that the competition simply doesn't.

Powerful audio performance with boosted bass response; Exceptionally secure fit; Water-resistant design; Simple, easy-to-use on-ear controls; App simplifies pairing process

Expensive; Very sculpted sound signature

The Apple AirPods started a revolution in wearable audio, but there are plenty of great alternatives. Although their designs are on the larger side, Bose has meticulously thought about how the SoundSport Free sit in listeners' ears to make them a comfortable option for long listening sessions.

One of the best-sounding wireless headphones yet; Well-designed charging base; Tips and jacket are one piece; making it hard to lose tips; Comfortable to wear and stay in place during exercise routines

Relatively large buds stick out of ears; Noise isolation is lacking for noisy environments like a gym; Expensive compared to competition

Bose takes a hard turn with big bass and big batteries.

Excellent fit; Long battery for true wireless; IPX4 certification

Bulky; Intermittent connectivity drops