The Bose SoundSport Free is considered to be one of the preferred earbuds of athletes in the market. Although it doesn’t really provide a flawless true wireless experience, the Bose SoundSport Free still manages to meet the demands of athletes with its secure fit and water-resistant features that can effectively combat sweat and moisture. The Bose SoundSport Free comes along with what some may consider as comically large housings but overall, this model is actually a great addition to Bose’s lineup of audio gears.
Table of Contents
- Who are Bose’s true wireless workout earbuds for?
- Unboxing the Bose SoundSport Free
- How does the Bose SoundSport Free Look Like?
- Bose SoundSport Free: Design and Build
- Bose SoundSport Free: Connectivity
- Bose SoundSport Free Battery Life
- How Does The Bose SoundSport Free Sound?
- Bose SoundSport Free Vs. Other Earbuds
- Bose SoundSport Free Verdict
Who are Bose’s true wireless workout earbuds for?
As mentioned earlier, athletes and gym lovers will surely enjoy the Bose SoundSport Free. These buds have an IPX4 certification that can withstand an intense workout environment or other physical activities. Thanks to the Bose StayHear+ ear tips, each earbud stays securely in place.
Consumers with USB-C only inputs can also benefit from the Bose SoundSport Free as it doubles as an alternative to a dongle headset. This product also provides decent Bluetooth mobility despite the lack of high quality Bluetooth codec support. The earbuds also offer clear audio that makes them highly functional not only at the gym but in a quieter or more formal environment as well.
Unboxing the Bose SoundSport Free
When you open the Bose SoundSport Free, you can say that a sizable portion of the money that you spent has been allocated to the package design. You’ll get a tubular charging case, two alternate pairs of StayHear+ ear tips, a micro USB charging cable and of course, the Bose SoundSport Free earbuds.
How does the Bose SoundSport Free Look Like?
We’re not really sure about the reason behind the Bose SoundSport Free’s really big housing, but just like the Bose SoundSport Wireless, these buds are comically large for comfort. When you wear it, the buds will definitely jut out from the ears.
However, if you look beyond the large and bulbous buds of the Bose SoundSport Wireless, they actually provide a surprisingly stable fit thanks to the StayHear+ ear tips. The wings are also just what a user wants – comfortable, flexible and grippy.
As expected with the design, ambient noise can easily permeate through the seal. However, that feature is advantageous for athletes, especially for workouts. Getting to hear ambient noise is considered to be a safety feature as runners or bikers can run outside and still be able to hear incoming traffic, sirens or pedestrians without losing a beat.
Bose SoundSport Free: Design and Build
Majority of the Bose SoundSport Free is constructed from plastic. However, don’t take this as a sign of tackiness because these earphones are actually very durable compared to its competition in the market. As mentioned earlier, it has an IPX4 certification which means that these buds can withstand most intense workouts, except for aquatics.
The charging case of the Bose SoundSport Free is also sturdy and provides two extra full-charges. Considering the size of the battery, two full charges isn’t really proportionate, and that’s one of the downers of the Bose SoundSport Free.
Bose SoundSport Free: Connectivity
The connection of Bose SoundSport Free may be far from perfect and still has a lot of room for improvement. However, it is reliable as it is – pairs easily and reconnects automatically with most devices. One of the issues being raised in several reviews is related to the connectivity of the Bose SoundSport, specifically maintaining a stable connection.
Just like other true wireless earbuds or headphones in the market, connecting is a linear process which may be the source of some glitches. The Bose SoundSport Free doesn’t support AptX so Android users are expected to experience some audio visual lags. However, it’s a different scenario for iPhone users because the Bose SoundSport Free supports AAC Bluetooth codec, providing high-quality wireless streaming experience.
The Bose SoundSport Free also comes with an app that supports the Bluetooth products of the manufacturer. This app also allows users to nickname their device, so if you’re into that level of personalization, this will be a good purchase. Speaking of personalization, if you are also known for losing keys, phones or any small or casual device, you’ll enjoy the app’s “find my buds” feature. The app is not flawless, though. It has the tendency to crash and you may need to uninstall it a couple of times to enjoy an update on stability improvements.
Bose SoundSport Free Battery Life
The battery life of the Bose SoundSport Free is pretty impressive with a playback time of 5.5 hours. The charging case provides an additional 10 hours of playback time which may not be as impressive as other premium earbuds but when you look at it from a different perspective, longevity shouldn’t actually be an issue if you are just diligent enough to pop the bud in the charging case. In fact, it would be better if you would pop those buds in the charging case when not in use to keep them from getting lost.
If consumers had some control or say with the charging method of the Bose SoundSport Free, they would have preferred an additional option aside from the microUSB. Given its regular price tag of $249, it would have been nice if the Bose SoundSport Free offered some sort of dual functionality just like the JLab Epic Air Lite and other similar models in the same price range.
How Does The Bose SoundSport Free Sound?
The Bose SoundSport Free is known to be workout earbuds but the question is, how does it sound? Bose audio products have been previously linked to having a weak bass response but thankfully, the Bose SoundSport Free sound signature has departed from that stereotype. However, it is still sharing some similarities with its predecessors like a strong low-end and exaggerated midrange and treble frequencies. Highs may seem to be acutely detailed and audiophiles may also notice some sort of treble accentuation that can sound a bit fatiguing and sibilant when listened to for long periods of time. Overall, the Bose SoundSport Free features a sound quality that seems to appeal to exercise and sport enthusiasts.
Bose SoundSport Free Vs. Other Earbuds
When it was released in 2017, the Bose SoundSport Free seemed to be an intriguing and unique offering until other companies kept pace and released their own version of truly wireless earbuds. Logically, as competition increases, the prices decrease. Now, there are numerous choices that are more affordable and it seems like the Bose SoundSport Free is having a hard time keeping pace with the cheaper deals and offerings in US Amazon.
The large earbud housing of the Bose SoundSport Free looks quite comical in comparison to Master & Dynamic’s MW07 Go, which by the way is IPX6 rated. The aesthetics of the Bose SoundSport Free pales in comparison with the sportier and more compact Jaybird Vista. If before, Bose SoundSport Free boasted of its extended playtime, it is now on the wire as it is surrounded by total wireless earbuds that have longer playtime and slimmer charging cases. In black and white, the Bose SoundSport Free is already showing its age.
If you are choosing between the Bose SoundSport Free versus Apple Inc. AirPods Pro or Beats Electronics Powerbeats Pro, we’d recommend the last two mentioned products. Yes, the Bose SoundSport Free may have AAC support, but you can save more money with the Powerbeats Pro or Apple AirPods because they have an H1 chip that has greater energy efficiency, streamlined use across iOS devices and hands-free Siri access. They also have water-resistance thanks to the IPX4 rating so you don’t have to worry about sweating in them, a reliability that you can’t really enjoy with the Bose SoundSport Free.
Bose SoundSport Free Verdict
Now we’ve come to the end of our review and we hope that this information can help you in deciding whether this product is ideal for you. If you have been a loyal user of Bose products, the Bose SoundSport Free is an ideal option for truly wireless earbuds. Despite the large form factor, the Bose SoundSport Free is a versatile product and is also comfortable. However, just be aware that there are more economical and more aesthetically pleasing models on Amazon.com.
