Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses, Alto (S/M), Black

Product Information

Polarised lenses have an odd tendency to distort the pavement, making it look less flat than it really is They’re both IPX2 water-resistance rated which, for a product meant for outdoor use, is lower than we’d like. They’ll be able to take a few drops of rain, but you’ll likely need to keep them out of a downpour. Then again, wearing sunglasses in the rain is a whole new world of looking like a fool. We've tried two different apps with the glasses, and these are currently only available when connected to iOS devices. We've been told by Bose that support for Android devices is coming in July 2019, but there's no specific date yet. The Tempo fit can be adjusted by swapping out the nose clamps, but finding the right fit isn't easy. (Image credit: TechRadar) When there is an incoming call, pressing the multi-function button will answer the call, and pressing and holding it will reject the call. During an active call, pressing the button will end the call.

Bose Frames (Tempo, Tenor and Soprano) review | TechRadar Bose Frames (Tempo, Tenor and Soprano) review | TechRadar

To adjust the volume, press and hold the button while turning your head. To increase, turn to the right. To decrease, turn to the left. Once you find the right volume level, let go of the button. Sensors are hidden in the frames that can detect your head position and interactions such as taps to the side of the glasses. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian As Bose Frames use Bluetooth® connectivity, you can access any app that’s on your mobile device. Some examples include: No matter what your prescription needs are, whether it’s single vision, transition, bifocal, or varifocal (to name a few), Lensology can provide lenses for your Bose frames along with any sunglass lens you choose.Put simply this means Bose has included headphone functionality inside the body of a range of stylish sunglasses. Their compact and lightweight designs mean the average person wouldn’t even realize these glasses are smart audio wear at all. Our original audio sunglasses revolutionalized open-ear audio. Tiny, built-in Bose speakers deliver an immersive audio experience unlike any other. You hear your music and your surroundings, while those nearby hear practically nothing. Bose Soprano sunglasses feature large lenses and a cat-eye design for the ultimate style accessory. With a delicately sloped browline, Bose Soprano frames give retro glamour in an elegant style whilst providing cutting edge sound technology. When in Bluetooth mode, Bose Frames search for and connect to the most recently connected active Bluetooth-enabled device. If that device is unavailable, Bose Frames will attempt the next most recently connected device. The glasses sound amazingly good for what they are. Two small speakers sit in the frame just in front of your ears. The music is directed straight to your ear through small speaker grilles, while cancelling sound is projected out into the world. The result is a sound leakage of about 1%, according to Bose.

Bose Frames review | TechRadar

Don’t expect incredible battery life from the Bose Frames, and this is one of the reasons that it’s such a shame the company hasn’t seen fit to include a charging case. The lenses are also interchangeable and can easily be popped out for a different color, although choices are currently limited to a mirrored silver for the Alto and a rose gold set for the Rondo. The Bose Frames are delightful – a set of premium sunglasses that also act as your personal music system. Kept to 50% or lower those next to you can’t hear your music, but because your ears are open you can hear the world around you. The original Frames were pretty good about not leaking that much sound. Unless someone was standing pretty close to you, as long as you weren't cranking the volume all the way up, people couldn't even tell you were listening to something. With these new models, you'll get more sound leakage, particularly from the Tempo, and in quieter environments people will hear whatever audio you're playing if you have the volume high. But the majority of people will use these outdoors and sound disperses better outside, so you're probably not going to bother anyone. The Frames know which way you’re facing and your location from the GPS on your phone, so you can use audio to feed information about the real world into your ears.For charging the Tenor and Soprano use a custom magnetic pogo-pin USB charger but the Tempo goes with USB-C charging, which is nice because you don't have to worry about losing that proprietary adapter. They don’t suit city use, and they’re not all that suitable for public transport either, but if you’re looking for a fun device that’s different to anything else out there then these may be exactly what you're after. On the other hand, the Tenor and Soprano have 16mm drivers, and the sound is still quite enjoyable. These two models aren't quite as loud as the Tempo – at 50% volume, the Tempo was more than sufficient on a riverside walk with squawking birds and chatting strollers, while we needed to up the volume on the Soprano to about 65% to enjoy our tunes. Crank them up beyond 85% volume and you start to hear distortion, but they pretty loud by that point. Most of my listening was about at 60% on the street or about 30% in quieter spots. Bose sells replacement lenses that users pop in and out themselves in a matter of seconds, no tools required. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Bose introduces three new pairs of Frames audio sunglasses Bose introduces three new pairs of Frames audio sunglasses

There’s also considerable audio leakage at volume levels higher than 60%, so if you’re sitting near someone, they’ll be able to hear tinny sounds emanating from your sunglasses and, unfortunately, you'll need them at full volume to enjoy them over the sounds of public transport. To trigger the voice assistant, press and hold the multi-function button to access Siri on an iOS device or the Google Assistant on an Android device. The USB cable comes in a small microfibre bag lose in the case with the Frames, which makes getting them out a bit clumsy A single button under the arm takes care of power and play controls. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian If you care about audio quality, these aren’t going to replace your headphones. Rather, these are a fun alternative you can use when it’s sunny and you’re laying on a beach or walking in a quiet area.The arm design may not be to everyone’s liking, as these are quite bulky on both designs. It's a necessary compromise as that’s where all the tech is housed, including the batteries, motion sensors, microphone, speakers and Bluetooth circuitry.

Bose Lenses | Replacement Bose Sunglasses Lenses | Lensology Bose Lenses | Replacement Bose Sunglasses Lenses | Lensology

Wearing any of the new Frames models is an interesting experience – despite their large appearance, they’re fairly light and don’t weigh down on your nose. However for users that have a slightly larger head, these are going to be quite uncomfortable. There’s no microfibre bag for the Frames included, which would make using them and keeping them clean while out and about a bit easierAnother thing you’ll need to get used to is not flipping the Frames upside down while they’re still connected to your phone. Doing so will disconnect Bluetooth and you’ll need to re-pair by pressing that little gold button.