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

Product Information

Then, press and hold the button on the right temple until you hear “Ready to connect” and the status light slowly blinks white.

Bose Frames 2020 review: These audio sunglasses rock - CNET Bose Frames 2020 review: These audio sunglasses rock - CNET

We've tried two different apps with the glasses, and these are currently only available when connected to iOS devices. Mixing classic frames with Bose sound technology, Bose Alto frames have a super lightweight built-in Bluetooth speaker pointed towards your ears allowing you to listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks without the need for headphones. There’s a choice of two frames: the larger, squarer Alto (as tested) and the smaller, rounder Rondo. When she's not testing camera kits or the latest in e-paper tablets, she's discovering the joys and foibles of smart home gizmos. That latter part can also be seen as a downside since, by design, your tunes will be mixed with ambient sound at all times.

Again, given the Tempo has been designed for athletes, they benefit from 22mm drivers in each arm and the sound is surprisingly bassy. You can still tell that these aren’t quite everyday sunglasses; the temples / arms are still oversized, even with the new refinements. Both the squarer Tenor (above) and Soprano (below) get slightly smaller 16mm drivers, but Bose claims that bass response has been noticeably improved compared to the original Frames.

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

The Tempo fit can be adjusted by swapping out the nose clamps, but finding the right fit isn't easy.Instead they are a pair of audio sunglasses that also have some limited smart functionality tacked on. Tempo frames are sweat and weather resistant, with a lightweight and aerodynamic design to allow for optimum sports performance. 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. Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. But I’ve come to realize that audio sunglasses are the exact sort of thing you won’t ever realize you needed.

Bose Frames review | TechRadar

There are people out there who just aren’t particularly fond of earbuds — often because they dislike the feeling of silicone tips plugging up their ears.

Bose had to design tiny speakers to fit into the arms of the Frames from scratch, along with some proprietary tech that, Bose promises, directs 99% of the sound to the wearer’s ears, with only 1% leaked. Looking back on 2020, we still think the Bose Frames are pretty cool, and they sound a lot better than you'd expect. Sound quality has improved across the board in all three, according to Bose, and the Tenor and Soprano have “the tiniest, thinnest, most invisible Bose speakers ever. Don't expect the big bass you get from a standard set of headphones and they can distort a bit at higher volumes. Touch controls are available for volume adjustment – again, on the right arm – with swipes forward and backward allowing you to decrease and increase volume respectively.