Bose Frames Alto Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses with Integrated Microphone

Just amazing to have them. Confront, Discrete, No Inspector Gadget Look.

Good Sound Quality (just missing bass).

Bose AR amazing

Best buy since for music listener that I am I wouldn't ask for more

Rich sound. Style favorite. Sturdy construction. Looking forward to the polarized lenses. I find it very hard to take them off when going inside. Would love to see a wireless charging case and the ability to cast music to more than one pair.

My new favorite headphones! I reviewed these with a five star rating, but that review was rejected. So I am pleased to review now with two stars. These are my new favorite headphones and glasses. I have purchased extra lenses to use them inside and out
.

I've had these for 10 days and i think the sound and functionality is stellar. Battery life is "iffy". If you are a golfer these arent for you, you will make it ~12 holes then nothing. The lenses are "OK". I would have gladly paid more for better battery life and lenses. To walk the dog in the am, these ROCK, just dont expect a lot of time with the music.

I bought this when they were just released.
After receiving and connecting them i've noticed few things:
1. They look wired on you , depends on your face shape
2. They feel fragile
3. After playing 2 songs they dropped from 90% battery to 80%
4.My biggest issue is the quality of the sound- mediocre at most
5. Havent tried them on a very sunny day but i think they will be ok , not as good as real sunglasses but not as bad as being without .

Going to return them in few days

Got these about a week ago and I love them. Great sound and excellent lenses

I think Bose is really on to something with Frames. The sound is terrific, ear fatigue is gone (a major accomplishment in itself) and they look very good. Sun glasses are fine, but they need lens for +1, +2 and +3 reading glasses at the very least for many with less than perfect vision. Also prescription glasses is a big thing for many people. In set-up, I found I could not see the Bose app well with the sunglasses and had to switch back and forth with my reading glasses to control the app. Other than expanding the lens options, Frames is a great new product!

Bought these a couple days ago, just took them for a lengthy bike ride, was able to hear them very clearly while cycling about 30km/hr. They have ZERO bass so some songs at loud volumes will sound different than what you may be used to with NC headphones. The open ear design is awesome for being able to stay aware but still have some music to keep your sanity while commuting.

This Bose Frames good sound quality but it gives a high pitched. This is my first bose that have a small speaker.

I was an ‘early adopter’ of these sunglasses and 8 months later am writing to praise them with a very few niggles/suggestions for the future. The sound is excellent ( maybe a bit more bass) , they are light, not significantly different than my plastic frame sunglasses although slightly heavier than say aviator wire rims types. I am writing this from Morocco in the Sahara and the lenses are dark enough to wear all day as I live off and on In The tropics at the pool or a beach without disturbing others around me with sound escape. I use for both audible books music and occasional phone calls and it works very well except perhaps with the microphone in a strong wind or lots of ambient noise. Whilst I wish the lenses were polarised I have added ‘reader’ lenses that stick on To avoid invalidating the warranty by changing the lenses. They charge quickly although the proprietary charging cord is rather short and might be lengthened or made public with different charging mechanism. Overall this is tech I use everyday like my phone and have replaced my favourite prescription sunglasses and best investment I have made in tech even as an apple aficionado.

I played chill music while I putted. It was fantastic, it was lights out!

I love this smart sunglass. The sound is awesome. The call quality super I really like them. There have been 2 month since I have went to a store and call support 3 times. And I receive the same excuse that they will fix a bug that the Glasses have on Android phone. The issue is when you receive a call the call volume is lowered and can't get it back up in less you disconnect the Bluetooth and connect again. Please fix this asap.

Bought these at UTC mall in Sarasota after researching whether or not you can replace with Prescription lenses. Visionworks popped out the existing and replaced with prescriptions..worked like a charm..

I use them to play golf with Golfshot and it is simply an unbelievable upgrade. I can hear music, the distance to the green, while not disturbing my flight partners and at the same time I can hear them still.
The only negative, is that they re a bit lose. They should have included a material that grips a bit better, for example at the level of the ear.

The sound of the alto sunglasses are awesome, but they are as big as a stop sign. The sunglasses fall off my face and i probably have a pretty normal size head and face. They must photoshop the glasses on the models because they look good on them. I'm no Fabio but i can usually look good in a pair of sunglasses. I bought mine online so maybe go to a store and try them on first.

Can you bring them in to get prescription lenses in them?

I have a normal size head I think and have never had this issue with sunglasses they are way too big and slip off. I was also disappointed in how cheap the plastic looks and feels.

I have had the Bose Frames for approximately one month and I am extremely happy with my purchase. I am a Bose fan and I have been one since the 1990’s. Therefore, if Bose makes it I will more than likely purchase it as an early adopter. Great job Bose!

I can't wear them since the ear piece is so long and has a rigid thickened end. Foolishly bought on the way to a 2 month trip to Australia, so didn't get a chance to return. Do not buy unless you can try them on first!

I bought these about a month ago and while the sound is befitting of Bose, they are very comfortable and do not appear geekish. I prefer these to earbuds or the bulky over the ear headphones. However, because they are sunglasses their use is limited to times the sun is shining. Also, they are not polarized. In order to expand their usefulness, Bose may wish to consider optional transitional lens so that they can be worn comfortably indoors and at work and/or making polarized lenses an option.

My wife and I are both blind and we find them vey useful . We can listen to music and answer our phones without the whole world hearing our business .

The sound is fantastic from these. Very stylish may be to large for a small face.

I bought this product a month ago, great experience.
The only problem is that I lost the usb charger and It's been impossible to find it to buy a new one.

I just received my Alto Glasses. Love the idea and technology. They are TOO LARGE for even my big head. I usually have issue with sunglasses being too small BUT BOSE fix this issue it’s not acceptable.
I owned almost all your products. These glasses are not a normal large and ridiculous.. I must return them and order the Beatles style and hope the are not TOO SMALL

So I really like these glasses they sound great easy to use had to reread how to turn them off took me a second to figure out you just flip them upside down lol but the only thing I can’t stand so far is that they are so loose on my head I got the alto pair because it’s my style of glasses I normally wear but I can feel them slowly sliding off my face just walking normal I’d definitely not be able to run in these they would fall off when I look down they slid right off hoping maybe if I go to a glasses store they might be able to adjust them for me I do hope for more pairs and polarized lenses in the future but other then that the charging is easy the button use is like the rest of the products

I have been blown away by these, it's a completely new way of listening to music, books, podcasts and the AR experiences are exciting. Not a lot of bass, but crystal clear mids and highs. Loud enough to wear walking around outside, no buffeting sound from wind.

They are too big, and I have a big head, but, I bought 1mm silicon nosepads in black from my favorite internet retailer and they are perfect now.

I have not been this impressed by technology in some time. I work from home and was looking for something that I could listen to music on as well as take phone calls. I tried them on at the local Bose store and was impressed. I did not buy them right there and then because they were sunglasses. I wanted a prescription option. I started looking into it and found a site that you send in your prescription and they mail you lenses. They even have a walk through on how to pop out the lens and put in the new ones. It is super easy. I love them. I use them for calls and music. If you're excepting the sound results of an around the ear headphone, you will be disappointed. It is amazing however the sound quality of these tiny speakers. I would like to see better battery life, but considering how much they cram into the tiny space, I'd be asking to much. Love these!

Bought the Alto at first. Impressive sound but a bit big for my head size. Bought my wife the Rondo & tried hers out. Traded the Alto in for the Rondo as it was a much better fit.

I wanted to dislike the Frames, but I found myself in need of some headphones and sunglasses so I popped into a Bose store to pick them up. As I was wearing them around NYC I noticed how many people use full over-the-ear headsets while walking, completely oblivious to the sounds around them warning them of danger. The Frames are even better than my habit of having a single earbud in place, allowing the ambient sounds such as an approaching bus to warn me of danger while still providing reasonable sound for music and phone calls. The ability to pop in prescription lenses led me to buy a second pair with transition lenses for indoor/outdoor use - and this is before the AR apps start hitting.

However, there are two points of improvement. First is the controls. I'd love a second button on the left to mimic the QC35II Assistant button, and perhaps a touch-sensitive area for volume/skip controls (paired with on-head detection) instead of the multi-click skip feature.

The second is the charging. Rather than a proprietary cable, I'd prefer adding a battery bank to the case to allow for inductive (or even POGO) charging so we could use a standard USB-C (or even legacy Micro USB) cable. Part of the reason for ordering a second pair is that this cable seems hard to source instead of an easy-to-find accessory.

the sound is AMAZING, the fit is terrible and obviously no one size glasses can fit everyone but Bose should include silicone nose pieces and do whatever it takes to make the frames more adjustable!!!

I've been using these frames for almost a month now. I am really impressed with the way the frames feel and the build quality of it. I was a little disappointed with the sound quality though. I was expecting a bit more bass. Overall I would say it is a very good first attempt by Bose.

So I bought these almost righty when they where released, they’re amazing, the sound is amazing considering they’re not even in your ear, I use them at work all the time, for obvious reasons, but that’s where their flaw comes in, once you sweat just a bit or look down they will slightly slide, making you push them back into place, small inconvenience, but easily fixable, just bought some hooks and they’re perfect.

You can’t get the volume loud enough in a crowded room

Owned these for 1 week. Everytime I had to look down for something they fell off my face. As I would walk or run they would slide down my nose. I am an average male, 5'8" and 170lbs. The Rondo's do not look good on me. I don't understand how Bose doesn't understand that sunglasses are also a fashion item and make one frame style large and another style small. These would be 4-5 stars if the style that went with my face fit.

I have had these Bose frames for about a month. The sound quality is good for sunglasses that play music. There is no bass in the sunglasses, however the sound is not overwhelming loud in your ear so that is good. I am amazed that the sound does not bother those that are around you. I asked my wife several times if she could hear my music and she said no every time. I did not realize that you can make and receive calls with the frames as well. The people I called could hear me clearly. The lens on the frames were great and provided a clear view and blocked any glares from the sun. I did use the frames to take a run and listen to an audio book. It works well with both of those activities. My only complaint with the frames are the style of the frames. I wish there could be more styles available.

I've been using these for over a month and I thoroughly enjoyed them. The sound doesn't produce a great low range so they sound better when listening to spoken word as opposed to music. The AR features were neat but the software needs to catch up and then maybe we will have some AR lens too. Overall this is a cool product but if you're expecting high-tech and incredible sound quality because it's Bose, you will be disappointed, but if you are as stunned as me at what they were able to put into a pair of sunglasses, obviously you'll be impressed!

First I want to say I love these. However, mine have an issue where on about 80 percent of the calls I get the volume is too low to hear. Even if I turn up the call volume all the way on my cell it is still way too quite to hear. Then on 20 percent or so the volume is great... I guess it’s possible mine are defective but all other features work perfectly.

I like the glasses and enjoy the fact that I can listen to music and be protected from the sun, but the microphone connection is not good. The battery does not last 3 hours as advertised. Worst thing to say is that there are no accessible stores to return or replace the glasses.

I recently obtained the Bose Alto Frames for testing. This is a first of it's kind so I took my time to really see what these frames are made of. As this is a Bose product, I'd like to talk about the sound and speakers of this product. As one would expect with Bose, the sound is clear and distinguishable and the quality is as expected from a company such as Bose. For the most part, individuals near you can't really hear the music unless you have them blasting to the limits. The sound feels very close as one would expect with the speaker being right at your ears. Although they sound good, the one thing that is missing a bit is the bass!!! These fames don't have very much bass at all. If you are listening to a genre of music or a particular song that is bass heavy then may be able to get just a bit from the speakers on these frames. They sound the best with lighter bass having genres like classical music or jazz. I was able to take a phone call on these frames. The person on the other end was able to hear me quite well and I was able to hear them with no issues, even out in a sound filled environment, I had no problem communicating with the person on the other end. What I found to be handy with these frames is that they turn off automatically when laid down, so this helps with battery life as these frames don't have a long battery life. I've obtained about 3 hours of use on average. These frames can stay charged for a good amount of time of non-use as well. The alto frame itself is actually a pretty roomy fit as well. I have a wider round face type and usually have a slightly tougher time find sunglasses that fit me well. Now I'd like to talk about the frames as function vs sound. The lenses are not polarized but are pretty good when I used them while driving and walking around town on sunny days. These frames aren't the lightest but the little weight that you do feel is not uncomfortable or overwhelming. These frames offer a multi-function of life-style usage. If you are into music and you like to take it with you on the go, these frames can do it discreetly and offer your eyes protection from the sun all at the same time. You may run the risk of looking a bit crazy when listening to music and others around you can't hear it and all they see is sunglasses, lol. I think Bose has touched a space in the consumer market they may see a rise demand. This particular frame is nice and serves a purpose but as I am a little more particular about sound, I think waiting for the next generation of this product will be more worth it as Bose perfects it's sound in sunglass frames. This product to me is a niche product. It's for a person who has to have the latest and greatest and is willing to pay the price for the functionality that this product provides. Don't get me wrong, this product is great but is not a must have for me.

The sound quality is great and the sound is barely noticeable to others. It makes for a great way to listen to music without having to put in headphones and still being aware of the surroundings without bothering others. My only complaint is that these are too big. The other frames fit perfectly but they are a style that I would not wear. I wish that this design has a smaller size. I feel like that both styles should be available in both sizes and the size not be limited to the style.

These Bose, speaker glasses have been great. I've had them for about two months now and have been enjoying them very much. I really appreciate not having an ear bud in my ear or a headphone covering my ear.
The sound these glasses project is very impressive. The sound surrounds your head and you feel like the sound is everywhere, not just coming from the glasses.
The battery life is great. In the specs, they show a two hour runtime, but at 50% volume, I've been able to get 5-6 hours before needing a recharge. When you first power on the glasses, it tells you at what capacity the battery is currently at.
The glasses were very easy to pair to my phone.
I strongly recommend you try the glasses on for fit at you local electronics store where these are sold. I'm using the large and am thinking the small might be better for me.
As with all Bose products I've owned, these glasses don't dissappoint and I am looking forward to the AI and other upgrades that are coming soon.

Bought these from Nordstrom's about a month ago. The ability to listen to music, a phone call, a podcast, or even a YouTube video with no one able to hear the Frames, nor see any ear buds, is the ultimate in stealth.

I wear reading glasses and also have a very slight correction for distance. I had photochromic lenses in my prescription made for the Frames. Indoors or outdoors the Frames are now ideal.

Cons:
The Altos are really a large frame. Really large.
Proprietary power cord.
Glasses tend to slip down my nose.

Pros:
There is nothing else like these. No competition. Yes there are similar glasses superficially. They use bone conduction. You can easily tell they are headphones and even hear them. Not so with Frames. AR features are now available...enjoy. I use my Frames with iPhone XS Max and the Frames are optimized for iPhone. (Works with Android but with limited feature set.)The most fun is having music on, then hand the glasses to someone to try on. They are amazed. Bose has their MOJO working overtime.

Unique Use Scenario: In a civil court case I was able to call an interested party before going before the judge. This person could hear everything and speak to me with the real time information I needed to make my case. No one the wiser.

In Version 2 I'd like to see USB-C replace the proprietary power cord. Longer battery life. More Bass. A smaller Altos frame.

So I bought these glasses about 2 weeks ago and I'm a huge tech junky who knew these were coming out. So once i saw them I instantly bought them. At first I really loved them. They looked great on me and the sound quality was amazing (just because Bose has the best sound quality around.) BUT once I got used to them multiple HUGE flaws arose.

1st off the battery life. Now the battery life is around 4 hours which sounds like a longtime, but it really isnt. I cant make it through the day of a full charge and on days when im outside for 8 hours its just better to have regular earbuds with sunglasses so I can listen to music all day.

2nd theres no nose piece. So then sunglasses constantly slide down my nose and I have to keep on adjusting them throughout the day. Like i cant listen to 10 seconds of music before having to adjust them again. Also if it's a hot day and I begin to sweat, theres no point to even wear them anymore. It's a lost cause.

3rd is that the lenses arent polarized. Now some people dont care about this, but for someone who's a photographer and a fisherman it really sucks not having polarized lenses. Like I could change out the lenses for polarized ones, but that cancels out the warranty.

4th the connectivity. Now for the most part they connect fine and they sound great, but (not saying this is a big deal) but you have to download their app to play your music which I dont have to do on any other wireless anything that I own. Also if I put my phone in my back pocket where u usually put it, the sound occasionally glitches out, but will always keep on playing from wherever it left off.

Finally is the price. Now I understand this is Bose and Bose does make a really great high end product, but $200 is a lot of money for what I'm getting out of these sunglasses. Theres another pair of sunglasses on Kickstarter right now that can also play music, but also have a nose piece, you can change out lenses (polarized ones too!) And currently are $120 on Kickstarter. Now again I'm not sure how they sound, but from the reviews I'm pretty convinced that they are better than these

So in the end I will be returning this pair that I have, but again this is a great concept by Bose and the sound is really great, but they need to fix a lot of things before I'm sold on these sunglasses.

Sound quality is good, if you really want to buy this pair, consider buying Silicone Temple Tips from Amazon. It doesn’t slip from your eyes at all!

I ordered the new Frames Alto online from Bose website - USA as this product has not yet been introduced in the UAE. I unboxed it with great excitement and fully charged the device with the USB lead provided in the box. The configuration process with my Google Pixel phone was easy. The sound, in a room environment is not only GREAT but AWESOME as one would expect from a Bose product however, to my utter surprise, the playing duration lasted only10 minutes or so whereas, it should last for 3.5 hours, as advertised. I have placed them on charge again and hope the battery lasts longer...

My wife bought these for me for Valentine's day. I finally am able to wear them ( I live in Buffalo NY) I'm a mailman and our job does not allow is to wear earbuds. These sunglasses allow me to now listen to music or answer a phone call without getting in trouble. I absolutely love them. Minus the battery life of about 3.5 hours. However I charge them on my lunch break now and I get a full days use out of them. I would definitely recommend

It's been over a month since I have gotten these and they are such a remarkable pair of Glasses I've owned! I just love how discreet they look people don't even know that they play Music and make calls with them. Money well spent

Overview: I've had these awesome sunglasses for a couple weeks and have used them while working, biking, and relaxing. At first I felt they would look too large for my face (I wear between a size 6-7/8 to a 7 fitted hat), I was wrong! Everyone who has seen me commented that they look great. People even recognize that they are Bose headphone. AKA they have been a free conversation starter with some very attractive ladies.

Fit: As mentioned they are slightly large as to fit on my face, though aesthetically I've received much approval, I do wish they were slightly tighter around my temples. They will not fall off!, even while biking, and I like to push hard/pop wheelies/bunny hop off curves/stoppies... the works. However you may find them slipping slightly more forward then is preferable.

Sound Quality: Amazing!, seriously you will not be disappointing. I noticed the bass on them works better if your below 50percent volume. I've tried every genre imaginable and wasn't disappointed from hip-hop to rock to classical these sunglasses headphones deliver clear crisp bumpin sound. You can hear them clearly while in normal noise levels even at the lowest volume. If you ride a train, your going to wanna turn them up due to the rail noise, same with bicycling.

Sound Privacy: If you don't wanna share your music with others, below 50percent will be just for you, below 35percent nobody will even know your playing music. Crank it up to 100percent and others will hear a little bit of what you do if they are for instance in an elevator, directly next to you, however they still can't make out clearly your music.

AR Apps: Bose has developed a platform here. There's games you play by moving your head (the headphones can track head motions), games you play by making choices with your voice, an app that gives more exact directions with ques as to landmarks, and an app that creates a cityscape of music that changes as you move through the city!! Check it out and have fun!

I have been wearing the Bose Frames Alto for a week. I do really like them and I can say that these sunglasses are great. There are a number of shortcomings which I am sure will be resolved in a second iteration. Notwithstanding all of the cons that I list below, I will certainly buy the second generation of these glasses when available.

Here are the pros and cons

Pros
The sunglasses deliver on their promise. It is great feat of engineering and the sound is very good. I am sure that Bose will later on deliver another revised set of frames in the future with new features but for the time being this is a great step in the right direction. I will certainly buy the next version.
I have had the opportunity to use them for phone calls and the frames work flawlessly. The mic quality is outstanding
Awaiting for the Bose AR….

Cons
The charging cable….. This is a Bose proprietary connector… and therefore the need to carry the charging cable at all times. The battery lasts only for 2 hours… I tried buying 2 more cables (1 other for the car where I use most of the time the glasses and another for the travel kit) but it is not possible to buy one at this stage. I spoke to a very knowledgeable Bose rep who mentioned that it is just a matter of waiting. A big Con… why not a USB C connector, why not a micro USB?

I have several Bose devices and one of those are the Bose QC35 where I have the possibility of connecting 2 devices. It is a major shortcoming that I can only connect one device at the time. I am sure that the major part of the readers of this review will not have any issues on having 2 devices at the same time but the connecting and disconnecting is a length nightmarish process of at least 1 minute.

The glasses are a bit big for my phase but it was solved by buying one of the anti slippery stickers for glasses which on amazon are 4 EUR (I bought these glasses in the US, I wear them in Europe where I live, the BOSE frames are not available yet in Europe)

Hopefully in the future there will be the option for transitions so I can wear them while in inside-spaces (ie my office)

***
Let me be clear I am extremely happy with the Bose Alto Frames despite all the cons (the major one is the cable) and I may consider buying a second pair for my wife