The Tempo, Tenor and Soprano versions cost $50 more than the previous Alto and Rondo models, but the boost in performance is worth it.

I believe the price matches the pretty incredible technology. The sound quality of the tiny speakers is very impressive, as is the ability to discreetly listen to music without having to wear headphones.

Sunglasses that play music right into your ears? Sign me up for the product hybrid I never knew I wanted. The Bose Tenor frames are an evolution from their 2018 Alto and Rondo frames, with a few improvements. And while there’s plenty (and I mean plenty) of wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers on the market to choose from that are probably more practical, none are quite as fun as sunglasses that serenade you.

There will be some who see the $250 price tag and experience a certain degree of sticker shock. It’s a lot of money, especially when quality running sunglasses can be found for as low as $20 and earbuds are handed out for free on airplanes.

With a $399.95 recommended retail price, picking up a pair of these audio sunglasses might be a bit hard for some to validate. Although, If I got a dollar for every time I had to scrounge around for a loose earbud, I’d probably have enough to buy a pair. If you like to spend a lot of time outside, both casually and while working out, you’ll get enough use out of the Frames to make them a worthwhile investment.

As I said, not perfect at all. But quite worth it depending on your needs. Even if it's just to have your ears opened wide.

The new Frames are the best sounding open-audio frames yet. Use them to interact with your phone or to bring some music to your lonely walks/rides outside! It’s a different type of product from Bose and I think they need to exist. There have been similar alternatives — bone conduction comes to mind. Perhaps the most popular alternative to this is to use in-ear headphones that come with the “ambient sound mode” like AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM3 and many more are starting to exist in the market. The Frames won’t sound as good as these headphones but I use them for a more natural feel and to have one less thing hanging from my ears.

The Bose Frames are beginning to make more sense now, moving away from gimmick territory and into something that justifies its own sector. They are open-ear, so limitations in power will exists, and you won’t get anywhere near the same level of depth as a good pair of in-ear headphones. But these do just fine if you want music to be playing while being fully aware of your surrounds on a run or ride.

One of the biggest complaints owners of the original Bose Frames had was the incredibly short battery life — topping out at about 3 hours. Bose clearly took the criticism to heart because the second-generation Bose Frames now feature up to 5.5 hours of battery life. This is a significant upgrade — almost 50% more, but we still have one last gripe.

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.

While the second-generation Bose Frames do improve upon a few things such as finally adding volume control and better sound quality, their overall fit and niche appeal make them hard to recommend. For lying on the beach or poolside they might be just the trick, but for busy spaces and public transport they miss the mark.

Overall we were very impressed by the sound and performance of the Tenor Frames. The style to audio tradeoff is almost non-existent and we’d happily use these every day. The practical use is still something that we’re not sold on for every customer, but the technology is certainly there and the absolute application can be figured out by the individual. We loved using the frames when cycling outside and walking the dog, however, we can see practical uses in the future with different lenses, especially if they introduce a blue light filter lense for working from home.

It’s hard to place a value on the balance of that goal, because while the aesthetics and lack of bass aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, the Frames make up for it with otherwise decent sound that doesn’t impede on your sense of style too much. They’re not earphones that ask you to be comfortable with big black dots in your ears or white stalks protruding from them. Rather, the Bose Frames are more unassuming, and still allow you to hear and experience the outside world while you enjoy the music and podcasts from within.

The Bose Frames Tempo let you hear the world around you with no obstructions — with a soundtrack playing over everything, while at the same time giving your ears a bit of a break compared to normal earbuds. At $250, they will be a tough sell for some. But I’ve come to realize that audio sunglasses are the exact sort of thing you won’t ever realize you needed. Until you put ‘em on — and all of a sudden, you do.

I would, however, plunk down that cash for the Tempo, as it’d be buying decent exercise headphones and sports sunglasses in one fell swoop. I run most days of the week, and it turns out, sunglasses help you see better while protecting your poor eyes from wind, UV rays, and your husband’s judgmental stares. I feel less anxious when I can hear what’s going around me better, and I don’t have to give up my music for that awareness. If you’re also someone who frequently exercises outdoors, it honestly might be worth the splurge. And frankly, it’s fine that these glasses are uglier than sin. No one should have to look chic while working up a sweat anyway.

The Bose Frames Tempo headphones/sunglasses offer the same audio quality as the original while making improvements primarily in terms of fit.

If you've read my review, you may have the impression that I was rather too harsh on this pair of audio glasses without appreciating them. Well, think again. I simply wanted to give you the most balanced points of view possible.

Most people should not spend $250 on a quirky audio device that doesn’t sound as good as a $50 pair of earbuds, those with disposable income might want something fun over practical. If you match this small subset of people, they are well worth it.

If you like the idea of audio enabled sunglasses, Bose's implementation may be the best one out there, but it doesn't quite hit the mark due to the variable sound.