DESIGN
The Tempo’s sporty build is, like most exercise-focused sunglasses, designed to be lightweight and aerodynamic, and to fit securely. To be clear, these aren’t in-ear earphones, nor are they really headphones. Think of them instead as personal speakers that sit very close to your ear and output audio just like a small speaker would—those nearby will be able to hear it, but not as loudly as you will.
If this sounds like it might make the frames a little bulky, well, it does—the temples on these sunglasses are huge, each roughly the size of a single-ear Bluetooth earpiece. If that doesn’t scare you off, the Frames are surprisingly lightweight, at 1.8 ounces. They also ship with three different size-and-shape nose-pad options, to ensure the best possible fit.
Using the Frames for moderate exercise, I found the fit to be stable. If anything, the nose pads move around more than the temples do—the temples grip my head tightly without feeling uncomfortable. For running and cycling, the sunglasses should be stable enough to wear without issue, but everyone’s head shape is different, so fit experience will vary.
Bose Frames Tempo
PROS
Crisp, detailed audio performance that allows you to hear your surroundings. Secure, water-resistant build ideal for exercise. Swappable lenses. Easy to operate.
CONS
Distorts on tracks with powerful deep bass. Lacks much low-frequency response. No EQ in app.
BOTTOM LINE
The Bose Frames Tempo headphones/ sunglasses offer the same audio quality as the original while making improvements primarily in terms of fit.
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