Open-ear clip headphones review: comparing five affordable options
11/3/2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Florian Bodoky
Open-ear clip headphones – allowing you to listen to music without blocking your ear canal – are all the rage. I tested five affordable entry-level models to find out how much sound, comfort and battery life they offer for the money.
Open-ear headphones are the latest industry must-have. Clip-on models in particular – which you slip over your ears – are becoming increasingly popular, allowing you to listen to music without blocking your ear canal. They’re perfect for announcements on public transport, quick chats in the office, and – not to be underestimated – cycling, because you can still hear approaching cars or other road users, even while listening to music.
Comfort: Baseus clips stand out from the crowd, but they’re not for everyone
Their design prevents the clips causing pressure in the ear canal or creating isolation. However, they generally don’t fit as well as classic in-ear options. Whether they fit depends on ear shape, cartilage structure and personal sensitivity. Four of the five devices work on the same principle: one end sits in front of the ear, the other behind it, connected by a sturdy but soft silicone tube. Only Soundcore uses completely rigid hard plastic. This tighter fit can be quite uncomfortable for some, as it was for me. However, it might be more secure for others.
I’m particularly impressed with the Soundpeats Pearlclip Pro. They’re lightweight, flexible and adapt very well to different ear shapes. Even after several hours of wear, they’re still unobtrusive.
During longer listening sessions in the office or on the go, this combination means you barely notice the clips. Plus, the earpieces are round and narrow. Unlike the Jlab, whose ear hook’s flat but very thick. There’s just no room behind my ears for them.
The Baseus and the 4smarts are also really comfortable. The weight’s evenly distributed, the clip mechanism feels sturdy yet flexible and they stay securely in place even when you move. In a direct comparison, they are slightly behind the Soundpeats, but overall they’re of a very high standard.
The JLab Flex earbuds’ low weight makes them a pleasant surprise. They’re comfortable to wear, but they feel slightly less stable when you move quickly. The small but very thick section behind the ears is irritating; there just isn’t enough room for it. The Soundpeats Pearlclip Pro are the most comfortable for me.
Don’t forget, comfort’s very individual – depending on your ear, a different shape might fit better.
Sound: four equal, one falling short
Open-ear headphones present a particular sonic challenge. Without a seal, they don’t have the physical deep bass pressure of traditional in-ear models. At the same time, ambient noise constantly interferes with the sound. The art lies in balancing the mids, highs and perceived bass so the music doesn’t sound thin and vocals are still clear.
The Soundpeats Pearlclip Pro deliver the most vibrant sound in my comparison. The midrange is present, vocals are clearly in the foreground and instruments are distinct. They create a spacious, open feel, especially with pop, acoustic music or podcasts. For an open-ear system, they offer surprisingly rich bass – not sub-bass in the classic sense, but enough foundation for a well-rounded sound.
For example, in songs with acoustic guitar or piano – such as singer-songwriter tracks or chilled pop – vocals sound pleasantly close and clear. Guitar strings remain distinctly audible without the sound becoming harsh. Even in modern pop music, the rhythm remains noticeably present, although a strong deep bass is inherently lacking. The clips also sound exceptionally good when you listen to podcasts, where vocals stay clear and natural. Combined with their musical strengths, they’re some of the most versatile models in my comparison.
The Soundcore C30i has balanced, neutral sound. The bass is slightly more low-key than on Soundpeats headphones, creating a harmonious overall sound that sounds good for extended listening sessions. Vocals sound clean and clear without being overemphasised. This balance proves particularly advantageous with mixed playlists. During longer listening sessions – such as a working day at the office – the Soundcore headphones are especially nice because they don’t overemphasise highs or mids. Even after several hours, there’s hardly any listener fatigue. The sound also shines when listening to podcasts. The C30i reproduces voices incredibly neutrally and naturally, which is ideal for long listening sessions with talking podcasts, interviews or audiobooks.
The Baseus Bowie MC1 headphones offer solid all-around sound. The bass and mids are well-balanced, and the trebles are present enough. In direct comparison, however, they lack some detail and dynamic range compared to the Soundpeats and Soundcore versions. In practice, this is particularly noticeable with more complex arrangements: individual elements tend to blend together more in songs with a lot of instruments. However, the sound’s still adequate for everyday streaming. With podcasts, the Baseus headphones deliver solid speech intelligibility, but fall slightly short of the two top performers. Voices are easy to understand, but they sound a bit less clear and detailed.
The Jlab Flex headphones deliver usable playback for streaming and background music, but the mixing’s less sophisticated, so subtleties in more complex arrangements are somewhat lost. There’s still solid speech intelligibility with podcasts, but there’s less clarity than the more powerful models.
The 4smarts Skybuds Clip have the weakest bass and narrowest dynamic range in my test. Voices are intelligible, but music sounds less vibrant. Speech reproduction’s generally alright for podcasts, although it lacks clarity and presence compared to Soundcore and Soundpeats.
The Soundcore C30i and the Soundpeats Pearlclip Pro are generally on par, but the Soundpeats’ musical strengths give them a slight edge. However, if you mainly listen to podcasts and are looking for maximum naturalness in voices, the Soundcore headphones are a safe bet.
Sound leakage: can anyone listen in?
Open models always radiate sound outwards. Because the speaker’s in front of the ear rather than in the ear canal, some sound also escapes into the surrounding area. At moderate volume, all models stay relatively discreet. In an office or train compartment, a person next to you will generally only hear something if the volume is up pretty high.
My tests showed:
- At volume levels up to 50 per cent, the headphones are barely perceptible to people at a distance of about one metre.
- At around 70 per cent volume, the person sitting next to you in very quiet environments can detect faint traces of music or voices.
My comparison shows the Soundcore C30i as having the least leakage at high volume. Even at slightly higher volumes, the sound leakage stays relatively controlled. This makes them particularly suitable for quiet work environments or libraries. The others are all close behind and are within the typical range of open-back headphones, so I’m not picking a winner.
Things get loud on the bike
Clip headphones are good for cycling because you can still hear traffic, but they bring a new acoustic problem into play: wind noise. As soon as you reach speeds of around 15-25 km/h, the airflow around your ear creates a noticeable noise. This wind noise partially masks the audio playback – especially in the high-frequency range. The same applies to phone calls. This, of course, affects both your hearing quality and that of the person you’re speaking to, as the microphone doesn’t sound as good in a headwind.
When listening to music, the differences between the individual models are minimal, since the tuning of the Soundcore 30i ensures voices remain relatively stable within the soundscape. Even in windy conditions, podcasts are still easy to understand, and the same applies to the Soundpeats, the Baseus and the Jlab. Only the 4smarts fall somewhat short here: I usually have to turn the volume up more at higher tempos to keep voices clear.
The sound during phone calls is less consistent. The Baseus Bowie MC1 headphones deliver the most convincing call quality. Multiple microphones capture the voice accurately and reduce ambient noise so that conversations stay clear, even when outdoors. Voices sound more natural and consistent than with the other models, even in windy conditions. The same applies to the Soundpeats, although the drop in quality in windy conditions is more noticeable. The Soundcore C30i headphones work reliably for calls, but they sound somewhat more distant. This is because the microphone is further from the mouth, making the voice sound further away. You can still follow conversations, but you don’t get the same level of clarity as with the best models.
The Jlab Flex are generally suitable for everyday phone calls, but they’re less convincing with ambient noise. While you can still make out voices, more powerful competitors reduce background noise more effectively. The same applies to the 4smarts.
Charging case: from hinge to LED
The Baseus Bowie MC1 has the sturdiest case, and it looks clean and well thought out. The joints are precise and robust, with a reliable magnetic clasp and solid hinge mechanism. While it’s slightly larger than most others, it feels extremely stable and suitable for everyday use. Overall, Baseus offers the best combination of material quality, feel and finish.
The Soundpeats Pearlclip Pro case is also high quality. It’s precisely manufactured, with smooth surfaces and a secure fastening: the clips snap into place magnetically. An LED indicator – activated at the touch of a button – shows the case’s charge level.
The cases for the 4smarts Skybuds Clip and Jlab Flex are solid but functional, although the hinges aren’t as sturdy as on others.
I find the Soundcore case the least convincing, even though it’s the only manufacturer to include extra ear tips or stabilising elements for a better, more personalised fit. They can be helpful depending on your ear shape, especially when you’re moving. However, the case lid’s made of thin plastic and doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Considering the overall material quality, feel and mechanics, Baseus and Soundpeats share first place.
Battery life and charging case capacity
Since the clips understandably don’t offer noise cancellation, the battery’s also very efficient in all models, at least according to the manufacturer. This allows them to achieve surprisingly long runtimes – only one model lags behind. Overall, the Baseus Bowie MC1 come out on top.
| Kopfhörer | Laufzeit Buds | Laufzeit mit Case |
|---|---|---|
| Soundcore C30i | zehn Stunden | 30 Stunden |
| Baseus Bowie MC1 | neun Stunden | 40 Stunden |
| Soundpeats PearlClip Pro | sechs Stunden | 18 Stunden |
| JLab Flex | sieben Stunden | 21 Stunden |
| 4smarts SkyBuds Clip | sechs Stunden | 28 Stunden |
Overall verdict: the pearls are my pick
There’s a clear winner: the Soundpeats Pearlclip Pro are the best both musically and comfort-wise. They top the overall rating, even though they have the weakest battery life. The flexible, silicone-coated clips feel high-quality, fit comfortably in my ears and stay securely in place. The finish is also robust.
The Baseus Bowie MC1 are also of high quality. The case is precisely manufactured, with smooth surfaces free of any obtrusive gaps, and it closes securely. Plus, you get excellent call quality and battery life. The sound’s also decent. The fit and comfort level are less impressive, although this comes down to personal preference.
The Soundcore C30i are almost on par in terms of build quality and are the only ones in my comparison to offer additional ear tips or stabilising elements for a more customised fit. These can actually be helpful depending on your ear shape, especially when you’re moving around. However, the extras seem more functional than an integral part of the design. The Jlab Flex look stylish, but they don’t fit my ears at all, while the 4smarts Skybuds Clip are the budget option among budget options – and they didn’t particularly impress me.
Header image: Florian Bodoky
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
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