If you’ve ever tried to enjoy your favorite playlist and still hear what’s going on around you, you know the struggle is real. Traditional in-ear earbuds sound great, but they plug your ears, get uncomfortable, and make you shout like you’re on a runway. That’s exactly why open-ear, clip-style earbuds exist—and today we’ve got two from SOUNDPEATS on the table: the Pearl Clips and the Clip 1.
I spent time unboxing, setting up, and actually living with both of these, and there were a few surprises—especially in the sound department. Let’s walk through what they’re like to use, how they sound, and which pair might be the better fit for you.
Meet the SOUNDPEATS Pearl Clips
The Pearl Clips are open-ear, clip-on earbuds designed for people who want audio and awareness. Instead of being shoved into your ear canal, they hook around your ear and rest just outside the ear, so your ears stay open and your surroundings stay audible.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Inside the box you get:
The Pearl Clips in a compact charging case A short USB-A to USB-C charging cable The usual paperwork
The case is small, pocket-friendly, and charges via USB-C on the back. Pop the lid, peel off the protective plastic, and you’re greeted with two sleek, lightweight clips that look a little like minimal, futuristic earrings.
When you put them on, the speaker portion rests near your ear opening while the arm wraps around the back of your ear. The clip is secure but not tight—they stay in place without pinching.
Right away, two things stood out:
Comfort – They’re extremely light and don’t create that plugged-ear feeling. You don’t hear your own voice booming inside your head. Awareness – Even with both on, I could still hear the room and my own voice naturally.
These are the kind of earbuds you could realistically wear for hours without your ears getting sore.
Battery Life & App Features (Pearl Clips)
On paper, the Pearl Clips are very respectable:
10-minute charge → about 2 hours of listening Up to 24 hours of total playback with the case
That’s more than enough for a commute, workday, or long walk, especially if you drop them back in the case between sessions.
Inside the SOUNDPEATS app, you get:
Battery levels for each earbud and the case Preset EQ modes (Classic, Treble, Bass Boost, etc.) An adaptive EQ hearing test that plays tones and builds a sound profile based on what you can and can’t hear
During that test there were a couple of frequencies I couldn’t hear, and the app adjusted the sound to compensate. It’s simple, but genuinely useful—especially if your hearing isn’t perfectly even across all frequencies.
No active noise cancelling here (which makes sense—they’re open-ear), but for walking, workouts, or general daily use, ANC isn’t the point. Awareness is.
How the Pearl Clips Sound
Now for the fun part.
I connected them to my phone, opened YouTube Music, and hit play on some relaxing 80s—starting with “Africa” by Toto. I expected “good for open-ear” sound.
What I got was “wow.”
The audio is clear The highs and mids are clean The bass is shockingly strong for earbuds that don’t actually seal your ear
At about three-quarters volume, they were loud. Turned up near max, I could barely hear myself talking over the music, even though my ears were technically still “open.” For open-ear earbuds, that’s pretty impressive.
Honestly, I prefer the sound of these over some traditional in-ear buds I’ve used—including big names like Samsung Buds and Apple’s AirPods. That surprised me.
Controls live on the part that rests near your ear:
Double-tap to play/pause Long press for next/previous track Swipe for volume up/down
They’re a bit sensitive, but once you learn the gestures, they’re very usable.
They’re also sweat and water resistant, so they’re safe for workouts, light rain, and everyday use—just don’t go swimming with them.
Enter the Clip 1: The “Big Brother” Earbuds
If the Pearl Clips are the “everyday open-ear buds,” the Clip 1 are their more serious, high-resolution sibling.
Design and Case
Right away, you notice:
The case is larger, with a bigger internal battery The earbuds themselves have a slightly beefier design with a more pronounced battery section
But despite the bigger size, they still feel light and comfortable on the ear, very similar in comfort to the Pearl Clips.
One very cool quality-of-life feature:
You can drop each earbud into either side of the case and it will still charge correctly. The left/right mapping adjusts automatically, so you don’t have to carefully line them up or think about which is which.
Battery & Features
This is where the Clip 1 really pulls ahead:
Up to 40 hours of total listening with the case (vs 24 hours on the Pearl Clips) In-ear detection – music pauses when you take them off Dual-device connection – pair to, say, your laptop and your phone at the same time. Listen to music on the computer, answer calls on your phone. Support for LDAC high-resolution audio Dolby Audio / Dolby Mobile modes in the app for enhanced sound
Think of these as the “pro audio” version of the Pearl Clips—but without actually being called “Pro.”
How the Clip 1 Sound
Once I fired up the Clip 1, the difference was clear:
All the good things about the Pearl Clips’ sound—clarity, detail, and punch—are still here, but the bass gets an extra boost and the overall sound feels richer.
With LDAC and the high-res tuning:
Bass hits harder and deeper Vocals stay clear Overall sound feels more “full” and immersive
If you’re particular about audio quality and really want that CD-like, high-resolution experience from an open-ear design, the Clip 1 is the better match.
Controls are similar but with a larger touch area:
Double-tap to play/pause Triple-tap to skip tracks Long presses and taps for other functions depending on your setup in the app
The bigger “paddle” section on the Clip 1 makes those gestures easier and more forgiving than on the smaller Pearl Clips.
Pearl Clips vs Clip 1: Which Should You Buy?
Both sets share some key strengths:
Open-ear comfort you can wear for hours Great awareness of your surroundings Solid sound quality (especially for open-ear) Sweat/water resistance
But they’re aimed at slightly different people:
Get the Pearl Clips if:
You have smaller ears or want the smallest, lightest feeling option You want something simple, comfortable, and great-sounding for walks, podcasts, and casual listening 24 hours of total battery life is more than enough for your routine
Get the Clip 1 if:
You care about audio quality first You like stronger bass and LDAC high-res audio support You want longer battery life (up to 40 hours total) You like conveniences like in-ear detection and dual-device connection
Shared Downsides
Neither case supports wireless charging There’s no active noise cancelling (by design—they’re open-ear)
But honestly, at around a third of the price of many big-brand earbuds, both of these deliver a lot of value—especially if comfort and awareness are high on your list.
Final Thoughts
I’ve used a lot of earbuds over the years, from Samsung to Apple to all kinds of budget brands. These SOUNDPEATS clip-style buds genuinely surprised me.
The Pearl Clips are fantastic everyday, open-ear earbuds with comfort and sound that punch way above their size. The Clip 1 takes that formula and turns it up a notch with better bass, LDAC support, smarter features, and marathon battery life.
If you’re shopping for yourself—or looking for a great gift, especially around Black Friday—either of these would make an awesome pick. Just decide whether you care more about ultimate comfort and compactness (Pearl Clips) or maximum sound quality and battery life (Clip 1). Check our Products page Here
Have you tried clip-on or open-ear earbuds before? Would you switch from traditional in-ear buds for comfort like this? Let me know—I’d love to hear your experience and what you’re using today.