SoundPEATS Clip1 Open Ear Earbuds with Dolby Audio Review

The SoundPEATS Clip1 earbuds are part of the company’s growing lineup of clip-on “open-air” earbuds that hook comfortably over your ears instead of sealing into them. These are designed for users who prefer situational awareness without sacrificing good audio performance. After spending a few days with them, I came away impressed by how much sound these lightweight clips can produce, though they’re not without a few quirks.

Design and Comfort

The SoundPEATS Clip1 follow a similar aesthetic as the company’s previous “Clip” series, featuring a compact and curved design that sits naturally on your ear. The unique N-Flex Arch structure — made from nickel-titanium alloy — allows the arms to bend and flex while maintaining their shape. SoundPEATS claims the material has been tested through 20,000 bends, and it does feel durable in daily use.

At only 5 grams per earbud, the Clip1s are extremely lightweight. I could barely tell I was wearing them after a few minutes. This makes them great for long listening sessions, calls, or workouts. However, because of their open-ear design, the earbuds must be angled correctly for optimal sound. If they’re even slightly off, the bass and clarity take a noticeable dip, which sometimes requires readjusting them during use.

The charging case mirrors SoundPEATS’ minimalist style — compact, matte plastic with a USB-C port on the back. It’s pocketable and easy to open, though the earbuds don’t snap in as securely as in-ear styles due to their shape.

Sound Quality and Performance

For open-air earbuds, the SoundPEATS Clip1 deliver an unexpectedly full sound. The 12mm dual-magnet PVD dynamic drivers push out strong, punchy bass that’s rare in this category, while mids and highs come through clean and balanced. Vocals are clear without sounding thin, and the low-end response adds a satisfying depth to pop and electronic tracks.

The open-ear design naturally reduces isolation, so you won’t get the same immersion as with sealed earbuds, but that’s by design. These are meant for people who want to hear the world around them — like runners, commuters, or office users who need to stay aware.

The Clip1s also support Dolby Audio on compatible Android devices (not iPhones, unfortunately). On supported phones, this adds a little extra dimensionality to the soundstage, making movies and spatial audio tracks sound more full.

Touch Controls and App Features

SoundPEATS opted for touch controls on the Clip1, unlike the POP Clip, which uses physical buttons. You can tap the SoundPEATS logo, the small speaker ball, or the stem to trigger commands. I found tapping the stem to be the most reliable method, though I still prefer the tactile feedback of physical buttons.

The PeatsAudio app allows for firmware updates, equalizer tweaks, and features like “Find My Earbuds.” It’s functional and stable, though the interface still feels a bit basic compared to larger competitors, and the app feels like a work in progress as some messages have not yet been translated.

The Clip1s also include multipoint Bluetooth 5.4 for connecting to two devices simultaneously, wear detection, and AI-powered ENC noise reduction for calls. The latter worked well when testing the microphone against a white noise machine as the microphones were able to successfully filter out the white noise.

Clip1 Microphone Audio Sample

Battery Life

Battery life is another strength. The Clip1 earbuds deliver up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge (at 60% volume), and the case holds an additional four full charges, bringing total playback to around 40 hours.

A quick 10-minute charge gives about 2 hours of playback, which is handy for topping up before a workout. The earbuds charge in roughly 1 hour, and the case takes around 2 hours via USB-C.

SoundPEATS Clip1 vs POP Clip vs Pearlclip Pro

SoundPEATS now offers a variety of clip-style earbuds, and here’s how the Clip1 stacks up against its siblings, the PearlClip Pro and the POP Clip:

Specification	Clip1	POP Clip	Pearlclip Pro
Controls	Touch	Physical buttons	Touch
Driver Type	12mm dual-magnet PVD dynamic driver	10.8mm dual-magnet dynamic driver	12mm dual-magnet dynamic driver
Frequency Response	20Hz–40KHz	20Hz–20KHz	20Hz–40KHz
Supported Codecs	AAC, SBC, LDAC	AAC, SBC	AAC, SBC, LDAC
Bluetooth Version	5.4	5.4	6
Playback Time (Earbuds)	8 hours	8 hours	6 hours
Total Playback Time (Case)	40 hours	30 hours	24 hours
Charging Port	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Fast Charging	✅	✅	✅
Wear Detection	✅	🚫	🚫
Dolby Audio	✅ (Android only)	🚫	✅
ENC for Calls	✅ (AeroVoice AI)	✅	✅
Multipoint Connection	✅	✅	✅
Water Resistance	IPX5	IPX5	IPX5