EarFun Clip earbuds entered an increasingly crowded open-ear clip-on audio market Monday, promising premium features at a midrange $70 price point at launch (normally $89.99). In my EarFun Clip Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds review, I find they don’t fit me very well (I guess my big head means big ears, too). But they may suit many buyers, and the lightweight earbuds challenge the notion that you need to spend well over $100 for quality open-ear audio.
While brands like Sony and Soundcore are better known, EarFun has quietly developed open-ear wireless earbuds that deserve attention, particularly for active users who need awareness of their surroundings. For those they fit, EarFun Clip offers great sound at a great price.
EarFun Clip Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds review
These wireless clip-on headphones feature adaptive comfort with secure fit, plus Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, Hi-Res Audio certification, two mics AI ENC for clear calls and up to 40-hour playtime.
- Lightweight clip-ons for workouts
- LDAC and Hi-Res Audio certification
- Advanced Bluetooth 6.0
- Only two mics
- May not fit larger ears well
EarFun Clip‘s ear-hook design addresses a common problem with traditional earbuds — staying secure during intense movement without blocking external sounds. Additionally, these wireless earbuds for workouts come equipped with premium features like LDAC support, Hi-Res Audio certification, Bluetooth 6.0, dual-device multipoint connectivity and Google Fast Pair. But can these affordable open-ear contenders actually deliver performance that matches their impressive spec sheet? Let’s find out if the EarFun Clip earbuds are genuinely worth your consideration.
Personally, I do better with EarFun’s excellent Air Pro 4 flagship buds, or even its other sport buds, OpenJump with big ear hooks.
Table of contents: EarFun Clip Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds review
- Design and fit
- Fit stability during activities
- IP55 water resistance and SweatShield for outdoor use
- Sound quality and listening modes
- Battery life
- Touch controls and customization via app
- Call quality and latency performance
- Bottom line: Balancing budget and performance
Design and fit
First things first: If you want these earbuds, don’t have an extra-large head with ears to match, like me. I tried clipping the earbuds to various parts of my ear to get the speaker closest to the opening of my ear canal. But it wasn’t close enough for optimal sound with good volume and clarity without holding them in place. For reference, with hats I wear a size 8 or 63-64cm; average is 7 1/4 or 58cm. I never thought of my ears as big, but I guess it makes sense they would be. Otherwise, they’d look too small on my huge melon.
For those with “normal”-sized heads and ears, I suspect EarFun Clip fit well and sound great. Of course, because of the design, you can expect a little less clarity and volume simply because these buds don’t insert in the ear canal. I’ve tried others that came a bit closer to a decent fit for me. But they’re simply not my style.
However, EarFun Clip stand out with their ultra-lightweight construction, weighing merely o.2 ounce per earbud. This featherlight design creates what the company describes as a “barely-there feel” that users can comfortably wear throughout the day.
At the core of the EarFun Clip’s design philosophy is its open-ear configuration that rests gently around the ear without blocking the ear canal. The earbuds feature an innovative double ‘C’ design with an ergonomic C-Curve and C-Bridge that ensures secure placement. Rather than using rigid materials, EarFun has opted for soft, skin-friendly silicone that conforms naturally to ear contours.
One notable advantage of this design is its compatibility with everyday accessories. The hook structure doesn’t interfere with glasses, hats or helmets. And unlike traditional in-ear models, these open-ear wireless earbuds maintain situational awareness. That can be a crucial consideration for active users navigating busy environments.
Fit stability during activities
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Beyond comfort, the EarFun Clip excels in stability across different scenarios. The hook design maintains a secure fit even during high-impact activities like running or cycling. This improves on many traditional earbuds, which tend to loosen with movement. I couldn’t make Clip fall off, even riding over bumps on my bike or at the gym.
The earbuds’ versatility extends across multiple use cases:
- Fitness enthusiasts benefit from their sweat resistance and secure fit.
- Commuters may appreciate the situational awareness they provide.
- Office workers can maintain environmental awareness while enjoying audio.
Indeed, this balance of comfort and stability addresses a common challenge in the earbuds market — finding options that remain comfortable throughout extended wear periods without sacrificing security. The clip-on mechanism allows users to “clip it on and forget it’s there.” Then they (but not so much me) can focus on the audio experience rather than constantly adjusting their earbuds.
IP55 water resistance and SweatShield for outdoor use, workouts
The EarFun Clip earbuds come equipped with an IP55 rating, offering substantial protection against both dust and water. This dual resistance means they can withstand sweat, light rain and dusty conditions without performance deterioration. Furthermore, the earbuds incorporate proprietary SweatShield Technology, enhancing their durability during intense workouts.
This level of protection positions these wireless earbuds for workouts in various conditions. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting they aren’t fully waterproof. The IP55 certification indicates resistance to water jets rather than complete submersion.
Sound quality and listening modes
Photo: EarFun
Despite their compact form factor, the EarFun Clip delivers impressive audio performance through custom-engineered drivers and advanced codec support. The overall sound signature balances clarity with warmth, though naturally differs from traditional in-ear designs. I could detect that when holding the earbuds’ speakers closer to the opening of my ear canal. But when left to their normal fit, for me the sound became too remote. It’s a bit like hearing high-quality speakers, but only from the next room.
At the core of the EarFun Clip’s sound quality are 10.8mm carbon fiber composite dynamic drivers, engineered to produce a “rich, natural sound.” These specialized drivers represent a thoughtful compromise between size constraints and audio performance. The earbuds implement EarFun’s proprietary BassSurge technology, which enhances low-frequency response — a common challenge for open-ear designs that lack the seal of traditional earbuds.
The frequency response ranges from 20Hz on the low end to 20,000Hz at the high end, covering the standard human hearing spectrum. Moreover, users can personalize their listening experience through the EarFun Audio app’s equalizer settings, allowing fine-tuning of various frequency bands to match personal preferences.
LDAC and Hi-Res Audio certification
One standout feature of the EarFun Clip is its support for Sony’s premium LDAC codec (for Android devices). This advanced audio technology transmits approximately three times more data than standard Bluetooth codecs, significantly reducing signal degradation during wireless transmission. Combined with Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, this creates a robust foundation for high-quality wireless audio.
The Hi-Res Audio certification further validates the earbuds’ audio capabilities, although it’s worth noting that switching to LDAC mode comes with trade-offs — including decreased battery life, reduced connection stability and disabled multipoint functionality.
Spatial clarity and treble performance
Beyond basic stereo reproduction, the EarFun Clip offers a Theater Mode that creates a more expansive 3D surround sound experience. This feature gives music and other content a wider perceived soundstage, enhancing spatial awareness a bit. But they’re not going to give Apple’s Spatial Audio a run for its money anytime soon.
For treble performance, the carbon fiber components in the drivers help deliver what the company describes as “crystal-clear treble.” High-frequency detail remains reasonably well-preserved even at higher volumes, maintaining vocal clarity without becoming harsh or tinny. This balanced approach ensures both music and calls sound nice and natural.
Battery life
The practical aspects of any wireless earbuds ultimately determine their value in daily life. EarFun Clip combines extended battery performance with intuitive controls and seamless connectivity to create a hassle-free listening experience.
The basic battery life is about 10 hours with buds alone, with LDAC turned off, plus 30 additional hours with the case. So most users can go several days between case charges. The case charges via included USB-C cable (no wireless charging).
Touch controls and customization via app
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The EarFun Audio app serves as the command center for personalizing these wireless earbuds for workouts. Through this companion application, users can:
- Fine-tune EQ settings to match personal sound preferences.
- Customize touch controls for each earbud independently.
- Manage sound modes including Theater Mode.
- Access firmware updates for improved functionality.
Touch sensitivity extends across the earpiece surface, enabling intuitive control without physical buttons. Initially, this caused some accidental commands for me, especially during activities. Fortunately, the app allows deactivation of specific controls based on user preference.
Call quality and latency performance
The EarFun Clip employs an AI-powered two-mic system designed specifically to isolate voices from surrounding noise. This setup differs from some other EarFun models that use 6-mic arrays, yet still maintains effective voice pickup. The microphones work in tandem with specialized algorithms to identify and prioritize human speech patterns.
However, these earbuds seem to perform best in moderately quiet environments. The open-ear design presents inherent challenges for noise isolation compared to in-ear models, as background sounds can naturally blend with your voice during calls.
Another cool feature is the ultra-low latency mode that reduces audio delay to less than 50ms. This specialized gaming mode reduces lag between on-screen action and audio feedback, which proves essential for competitive gaming scenarios.
Beyond gaming, minimal latency enhances everyday video watching and conference calls by maintaining proper synchronization between audio and visuals. Nevertheless, activating this mode requires manually enabling it through the EarFun Audio app. And like most low-latency modes, it can slightly impact connection range and battery performance.
Bottom line: Balancing budget and performance
EarFun Clip earbuds clearly deliver impressive value at their $70 price point — for those they fit well. As I said, I had difficulty getting optimal volume and clarity, seemingly because the size of my ears made if impossible for the buds’ speakers to get close enough to my ear canal.
But for many listeners, these super-lightweight clip-on contenders successfully bridge the gap between budget and premium open-ear options. Certainly, their combination of comfort, sound quality and battery endurance makes them worthy competitors in the increasingly crowded open-ear market. For launch, EarFun takes $20 off the $89.99 list price and also offers a further 20% off coupon, making the price about $56.
These wireless clip-on headphones feature adaptive comfort with secure fit, plus Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, Hi-Res Audio certification, two mics AI ENC for clear calls and up to 40-hour playtime.
- Lightweight clip-ons for workouts
- LDAC and Hi-Res Audio certification
- Advanced Bluetooth 6.0
- Only two mics
- May not fit larger ears well
★★★☆☆
EarFun provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
