When Bose launched the Ultra Open earbuds last year, I was sceptical about their use case and how well they would actually perform. I carried similar doubts while picking up the Realme Buds Clip. Open or clip-on earbuds often sound good on paper, but for most people, this style struggles to justify itself in everyday use. That said, this pair genuinely surprised me.
On paper, it ticks all the right boxes. You get 11mm dual drivers, a 45ms low-latency mode, a solid IP55 rating, and the promise of strong battery life.
I’ve been using the Realme Buds Clip for a few days now, and here’s what my experience with it has been.
Design and Build
Starting with the design, the earbuds look modern, aesthetic, and properly fashionable, almost as if they were designed by a luxury accessory brand. They have been shaped to follow the natural contours of the human ear. While they may look a bit odd at first glance, they are actually quite comfortable, and I found them to be impressively stable once worn.
The charging case features a frosted finish and comes in two colour options: black and gold. I received the gold variant. The plastic case does not feel cheap and appears to draw some inspiration from the Shokz OpenDots, though it adds its own touch with a circular ring light on the front. This light glows red, white, or green to indicate different statuses. Inside, the case has a dual-tone finish, and the earbuds follow the same design language, complete with a metal-finished front. Strong magnetic pins keep the buds firmly in place. I even put them through an unplanned drop test, which they passed without any issues. At the bottom, there is a USB Type-C charging port along with a physical button to power the case on or off.
Moving on to ergonomics, the case is compact, pocket-friendly, and easy to carry around. The buds themselves feature a round, clip-like design that sits on your ears much like an earring. Weighing just 5.3 grams each, they feel almost weightless.
Touch controls are also responsive—double-tap to pause or play music, and triple-tap to reject or disconnect calls. They work reliably and don’t feel gimmicky.
I started using them during workouts, and they did not come off even once, which makes them both practical and comfortable. The IP55 rating also means they are well-suited for intense workout sessions where heavy sweating is involved. The buds use a titanium alloy C-bridge, which keeps them extremely light and comfortable even during extended use.
I have been using traditional TWS earbuds and headphones for quite some time now, and I usually cannot wear them for more than two hours at a stretch. With the Realme Buds Clip, however, I was able to use them for much longer periods, which makes me confident in saying that they are suitable for extended listening sessions.
The portion of the buds that rests behind the ear does not create any pressure or tension, even after prolonged use. To further test comfort, I even wore them at night while lying down and listening to music, and I did not experience any discomfort. The only downside is that you may need to adjust their position slightly from time to time to get the fit just right.
Connectivity and Sound
Connectivity is seamless, thanks to Bluetooth 5.4. Pairing is quick and hassle-free across multiple devices, with a stable connection of up to around 10 metres. In terms of codec support, you get SBC and AAC. Now, speaking as a bit of a headphone snob, the Realme Buds Clip come equipped with dual 11mm drivers, and the overall sound quality is decent. I have been using them daily during my commute as well as during work, and the experience has been genuinely praiseworthy for this form factor.
While listening to playlists by Michael Brook and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, I noticed that the bass is serviceable, but the treble is where the sound starts to fall flat. That said, this is not a major issue if your listening leans towards softer genres like Sufi music. The earbuds also offer 3D spatial audio support, which adds a sense of openness and makes them more engaging to use while commuting or working out.
There is also a 45ms low-latency mode, which I tested while gaming, and once again, it turned out better than expected. Audio sync felt tight enough to not break the experience.
Voice calling is solid as well, with effective noise cancellation. The dual-microphone setup does a good job of filtering out background noise. While occasional traffic sounds like honking can still make it through, call quality remains largely clear and reliable. Touch controls are straightforward. A double tap pauses or resumes playback, while a triple tap lets you reject or end calls. There is some level of customisation available through the Realme Link app, which is available on both Android and iOS. The app also includes several AI-driven features, such as face-to-face mode for real-time conversation translation, AI live translation for meetings, and an Ask AI option for quick queries. Another feature I found particularly useful is ‘Find My Earbuds’, which comes in handy for someone like me who tends to misplace things often.
Battery life and charging
Let’s talk about battery life. Each earbud packs a 45mAh battery, while the charging case houses a 530mAh unit. On a single charge, the buds last around 7 to 8 hours, with total playback stretching up to 36 hours when you factor in the case.
Unfortunately, there is no charging cable included in the box. That said, the case uses a USB Type-C port, so you can charge it with pretty much any compatible charger you already have. There is also no wireless charging support, which is a bit of a miss at this price point.
Things I didn’t like
The experience overall was great, but there is no active noise cancellation, which is a bummer, especially in busy areas like Chandni Chowk. Sometimes, the sound feels like it is running in the background and not in your ear. But that is classic of all open ear designs. You cannot compare it to a regular TWS earbuds. It is meant for open listening, without drowning you in the music, but keeping you planted in the real world. It is best enjoyed when you’re by yourself in your room. The soundstage that it provides when you’re in a controlled environment is simply phenomenal.
If you’re looking for complete immersion, something that completely cuts you off from this world, the Clip earbuds aren’t the ones to go for.
Verdict
The overall experience has been largely positive, but the lack of active noise cancellation is a bit of a let-down, especially in busy areas like Chandni Chowk. At times, the audio can feel like it is playing in the background rather than directly in your ears. That said, this is a limitation common to all open-ear designs. You simply cannot compare them to regular TWS earbuds.
These are meant for open listening. The idea is not to drown you in music, but to keep you aware of your surroundings and connected to the real world. In that context, they make the most sense when used in quieter environments. When you are by yourself in your room, the soundstage they deliver in a controlled setting is genuinely impressive.
If you are looking for complete immersion or something that fully shuts out the world around you, the Clip earbuds are not the right choice. They can easily replace silicone-tipped earbuds for everyday use, but when it comes to pure sound quality, I would still pick a classic TWS or a proper pair of headphones. That said, these earbuds make a lot of sense as a companion device. They work especially well during long flights or extended workout sessions, where comfort and awareness matter more than isolation. For that reason alone, I would confidently recommend them as a solid secondary pair.
