When it comes to affordable TWS earbuds, Realme has built up quite a reputation for delivering great options. Amid the confusing names and positioning, any TWS earbuds with a Realme badge on it guarantees three things – bassy audio, easy controls and good battery life. Hence, when Realme mailed us the Buds Clip, I was more than eager to see how they did for this format of TWS earbuds.
The open-ear earbuds format is something that has been largely restricted to the premium players in the industry. Sony created the benchmark with the LinkBuds series, and homegrown brands found far cheaper alternatives to cash in on the form factor. Realme went for the middle ground with the Buds Clip – an open-ear TWS earbud that promises a lightweight design and good audio quality– at a price of Rs 5,999.
Even though it comes from Realme – a brand that makes bass-centric and style-obsessed earbuds – I wanted to see whether this form factor of TWS earbuds works, especially when done the Realme way.
Design and Comfort
Open-ear earbuds are usually lightweight and Realme’s Buds Clip weighs just 4.7 grams per bud, thus making these the lightest of their kind. You feel this the moment you clip it on to your ears – the buds grip the outer ear (the pinna) securely and don’t make themselves obvious. The soft silicone hook curves around the outer ear and comes in three sizes (S, M, L) in the box, thereby making it easy to find a secure yet pressure-free fit. For my ears, the standard size worked fine.
Wearing these while on long walks, taking calls/listening to music at the office for 4-5 hours at a stretch and even cooking, the Realme Buds Clip is incredibly comfortable to wear. Neither is there any ear canal fatigue, nor does it dislodge while talking. No ear soreness even after extended wear! Unless I pull it out, the Buds Clip won’t come out. You may occasionally need to adjust the alignment, but other than that, there’s nothing to worry about. The IPX5 water resistance rating means sweat and light rain are not an issue either.
Controls are simple – pinch gestures on the stem for play/pause, track skip, and volume. Call quality is clear in quiet environments thanks to the dual-mic setup with ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation), though wind noise is noticeable outdoors.
The glossy finish on the earbuds is prone to smudges and oil buildup, but the matte finish on the case resists any of those. The case has a USB-C port for charging the battery, and the ring-like LED indicator is pretty to look at. Kudos to Realme for offering a dedicated pairing button on the case.
Sound quality
Open-ear designs usually sacrifice bass in exchange for situational awareness, but Realme has done a commendable job here. The 12.4 mm dynamic driver produces decent low-end thump for pop, EDM, and Bollywood tracks. You won’t get an audio profile as nice as Buds Air 8 or Buds T200, but the soundstage is good enough to make your playlists fun. The audio is bassy with strong mids and clear vocals, which is a combo that works for my ears. I never felt the need to swap to my trusty Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (unless I needed noise cancellation).
With the Realme Link app, you get 10-band EQ + preset modes (Bass Boost, Balanced, Bright) to tune it to your preference.
Since this is an open-ear design, the modern perk of noise cancellation is absent(you buy this for staying connected to the world). Even in crowded outdoors with lots of ambient noise, the earbuds can distinguish their audio feed from the rest of the world around you.
Battery life
Battery life isn’t something you’d be concerned about with these buds. Realme claims 36 hours of total stamina, which includes up to 7 hours of usage per charge, and the 2 recharges from the case. In my usage with 40-50% volume levels for my music and calls, I could get through the day without needing a top-up (my usage includes 3-4 hours of continuous usage before taking a break).
Realme Buds Clip: Verdict
Open-ear earbuds are for a specific category of users, and hence, the Realme Buds Clip will appeal only to those who value ‘openness’ in their music and call sessions – people who want to stay connected to the world around. At Rs 5,999, the Realme Buds Clip justifies itself with a supremely comfortable fit, good audio performance, great battery life and its ease-of-use. For those seeking something new in their next pair of earbuds, these Buds Clip are worth trying out.
