The SoundPEATS Pop Clip earbuds are a budget-friendly clip-on option designed for everyday wear. The on-ear design aims to provide comfort and immersive sound without forcing the earbud into the ear canal. Featuring 10.8 mm dual-magnet drivers and a PU+LCP composite diaphragm, eight hours of continuous play and a weight of just 4.73 grams per earbud, the SoundPEATS Pop Clip earbuds offer a unique take on alternative earbud design. Is it enough to pull you away from your favourite in-ear buds? Grab a coffee and let’s find out.
The Pop Clip features a clip-on design that differs from other on-ear earbuds I’ve reviewed. In essence, the Pop Clip is made up of two small components: a spherical speaker and a small rectangular prism that houses the battery and wireless tech, connected by a thin plastic ring. Unlike many other on-ear designs I’ve tested, the Pop Clip doesn’t rest over the top of the ear but instead clips to the lower part of the earlobe, using the same basic mechanics as a clip-on earring.
In practice, it’s a simple and functional design that proves to be fairly comfortable, even for all-day use. The speaker rests over the ear canal without needing to be inserted, allowing for a more breathable, on-ear experience. While the speaker and backplate essentially press toward each other to secure the Pop Clip in place on the earlobe, SoundPEATS has done a solid job of creating a secure on-ear system that doesn’t cause discomfort.
“The SoundPEATS Pop Clip earbuds offer a clever clip-on design that delivers surprising comfort and stability for all-day use.”
On that note, when attached to the earlobe, the Pop Clips stay in place impressively well. During my two weeks of testing—using them throughout my workday and while out and about—I never noted a moment where they felt like they would detach or fall out. Quite the opposite: the Pop Clip handled even more vigorous exercise and running with ease.
While the design might seem simple, its effectiveness can’t be denied. Each of the backplates features a single button that can be programmed to manage various controls through the PeatsAudio app (more on that later). For active runners or cyclists, the Pop Clip is an ideal solution, not just because of how securely it sits, but also thanks to its open-air design.
SoundPEATS boasts a new bi-directional wind noise cancellation system integrated into the Pop Clip’s design, aimed at reducing wind noise while on the move. The system performs well in testing, limiting wind interference while still allowing the user to remain aware of their surroundings. The result is an earbud that delivers a clear audio experience without sacrificing situational awareness during walks or runs.
Along with the two earbuds, the Pop Clip also includes a charging case that provides an additional 22 hours of battery life. One interesting feature is that the Pop Clip does not have dedicated left and right channels. Instead, the earbuds adopt a stereo channel configuration when placed in the case, which can change each time they are returned. This is an innovative design choice made possible by the Pop Clip’s uniform construction. It also eliminates the need to constantly look for an indicator showing which earbud goes in which ear.
Battery life is as advertised, assuming the Pop Clips are set to the standard audio profile. They also support quick charging, offering up to three hours of listening after just 15 minutes. With eight hours of battery life per charge, I never had to rely on this feature to get through a standard workday. As designed, the Pop Clip provides an all-day listening experience.
Managing the Pop Clips is done through the PeatsAudio app, available for Android and iOS. It’s a straightforward and user-friendly application that provides access to the Pop Clip’s full feature set. Everything from EQ adjustments to button programming is controlled here. Connecting the Pop Clip is equally simple, requiring just a quick pairing via Bluetooth.
As for the listening experience, this is where the Pop Clips fall a bit short. SoundPEATS has included 10.8 mm dual-magnet drivers and PU+LCP composite diaphragms in the Pop Clips, which—on paper—are designed to deliver a more pronounced low end and crisper high end.
There are a couple of advantages to this combination. First, the materials are incredibly lightweight, reflected in the aforementioned 4.73 grams per earbud. Second, the stronger magnets should provide a more powerful bass response, while the stiffer diaphragms aim to produce a cleaner high end.
In testing, however, the execution just doesn’t quite provide the clean, clear audio profile I would have liked to hear. The bass, while present, lacks the impact I had hoped for.
Likewise, the mids and highs feel a bit muddied, resulting in a listening experience that is decent but not exceptional. Instruments often lack definition in the mix, blending together too much. In frequency testing, there was noticeable noise in the low-end ranges, further reinforcing the lack of clarity and punch in the bottom end.
“…with an incredibly comfortable, lightweight and secure design, they’re a solid option for anyone looking for a budget-friendly solution for running or cycling.”
To be clear, the Pop Clips sound fine for everyday, casual listening. They offer a reasonable experience, but they lack any real punch or dynamic drive, resulting in what I would describe as an average audio profile. While there are several preset EQ options, only the dynamic EQ setting offered a meaningful improvement.
To the best of my knowledge, this preset dynamically adapts the audio in real-time and essentially live-mixes based on the type of sound, providing a more tailored listening experience. In practice, it delivers slight changes to the overall audio. As for the other EQ modes, during testing, while there were subtle adjustments to the audio profile, the result was mostly an increase in volume, rather than a more precise or crisper sound.
With all that said, for a $40 pair of on-ear earbuds, the Pop Clips provide a decent listening experience. They simply lack the audio profile distinction needed to stand out in the crowded sub-$50 headphone market. However, with an incredibly comfortable, lightweight and secure design, they’re a solid option for anyone looking for a budget-friendly solution for running or cycling.
