I’ve been curious about open-ear clip-on earbuds for a while, with the SOUNDPEATS UU2 earbuds finally answering some long-time questions. I love the look of open-ear clip-on earbuds, something that feels genuinely new in a space where we pretty much know what to expect. My major question has always been just how good the sound quality can be when you don’t have a seal in your ear. The SOUNDPEATS UU2 (POP Clip2) genuinely sound great, but are weighed down by a number of other issues.
The SOUNDPEATS UU2 earbuds are an entry-level pair of earbuds, coming in at $49.99 USD. That price point is equally felt and impressively circumvented in a number of ways. The charging case feels solid and premium, with a matte finish that’s surprisingly fingerprint-resistant. Inside sit the earbuds, popping out easily.
The earbuds themselves feel great, with a round speaker looped together with the dual-magnet dynamic driver. I have some bigger ears, but they slide on easily, with the speaker sitting comfortably in my ear and the driver resting on the back of my ear. Each earbud is only about 5 grams, light enough that they never felt heavy on my ear despite using them for hours at a time, with a skin-friendly finish that never felt irritating and stayed in easily.
I was immediately surprised by how full the sound is from each bud. I was expecting a more airy sound that felt farther away, but not so, with the sound being loud and clear. The bass comes through heavy, and highs don’t sound tinny or thin. Whether it’s bumping Prof’s latest bass-slapping funky hip hop, or the punchy guitars and gang vocals of No Pressure, the SOUNDPEATS UU2 earbuds pack a solid, full sound, impressive at their price point.
Battery life is also solid, with SOUNDPEATS claiming 10 hours per charge and up to 42 hours total. I’ve found that to be accurate, easy to grab and go for both quick and lengthy sessions. Quick charge gets them back up to a listenable charge quickly, easy to spend the day out with them and keep a charge. Charging for about 10 minutes nets two hours of listening, an easy exchange.
While the sound quality and battery life are good, the SOUNDPEATS UU2 aren’t without issues. The sound bleed is quite significant, which was one of my fears with open-ear clip-ons. My partner could easily hear what I was listening to, not even on full volume and at a few meters away. They also have some connection issues, with both earbuds randomly crackling and briefly skipping audio.
“The SOUNDPEATS UU2 (POP Clip2) genuinely sound great, but are weighed down by a number of other issues.”
On top of that, they also sometimes just stay connected and keep playing audio when in the case. I noticed multiple times that some YouTube videos kept playing for minutes before I realized, with the sound clearly coming through the case. Other times, they just failed to connect to my phone after taking them out, prompting multiple connection attempts before they connected.
While the sound itself is solid, it starts to drop in quality in louder spaces or with YouTube videos largely focused on talking. Using them out to the local supermarket made it harder to hear the music, making me push the volume to the max, where the sound does get worse. It crackles and sounds blown out depending on the song, and even worse for videos. It can be genuinely hard to hear talking on videos, making some podcasts and YouTube videos need you to have both buds on and full volume, which again, drops quality.
The buds also have a button on the back for quick controls. They work fine, but the button itself feels a touch too small and not as premium as the rest of the bud. It can be frustrating and difficult to press due to the small size, and it feels much more plastic than the rest of the bud.
Overall, the SOUNDPEATS UU2 (POP Clip2) are an okay pair of open-ear clip-on earbuds for those looking to see if the form factor is for them. The price point makes a lot of the negatives more understandable, and they are fine to use, but those issues do start to pile up with repeated use. They work well as a backup pair of buds and a gateway to higher price points. The SOUNDPEATS UU2 are solid, even if there are drawbacks.
- Comfortable and Secure Fit: The SOUNDPEATS UU2 wireless open ear clip-on earbuds are meticulously crafted from high-resilience TPU and premium memory steel wire (nickel-titanium alloy), with each earbud weighing just 4.73g. They ensure a lightweight, comfortable, and secure fit that contours to the ear without exerting pressure on the ear canal, making them ideal for those who wear glasses.
- Deep Bass & 12mm Drivers, 2-Mic Calls: The UU2 features custom 12mm drivers that deliver deep 210Hz bass and clear, crisp highs. Ideal for workouts, walking, running, cycling, and daily commuting, allowing you to enjoy clear music while remaining aware of your surroundings. Up to 2 microphones with AI noise reduction algorithm captures your voice and filters out distractions for clear, seamless calls, meetings, and chats.
