I Tried These Open Earbuds and I Regret It

The Happy Plugs Clip are Open Earbuds that left me quite surprised—but not in the way I expected. These clip-on earbuds don’t excel in any area. They’re decent in a few things, but not particularly good at anything.

Let’s start with the design, because there’s one odd thing that caught my attention. When you open the charging case, you’ll find the earbuds upside down! Yes, the ‘L’ and ‘R’ labels are reversed, meaning you’ll have to adjust them each time you take them out or put them back. Not a great first impression.

The earbuds feel a bit cheap, which makes sense considering their $49 / £50 price. They’re larger than other clip-style open earbuds I’ve tested, but surprisingly lightweight at 5g each, even lighter than some top-tier open-ear headphones. They are comfortable, though the fit is a little loose, which can make it hard to find the perfect position. They also use touch controls, but with a single tap, they often pause music or adjust volume by mistake. When they do work, you can control music, calls, power, and even activate your voice assistant.

One more thing about the design: while Happy Plugs claims the Clip is “sweat-resistant,” they don’t specify the waterproof rating. I would guess it’s around IPX4, which is disappointing compared to more water-resistant options like the Huawei FreeArc, which boasts an IP57 rating.

Now, let’s talk about audio performance, which is the biggest letdown. The sound is thin, unbalanced, and sometimes harsh. For example, listening to “Una canzone d’amore per te” by Pino D’Angio, the percussion sounded tinny, and the saxophone wasn’t well separated from the other instruments. On “How Much I Feel” by Ambrosia, the sound was muffled, and the treble frequencies were unpleasant. Overall, I found myself wanting to return to my regular LG Tone Free T90S earbuds.

Bass response is also lacking. Even considering the open design, which usually limits bass, tracks like “Black Eye” by Allie X lacked depth and impact. The only time the sound was tolerable was at lower volumes, but who wants to listen to open-ear headphones that quietly?

As for features, the Happy Plugs Clip don’t offer much. There’s no companion app, so no customizable EQ settings or noise cancellation. You do get some useful features, like ambient sound detection, which helped me hear background noises, like a child in a supermarket. However, I didn’t particularly enjoy that experience.

The earbuds also have two built-in microphones for calls, but the sound quality was poor. My voice sounded muffled, and there was a lot of sibilance when I recorded a voice note.

Battery life is another weak point. The box claims 20 hours, but that’s counting the case. Each charge only gives you about 4.5 hours of use, which is disappointing. For comparison, the Honor Earbuds Open offered 6 hours, which felt limited, so these fall short.

Finally, like most open-ear headphones, the Happy Plugs Clip tend to leak sound, especially at higher volumes, which could be awkward if you’re around others.

Overall, the Happy Plugs Clip don’t stand out in the crowded open-ear headphone market. They struggle with sound quality, features, design, and battery life. While they are budget-friendly at $49 / £50, it might be worth spending a bit more. For instance, the Huawei FreeArc offers better audio, waterproofing, and features for just under £100. Alternatively, the Sony WF-C510 offers great value if you’re looking for cheaper options with decent sound.

Happy Plugs Clip Open Earbuds Review: Price and Availability

The Happy Plugs Clip launched in January 2025, along with other products like the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. They are priced at $49 / £50 (around AU$80), making them affordable for budget tech. However, the quality doesn’t quite match the price. The Happy Plugs Clip is available in Black or White, with no difference in price based on the color choice.

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Conclusion: Should You Buy the Happy Plugs Clip?

The Happy Plugs Clip open earbuds are affordable, but they leave a lot to be desired. Their design is odd, the build feels cheap, and the sound quality is weak. While they are lightweight and comfortable for casual use, the loose fit, confusing touch controls, poor battery life, and lack of extra features make them hard to recommend.

If you are looking for budget-friendly open earbuds and don’t mind average performance, the Happy Plugs Clip might work. However, if you care about better sound, stronger waterproofing, and longer battery life, it’s worth spending a little more on better options like the Huawei FreeArc or Sony WF-C510.