OnePlus’ first clip-style earbuds arrive with dual drivers and 40-hour battery life!

OnePlus has introduced its first clip-style open-ear wireless earbuds, the OnePlus Buds Clip. The new earbuds feature a dual-driver setup tuned with Dynaudio, an adaptive design for everyday comfort, and up to 40 hours of battery life with the charging case. They also bring Bluetooth 6.1, AI-powered call noise reduction, and support for connecting to two devices at once. In this article, I will discuss these clip-style buds in detail, including the expected  OnePlus Buds Clip price in Nepal, specifications, and availability.

OnePlus Buds Clip Overview

Design and Comfort

Starting off with the design, the OnePlus Buds Clip feature an open-ear design that clips around your ears instead of going inside your ear canals. So, if you don't like the feeling of traditional in-ear earbuds, this design could be a good alternative. It also lets you stay aware of your surroundings while listening to music.

The earbuds use a nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) C-bridge that flexes to fit different ear shapes. Each earbud weighs just 5.2 grams, so they should feel lightweight during longer wear. OnePlus has also received a TUV Rheinland Comfortable Fit certification for the design. For color options, you also get the option to choose between “Pearl White”, “Pebble Gray”, and “Twilight Rose”.

Another handy thing is that you don't have to worry about putting the left earbud in your right ear or vice versa. The Buds Clip can automatically detect which earbud is on which side and adjust the stereo channels accordingly. You can even use just one earbud if that's more convenient.

Likewise, the earbuds come with an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. This means they should handle everyday exposure to dust and light water splashes, making them suitable for workouts or outdoor use. However, the charging case doesn't have the same protection, so you'll need to be a bit careful with it. 

Audio and Call Quality

Coming to the audio, the OnePlus Buds Clip feature a dual-driver setup consisting of an 11mm woofer and a 9mm tweeter. Both drivers have their own DACs and are tuned in collaboration with Dynaudio, a Danish audio brand. In simple terms, this setup is designed to handle different parts of the sound separately, helping deliver deeper bass and clearer highs.

The earbuds also support LHDC 5.0, along with AAC and SBC codecs. If you have a compatible Android phone, you can use LHDC 5.0 for higher-resolution wireless audio. However, this feature is not supported on iPhones.

Since the Buds Clip have an open-ear design, sound leakage is something to consider. After all, the earbuds don't seal your ear canals like traditional in-ear models. To address this, OnePlus has included its Dipole Sound-Field technology, which uses reverse sound waves to reduce audio leaking into your surroundings. However, how well it works in real-life use remains to be seen.

For calls, the earbuds come with six microphones and a dedicated 6nm AI audio chip. They also use AI Bone Call technology to pick up your voice through vibrations and help filter out background noise. This should make your voice clearer when you're talking in busy places, although we'll have to wait for real-world testing to see how well it performs.

Connectivity and App Compatibility

On the connectivity front, the OnePlus Buds Clip support Bluetooth 6.1 and can connect to two devices at the same time. So, you can pair them with your phone and laptop and switch between them without having to disconnect and pair them again. They also support Google Fast Pair and Windows Swift Pair, making the initial pairing process easier on compatible devices. For controls, you get touch gestures to adjust the volume and access other functions.

Moving on to app compatibility, the Buds Clip works with Bluetooth-enabled Android and iOS devices. You can use the HeyMelody app on Android 8.0 or later and iOS 13.2 or later to configure the earbuds and access supported settings. OnePlus phone users running Android 12 or later can also manage features like dual-device connection through the phone's earbud settings. However, LHDC 5.0 Hi-Res Audio is not supported on iOS, while the AI Translate feature is limited to select OnePlus phones running OxygenOS 15.0.1 or later.

• Also Read:
• CMF Clip Pro is here in Nepal with a clip-on design and up to 32.5 hours of battery life!
• Vivo Buds Clip arrives with a clip-on design and 42-hour battery life!
• Huawei FreeClip 2 arrives in Nepal with an upgraded C-bridge design and IP57 rating

Battery and Others

Moving on to the battery, OnePlus claims up to 40 hours of total playback with the charging case when using the AAC codec. The earbuds themselves can last up to 9.5 hours on a single charge in AAC mode.

If you use the LHDC codec for higher-resolution audio, the claimed battery life drops to up to 8 hours on the earbuds and 36 hours with the charging case. These figures are based on OnePlus' testing at 50% volume, so actual battery life may vary depending on volume, connectivity, and the features you use.

OnePlus Buds Clip Specifications:

• Design: Open-ear clip-on design with adaptive nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) C-bridge, 5.2g per earbud, IP55 rating (buds)
• Drivers: 11mm woofer + 9mm tweeter with dual DACs, co-created with Dynaudio
• Active Noise Cancellation: No
• Call Quality: 6-mic system with AI Bone Call technology and a dedicated 6nm AI audio chip
• Audio Codecs: LHDC 5.0, AAC, SBC
• Audio Features: Sound Master EQ, Dipole Sound-Field technology for reduced sound leakage
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 6.1, dual-device connection, Google Fast Pair, Windows Swift Pair
• Companion App: HeyMelody (Android 8.0+ and iOS 13.2+); OnePlus earbud settings on supported phones
• Battery Life: Up to 9.5 hours (earbuds) / 40 hours (with case) in AAC mode; up to 8 hours / 36 hours in LHDC mode
• Fast Charging: Not specified
• Controls: Touch controls with swipe-to-adjust volume and tap gestures for other functions
• Smart Features: AI Translate on select OnePlus phones, automatic left-right ear detection, Drop Monitor
• Color Options: Pearl White, Pebble Gray, Twilight Rose

OnePlus Buds Clip Price in Nepal and Availability

The OnePlus Buds Clip has launched in select global markets and is priced at HKD 1,199 in Hong Kong. If this launches here, we expect the OnePlus Buds Clip price in Nepal to be NPR 32,999.