The OnePlus Buds Clip are new open-ear earbuds built around one simple convenience. They join Sony’s LinkBuds Clip in the growing ear-cuff category, but with a twist. Either bud can go on either ear.
Sensors detect how you are wearing the earbuds and send the audio channels to the right side. You do not have to check a label before you put them on. The feature also works when you use only one bud.
OnePlus has shared the hardware details, but you cannot make a proper buying decision yet. The company has not announced global pricing or a wider retail schedule.
How does OnePlus Buds Clip Ear Detection Work?
The recognition system is not completely hands-off. For the most accurate result, OnePlus recommends tilting your head down slightly after you put the earbuds on.
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Each earbud weighs 5.2 grams and wraps around your ear with a flexible nickel-titanium arc. OnePlus shaped it using measurements from more than 3,500 ears. How comfortable it feels will still depend on the shape of your own ear.
What powers the OnePlus Buds Clip open-ear sound
The audio hardware is more ambitious than the light design suggests. Like the OnePlus Buds 4, each earbud has a woofer and a tweeter, and a separate DAC powers each driver. The Buds Clip uses 11mm and 9mm drivers, and Dynaudio handles the tuning. If you have a compatible Android device, you can use LHDC 5.0 for higher-resolution playback.
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Sound leakage is an obvious worry with open-ear earbuds. OnePlus tackles it with reverse sound waves from the rear vent, which cut down how much audio escapes. For calls, six microphones and a dedicated 6nm chip filter out surrounding noise and isolate your voice.
OnePlus Buds Clip Price and Availability
OnePlus rates the Buds Clip for 9.5 hours of playback per charge on AAC, or 40 hours when you count the charging case. Switch to LHDC, and those numbers drop to eight hours and 36 hours. The earbuds carry an IP55 rating. The case does not.
The earbuds also support Bluetooth 6.1 and can connect to two devices at once. A OnePlus-authorized retailer in Hong Kong lists the Buds Clip at HK$1,199, or about $153. That price is regional and may not match what you pay elsewhere. OnePlus has not confirmed global pricing or a wider sales schedule, so treat $153 as an early reference and not a global retail price.
