We have seen different types of open-ear earbuds, and the clip-on design has been gaining popularity lately. Riding on this wave, Soundpeats has two types of clip-on style of earbuds – PearlClip Pro, and POP Clip. The Pearl Clip Pro is the more expensive pair at USD$39.99, while the POP Clip goes for USD$23.99.
Build quality and battery life
Both the Soundpeats PearlClip Pro, and POP Clip earbuds are pretty well built with its combination of plastic and rubber. Both earbuds are IPX5 waterproof rated so they are suited for exercise use. The PearlClip Pro does look more premium with its tapered design from the speaker drivers, and also has more user of rubber. POP Clip on the other hand has a round speaker driver with an oval support piece on the opposite end. It would have been better if the support unit is made of rubber instead of plastic for better grip against the back of my ear.
As for the charging case, Soundpeats PearlClip Pro has a slightly glossy finish and is decently slim and pocketable, while the POP Clip has a matte finish and is also rather thick and bulky. Both charges via USB-C and has a small LED charging indicator. The Soundpeats PearlClip Pro is expected to last up to 6 hours on a single charge with 18 hours more with the charging case, while the POP Clip has an 8 hours playtime on a single charge with 22 hours more with the charging case. Both earbuds feature quick charging – PearlClip Pro: 10-min charge for 2 hours playtime, and POP Clip: 15-min charge for 3 hours playtime.
When it comes to controls, the cheaper Soundpeats POP Clip wins it for me as it uses physical buttons which are located at under side of the supporting piece. The physical buttons worked great when adjusting volume and playback during my outdoor runs. PearlClip Pro however, uses touch controls, and they are quite a hit-and-miss for me. Single taps are ok, but performing long presses and double taps can get a little tricky at time. I’d usually disable the touch controls when I use the PearlClip Pro for outdoor runs to prevent accidental touches.
Fit and comfort
Both the PearlClip Pro and POP Clip are comfortable to wear. The PearlClip Pro offers a slightly more locked in fit, as the larger speaker unit does get more contact in the ears and the rubber of the support piece seems to hold on ‘tighter’. POP Clip also rest nicely in my ears, and the lack of rubber on the support piece is compensated with a larger surface area. The rubber band on the POP Clip is also softer and more flexible so you can get more adjustments in your fit.
The fit you get with both earbuds will determine the type of sound quality. The close the speaker drivers are to your ear canal, the deeper the bass. Clip-on earbuds are probably not the most best open-ear earbuds to choose for a run as both the PearlClip Pro and POP Clip don’t really hold their initial position when I was wearing them for outdoor runs. After a while, the support piece will tend to fall to my ear lobe area but is still able to stay in my ears. The PearlClip Pro does a little better at staying still in my ears due to the larger speaker unit and a rubberised support piece.
Sound quality
Soundpeats PearlClip Pro delivers a surprisingly full-bodied sound for an open-ear design, with punchy mid-bass and a touch of sub-bass presence that gives low-end notes some welcome weight. The midrange is clean, airy, and well-articulated, offering good vocal presence and detail without sounding harsh or aggressive. Treble adds a crisp, controlled sparkle that lifts the overall mix, avoiding the sharp peaks common in budget tuning. While the soundstage isn’t ultra-wide, it has good depth and intimacy, creating an immersive experience. Imaging and instrument separation are also pretty good, further aided by the open presentation, making the PearlClip Pro a musically engaging pair of clip-on earbuds.
Soundpeats POP Clip has a cleaner and balanced sound, with tight, snappy bass and a leaner tuning that prioritizes clarity and agility over warmth. Bass is focused in the mid-bass region, providing solid punch without overhang, while the sub-bass is modest but present only if you have right fit. The midrange is crisp and clear, offering good separation and surprisingly quite high resolution at this price point. Treble has airiness and sparkle without harshness.
Between the two, the PearlClip Pro leans toward a fuller, more immersive listening experience with richer bass, deeper stage presence, and slightly more musical warmth. The POP Clip, on the other hand, offers tighter bass and slightly more detailed mids and highs but at the cost of some low-end body and depth.
App Support
Both the PearlClip Pro and POP Clip has a supporting app that allows you to do more customisations. The Peats Audio app is straightforward to use but somehow it keeps requiring you to sign in if you kill the app and re-open it.
Other than that, you have the expected customisations such as customising your own controls, EQ, and toggling certain audio modes. You can also use the app to update the firmware of the earbuds.
Conclusion
Both the Soundpeats PearlClip Pro and POP Clip earbuds are uniquely different in its operational and audio tuning. Bass presence which is typically harder to come by for open-ear earbuds is more present in the Soundpeats PearlClip Pro, which also results in a higher price tag. For exercise use, I prefer the POP Clip due to the physical controls. I can see why clip-on earbuds are gaining popularity as they are very light on the ears and don’t interfere with caps and sunglasses.