If you’d told me a year ago that one of my favorite everyday earbuds would clip to the outside of my ears instead of going in them, I’d have laughed. And yet, here I am, reaching for the Soundpeats Pop Clip more than I ever expected. It’s not just another budget-friendly release from Soundpeats — it’s one of those products that solves a problem I didn’t know I had. Lightweight, discreet, and cleverly designed, the Pop Clip takes air-conduction tech and wraps it in a genuinely useful form factor.
Table of Contents
I’ve tried quite a few of Soundpeats’ open-ear sets over the years, and I’ve seen them improve bit by bit — from the RunFree Lite to the GoFree2 to the PearlClip Pro. With every new release, the comfort gets better, the sound more refined, and the little quality-of-life details keep adding up. The Pop Clip continues that trend, while staying comfortably under the $40 mark. That’s pretty wild when you think about it.
Same direction, better execution
Let’s be honest — most people don’t think about audio directionality. You either put something in your ear or over it, and it plays music. But Soundpeats has been chasing this idea of non-intrusive listening for a while now, and they’re finally getting it right.
Like the PearlClip Pro, the Pop Clip uses air-conduction. It doesn’t block your ear canal — instead, it rests just outside, sending focused sound straight toward your ear. What’s cool is that it actually works. The sound stays clear and loud for you, while people nearby barely notice it. That’s huge if you’re walking outside, biking, or even just sitting at your desk and want to stay aware of your surroundings.
And the Pop Clip? It makes the tech feel more natural than ever. You just clip them on and go.
What’s in the box?
Don’t expect a mountain of accessories here — and honestly, that’s just fine. You get a compact white box with the Pop Clip pictured on the front. Inside, you’ll find the charging case, the earbuds tucked neatly inside, a short USB-C cable, and a user manual. That’s it. No extra tips or fuss — and really, none are needed.
Build quality and design: light but not flimsy
The Pop Clip is made from hard plastic, but not the kind that feels cheap or fragile. It’s coated in a soft-touch finish that feels smooth and skin-friendly. You’ve got two earpieces joined by a flexible rubber band that wraps behind your ears. It looks simple, but that rubber section is actually made from a Ni-TI memory alloy covered in TPU — so it holds its shape without ever feeling stiff.
The speaker itself is a little ball with a series of precision-drilled holes to send sound in just one direction. And behind each ear, there’s a block housing the controls. Yes, physical buttons — not touch sensors. Thank you, Soundpeats. Touch controls always mess up for me during workouts. A good button feels more intentional, and this one just works.
Style-wise, it’s clean and understated. My pair’s black, and it looks great. It doesn’t scream “tech gadget” — more like a piece of minimalist gear.
Fit and comfort: practically weightless
Each side weighs just 4.3 grams. That’s not marketing fluff — you can barely feel them. And because they don’t go inside your ear, there’s zero pressure. No aching after long use. No itchiness. Nothing blocking outside noise. They clip on gently, and once they’re in place, they stay there. Whether I’m walking around, working, or even jogging, they don’t budge.
The only catch? Fit matters — a lot. If the speaker isn’t properly aligned with your ear canal, the sound can feel thin or underwhelming. But once you find the right spot, it’s a night-and-day difference. You get clarity, body, and presence.
Internals that make sense
Under the hood, the Pop Clip uses a 10.8mm PU+LCP dynamic driver — the same one they used in the pricier PearlClip Pro. That’s a good thing. The driver can handle volume without distorting, and it’s fast enough to deliver punchy bass without getting muddy.
The chipset is the BT8932D SOC, which handles everything from connection stability to audio processing and EQ. It might not support high-res codecs like LDAC or aptX, but it does a solid job with AAC. And to be honest, with this kind of open-ear design, those “hi-res” codecs don’t make a huge difference anyway.
Audio codecs: no fancy names, just solid performance
Sure, it’s just SBC and AAC. No LDAC. No aptX Adaptive. But here’s the thing — AAC sounds great on this set. I’ve tested plenty of wireless earbuds with better codec support that didn’t sound nearly as clear or lively. The Pop Clip might not tick audiophile boxes on paper, but in real-world use, it delivers.
Besides, for open-ear audio like this, codec differences are way less noticeable than with sealed in-ear monitors. The directional speaker and the openness of the design limit how much nuance you can extract anyway. What matters more is tuning, driver quality, and fit — and Soundpeats nailed those.
Controls and functionality: a refreshingly simple layout
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — physical buttons are underrated. The Pop Clip has one on each earpiece, tucked away neatly behind the ear. They’re easy to find, easy to press, and most importantly, they work every time.
Here’s the control breakdown:
- 1 tap (right) – Volume up
- 1 tap (left) – Volume down
- 2 taps (either side) – Play/pause
- 3 taps (either side) – Voice assistant
- Long press (left) – Previous track
- Long press (right) – Next track
Simple, reliable, and intuitive. What’s even better is that you can re-map all of these in the Soundpeats app. If you don’t like the default setup, just change it. That level of flexibility at this price point is rare.
Charging case: nothing fancy, but very smart
At first glance, the case looks like a standard plastic charging box. Medium-sized, matte finish, solid hinge — pretty much what you’d expect. But here’s where it gets clever.
The Pop Clip supports Auto Channel Adaptation, which means you don’t have to worry about putting the left bud in the left slot and the right in the right. Just drop either bud in either side — the case figures it out. Honestly, this is such a small touch, but it makes everyday use just a bit smoother.
It also supports fast charging. A quick 15-minute charge gives you around 3 hours of playtime. That’s a lifesaver if you’re heading out and realize you forgot to charge.
Total battery life? Around 8 hours per charge, with an extra 30 hours from the case. More than enough to get through a couple of days without reaching for the charger.
App features: better than you’d expect
The PeatsAudio App is where things get even more interesting. It’s clean, fast, and actually useful — which is more than I can say for a lot of companion apps out there.
From the main screen, you can:
- Toggle Dynamic EQ
- Activate Movie Mode or Game Mode
- Check battery levels for both buds and the case
- Change control mapping
- Update firmware
- Run Adaptive EQ tests based on your hearing
- Choose from a bunch of EQ presets
- Build and save your own EQ profiles
And yes, custom EQ profiles are stored on the buds themselves. That means your settings stay put even if you switch devices or apps. That’s huge for people who like to dial things in once and forget about it.
Soundpeats’ special modes: do they actually help?
Let’s go through them quickly.
Game Mode
Cuts latency, tightens response time. Works great for casual games like Angry Birds or Mario Kart. With heavier stuff like Call of Duty, there’s still a tiny lag — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
Movie Mode
Adds width and space to the audio. It’s subtle, but it does make things feel more cinematic. Dialogue stays centered while effects expand around you. It’s not Dolby Atmos, but it’s a nice trick that genuinely improves the experience.
Dynamic EQ
This is the one I leave on 100% of the time. It lifts everything — deeper bass, cleaner vocals, more sparkle in the treble. It doesn’t feel artificial either. It just makes the Pop Clip sound more alive.
The sound: open, clear, and surprisingly full
Now, let’s talk tuning. The Pop Clip isn’t trying to compete with high-end IEMs. It’s an open-ear, air-conduction design. That means sound gets directed toward your ear — not sealed inside it. So you’re never going to get brain-rattling sub-bass. But what you do get is clarity, balance, and a wide, natural stage.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Bass
Not boomy, but tight. The mid-bass punch is there, especially if you’ve got a good fit. Sub-bass? A little less, but enough to feel the beat. If the speaker is aligned just right, the bass feels surprisingly full for an open-ear design.
Mids
This is where the Pop Clip shines. Vocals are clear and front-facing, never lost in the mix. Instruments sound natural, not plasticky or harsh. Male vocals have body, female vocals have sparkle. There’s enough energy here to make everything feel alive without crossing into shouty territory.
Treble
Tastefully elevated. There’s enough snap and shimmer to give the sound a bit of sparkle, but it never gets sibilant. High hats, strings, and ambient effects come through clearly. You won’t get the extreme air of some premium sets, but again — this is a $39 earbud. And it sounds way better than it should.
Soundstage and imaging
Because it’s open-ear, the soundstage feels wide and spacious. You don’t get much depth, but the left-to-right spread is excellent. Imaging is tight too — vocals are centered, instruments have their own space, and it never turns into a mushy mess, even on busy tracks.
Detail retrieval
Surprisingly good. You’ll hear backing vocals, reverb trails, and instrument texture that most budget earbuds just blur over. Again, it all comes back to the tuning — Soundpeats kept things clean and uncluttered, and it really pays off.
Call quality: better than average
Let’s not sugarcoat it — wireless earbuds rarely sound great on calls. But the Pop Clip does a decent job. My voice came through clear and full, and background noise was kept in check. It’s not podcast-level quality, but for Zoom calls and quick check-ins, it’s more than good enough.
Battery life: rock solid
Like I mentioned earlier, you get up to 8 hours per charge and 30 total hours with the case. In real use, I got around 7.5 hours with Dynamic EQ and Movie Mode turned on — and I wasn’t babying the volume either. Fast charging is just the cherry on top.
Transparency and awareness: its biggest strength
This is what the Pop Clip was born to do — give you great audio without cutting you off from the world around you. You can hear traffic, conversations, and environmental noise while still enjoying your music. It’s ideal for runners, commuters, or anyone who hates the sealed-in feel of typical earbuds.
I even use them while driving — just for podcasts and background music — because I can still hear everything around me.
Final verdict: small price, smart design
At $39, the Soundpeats Pop Clip isn’t just good — it’s a smart buy. It nails its purpose: delivering clear, dynamic sound in a package that’s comfortable, open, and affordable.
No, it won’t replace your favorite audiophile IEMs. But it was never meant to. This is a practical tool for real-world use. Whether you’re running, walking the dog, working from home, or just want to hear what’s happening around you while you listen, the Pop Clip does the job — and does it well. For the latest pricing and availability, please check their official Amazon page.