The Honor Earbuds Clip-On Pro dive into the open-ear audio wave just as more brands experiment outside the ear canal. Priced at 599 yuan ($88), these earbuds promise comfort and features, but the open-ear design means compromises that some will find hard to ignore.
- Open-ear design with aerospace-grade nickel-titanium memory wire frame for fit and stability.
- 10.8mm dual-magnetic titanium-coated drivers support LHDC 5.0 codec and Hi-Res Wireless Audio certification.
- Triple-mic setup combining air conduction and bone conduction with AI noise reduction claims.
- Up to 11 hours playback per charge, 47 hours with charging case; USB-C fast charging.
Secure Fit Meets Open-Ear Trade-offs
On paper, the C-shaped frame made from aerospace-grade nickel-titanium memory wire sounds like a smart approach to keeping earbuds stable without pinching your ear. The three-point support aims to spread weight evenly—ideal for workouts and long wear. The IP55 rating signals reasonable dust and water resistance, but don’t expect to swim with these.
Still, open-ear means these buds sit outside the ear canal, which inherently leads to sound leakage. Honor tries to counter this with a reverse acoustic system, but if you’re in a noisy environment or want privacy, these won’t cut it. Expect others nearby to hear your music at moderate volumes.
Decent Audio Specs on Paper, But Does It Deliver?
Inside, the 10.8mm dual-magnetic titanium-coated drivers are paired with LHDC 5.0 codec support and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification. These specs suggest solid audio quality for wireless earbuds in this price range. But open-ear designs struggle to produce the bass impact and noise isolation that in-ear buds offer, so audiophiles might look elsewhere.
According to early reports, the sound signature leans toward clear mids and highs, but the open design caps overall immersion. Don’t expect the punchy bass you get from sealed earbuds.
Triple Mics and AI Noise Reduction: Marketing or Must-Have?
Honor throws in a triple-microphone array—two air conduction mics plus a bone conduction VPU—backed by AI noise reduction that claims to filter wind noise up to 9 m/s. This sounds good on paper, especially for outdoor use. But real-world performance often falls short of claims. Bone conduction mics reduce wind noise better than standard solutions, but don’t expect crystal-clear calls in all conditions.
The YOYO voice assistant integration adds some flair with dual-ear translation, transcription, and notification reading. These features could be handy, but the effectiveness will boil down to execution in software updates.
Battery Life Promises That Demand Skepticism
Honor says each earbud’s 56mAh battery lasts up to 11 hours without voice wake-up, extending to 47 hours total with the 500mAh charging case. Charging times are reasonable: 50 minutes for the earbuds, just over an hour for the case via USB-C.
The catch is simple: real-world usage, especially with Bluetooth 5.4 active, voice assistant running, and outdoor brightness levels, will likely eat into battery life faster. If you use the voice assistant or translation features, expect those numbers to drop.
GizmoIndo’s Take
The Honor Earbuds Clip-On Pro try to carve out a niche in the crowded wireless earbuds market by betting on open-ear comfort and a rich feature set. The memory wire frame and triple-mic system are thoughtful touches, but the open-ear design’s inherent flaws—sound leakage and limited bass—are hard to ignore.
At $88, these earbuds offer decent specs for the price, but the compromises mean they won’t replace traditional in-ear buds for most users. If you prize situational awareness and comfort over sound isolation, they could be worth a look. Otherwise, hold your breath for a more balanced option.
Honor’s push with YOYO assistant and translation features hints at a future where earbuds do more than just play music. But software execution will make or break those claims.
(Via)
