Lately, it feels like everyone’s talking about open-ear earbuds. They’re everywhere—ads pop up on my social media feeds, tech reviewers are raving about them, and even my gym buddies have started wearing them. So naturally, I had to jump in and see what all the fuss is about. That’s how I found myself holding a pair of Edifier R1 Open Ear Clip-On Earbuds. At just under $50, they seemed like a no-brainer for anyone curious about this style without breaking the bank.
Now, I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. Would they feel weird sitting outside my ears? Could they really deliver decent sound quality without blocking out the world around me? And most importantly, would they stay put during my daily hustle—Spoiler alert: These little gadgets surprised me in more ways than one.
The Edifier R1 aren’t just another set of earbuds—they’re designed with some clever features that make them stand out. From their sleek silicone texture that grips your ears perfectly to the smart app integration packed with customization options, there’s a lot to unpack here. Plus, let’s not forget the whole “no wires, no hassle” vibe they bring to the table.
Design and Build Quality
The Edifier R1 earbuds bring a modern and practical design, like they’re made for people who want something different from the usual in-ear or over-ear options. You first notice the texture—this smooth yet soft rubbery feel on the flexible band. The silicone-like material grips your ears really well, so these buds don’t slip around even if you’re moving a lot. That’s a big deal because some open-ear designs can feel flimsy or unstable, but the R1s feel secure no matter what.
The earbuds themselves have this sleek glossy finish that matches the case. It gives them a premium vibe without being too flashy. The branding is subtle, with the Edifier logo on each bud, and the drivers are positioned right below it. They point outward instead of straight into your ear canal, which is part of their whole open-ear concept. This design helps keep things comfortable while still delivering sound directly where it needs to go. On each bud, there’s a microphone hole on one side and a sensor on the other.
Now, the case is another story altogether. It’s got this pebble-like shape that’s thin enough to slide into your pocket without feeling bulky. The rounded edges make it easy to hold, and the overall size strikes a good balance between portability and protection for the buds. On the front, there’s a small LED light that lets you check the battery level at a glance. Around the back, you’ve got the USB-C charging port and a Bluetooth sync button. It’s simple, clean, and doesn’t have any unnecessary clutter. Even though it’s glossy, it doesn’t seem to attract fingerprints as much as you’d expect, which is always a win.
One standout feature is how flexible the band is. You can bend it, stretch it, and adjust it however you need to fit your ears. It’s designed to accommodate all kinds of ear shapes and sizes, and once you get it in place, it stays put. The rubbery texture works wonders here—it grips the skin inside your earlobe and doesn’t budge, even if you shake your head or move around a lot. For anyone worried about comfort during long listening sessions, this is a game-changer. Unlike traditional earbuds that push into your ears and cause fatigue, the Edifier R1s sit lightly outside, making them easier to wear for hours.
Another clever touch is how lightweight everything feels. The earbuds barely register on your ears, and the case isn’t heavy either. The materials feel durable, and the IP56 rating adds peace of mind for outdoor use. Plus, the drainage feature is genius—if water gets inside, you can activate a function through the app that vibrates the buds to shake it out. Little innovations like that make the R1s stand out.
App Integration
The Edifier Connect app is where the R1 earbuds really start to shine, adding a layer of functionality that makes them feel like more than just a pair of headphones. Straight off the bat, pairing the buds with the app is simple—just open it up, and it automatically searches for your R1s. Once connected, you’re greeted with a clean interface that’s easy to navigate, even if you’re not tech-savvy. The home screen shows you the battery levels for both earbuds and the case, which is super handy for keeping track of how much juice you’ve got left.
The drainage feature is another cool addition, especially for people who sweat a lot during workouts or accidentally get caught in the rain. You activate it through the app, and the earbuds vibrate every few seconds to shake out any water droplets trapped inside. Just make sure you don’t have them on while using this feature—it’s loud enough to give you a mini heart attack if you’re not expecting it.
Control settings are where things get interesting. You can customize what each tap does on both the left and right earbuds. Double-tap and triple-tap options are available, but unfortunately, single-tap isn’t supported yet. That feels like a missed opportunity, especially since the app itself has plenty of room to add more functionality. Still, being able to assign specific actions to taps adds a level of personalization that many users will appreciate. For example, I set mine to play and pause music with a double-tap and skip tracks with a triple-tap. It works well once you figure out exactly where to tap, though it might take a little practice to get used to.
Wear detection is handled in the app too, and it’s pretty customizable. You can choose between three modes: disable it completely, have it pause audio when you remove an earbud, or leave it active without pausing anything. Personally, I kept it on the “remove to pause” setting because it’s convenient. Take one bud off, and your music stops; put it back on, and it resumes playing. It’s responsive and works almost instantly, though occasionally it takes a second or two to catch up.
Another nifty feature is the tap sensitivity adjustment. If you find yourself accidentally triggering commands during intense activities, you can lower the sensitivity to prevent those mishaps. Or, if you want quicker responses, crank it up. There’s also a sports mode that locks out touch controls entirely, which is perfect for workouts or situations where you don’t want accidental inputs messing with your audio.
Power-off settings are equally flexible, letting you decide how long the earbuds stay inactive before shutting down. Options range from 10 minutes all the way up to an hour and a half, giving you plenty of control over battery management.
Bluetooth settings are straightforward, allowing you to disconnect or repair devices easily. And if you ever need to reset the earbuds to factory settings, that option is tucked away neatly in the app as well. On the sound effects front, you’ve got four presets to choose from: classic, bass boost, vocal, and treble boost. While it would’ve been awesome to have a graphic equalizer for more granular control, the presets do a decent job of catering to different preferences. Bass boost adds some oomph to your music, while vocal emphasizes clarity in singing or spoken word content.
Multi-point connectivity is another standout feature. Pairing the R1s with two devices at once isn’t automatic—you’ll need to pause one device before switching to another—but it works smoothly once you get the hang of it. This makes jumping between, say, your phone and tablet super easy. And the Bluetooth pairing process itself is simple enough; no complicated steps, just the usual “put it in pairing mode and connect” routine.
Audio Performance
The Edifier R1 earbuds deliver a listening experience that feels like a mix of innovation and compromise, which is pretty much what you’d expect from open-ear headphones at this price point. These buds don’t aim to blow your socks off with booming bass or studio-grade clarity, but they do bring enough to the table to make them worth considering for everyday use. The 12mm drivers paired with dual composite diaphragms are the heart of the sound system here, and while they won’t rival high-end in-ear models, they hold their own surprisingly well.
First off, the directional acoustic technology deserves some credit. The drivers are angled in a way that funnels sound directly toward your ear canal, which helps maximize the audio quality without needing to crank up the volume. This design makes a noticeable difference—you can hear details in tracks that might otherwise get lost on other open-ear designs. Vocals, for example, come through crisp and clear, almost like the singer is performing right next to you. Background instruments feel layered too, adding depth to songs instead of flattening everything into a wall of noise.
Now, let’s talk about the presets because they’re where things get interesting. Out of the box, the R1s default to bass boost, and honestly, it’s not bad. It adds just enough oomph to give songs a fuller, richer tone without overpowering the mids and highs. Switching over to classic mode strips away some of that extra body, leaving you with a cleaner, more neutral sound profile. If you’re into podcasts or audiobooks, this setting works great since it keeps voices front and center without any unnecessary embellishment. Vocal mode ramps up the clarity even further, pushing dialogue and singing to the forefront while slightly muting the background music. It’s perfect for spoken-word content but might feel a little unbalanced for regular music listening. Treble boost, on the other hand, sharpens the higher frequencies, making cymbals and high-pitched notes pop. It’s an option best reserved for genres like classical or acoustic where those elements shine.
Of course, there’s no getting around the fact that these are open-ear earbuds, and that inherently limits their ability to produce deep, thumping bass. If you’re someone who loves hip-hop, EDM, or anything else that relies heavily on low-end punch, you’ll notice the absence of that rumbling kick almost immediately. Even with bass boost enabled, the low frequencies feel restrained, as if they’re being held back by the design itself. That said, the trade-off is worth it if you value comfort and situational awareness over earth-shaking lows. For most casual listeners, the bass performance won’t be a dealbreaker—it’s present, just not dominant.
What really stands out is how well the R1s handle midrange tones. Guitars, pianos, and synths all sound vibrant and lively, striking a nice balance between warmth and precision. Listening to acoustic tracks feels particularly rewarding, as every strum or key press comes through with impressive detail. Highs are handled equally well, avoiding harshness or distortion even at louder volumes. There’s a natural smoothness to the treble that keeps everything sounding pleasant, even during extended listening sessions.
Another thing worth mentioning is how efficient the R1s are regarding volume levels. You don’t need to push the volume slider very far before the sound fills your ears comfortably. At 50% volume, most songs already feel immersive, and cranking it up only enhances the experience without introducing unwanted noise or fuzziness. This efficiency is partly due to the driver positioning and partly thanks to the overall tuning of the audio output.
Ambient sound performance is another area where the R1s excel. Since they leave your ear canal open, external noises blend seamlessly with your music. This isn’t ideal for total isolation, but it’s fantastic for staying aware of your surroundings. Walking down a busy street or working out at the gym, you’ll still hear cars honking, people talking, or weights clanging—all while enjoying your playlist. The balance between internal and external sounds feels natural, almost like wearing nothing at all. For outdoor enthusiasts or multitaskers, this feature alone could justify the purchase.
Mic Quality Test
The mic quality on the Edifier R1 earbuds is solid enough for everyday use, but it’s not going to blow you away if you’re expecting studio-grade clarity. To put it through its paces, I tested it in two different environments—a quiet room and a crowded, noisy location—to see how well it handles both scenarios. The results were mixed, but overall, they get the job done for calls, voice notes, or casual video chats.
In the quiet setting, the mics performed admirably. My voice came through loud and clear, with minimal background noise creeping in. There’s no hiss or static, which is always a good sign, and the AI noise reduction tech does a decent job of keeping things clean. You can hear every word without straining, even if there’s a faint hum from electronics like my PC fan. It’s not perfect—there’s a slight muffling effect that softens some consonants—but it’s still easy to understand everything I said. For most people using these for work calls or quick voice messages, this level of performance will feel more than adequate.
Things got a little trickier in the crowded environment. I took the earbuds to a busy coffee shop where there was constant chatter, clinking cups, and the occasional blender roaring to life. Here, the mics struggled a bit more. While they did their best to cancel out the ambient noise, some of it still bled through, making my voice sound a touch distant at times. The muffling effect became more noticeable too, especially when louder sounds popped up nearby. Still, the AI noise reduction stepped in to help, and while it didn’t completely block out the chaos, it kept my voice intelligible. Someone on the other end of a call would have to focus a little harder to catch every word, but they wouldn’t miss much.
One thing worth noting is how consistent the mics are across both earbuds. Since the R1s don’t assign specific left or right channels until you put them on, either bud works equally well for taking calls. This flexibility is great because it means you can use just one earbud if needed without worrying about losing mic functionality. During testing, I tried speaking into each bud individually, and the results were nearly identical. No weird drop-offs or imbalances—just reliable performance.
Another aspect I appreciated was the lack of distortion, even when raising my voice slightly. Some cheaper mics tend to crackle or clip under pressure, but the R1s handled louder tones smoothly. That said, they aren’t designed for high-energy situations like shouting or recording in windy conditions. If you’re planning to use them outdoors on a blustery day, expect wind noise to be an issue since there’s no dedicated wind reduction feature.
Battery Life and Charging
The Edifier R1 earbuds bring some solid numbers to the table regarding battery life, and they’re pretty much ready for whatever your day throws at you. Each bud gives you up to seven hours of playback on a full charge, which is decent enough for most people’s daily routines. Pair that with the charging case, and you’re looking at a total of 28 hours of juice. That’s plenty to get you through long commutes, workouts, or even a weekend getaway without needing to hunt for an outlet.
Fast charging is another feature that makes these earbuds stand out. If you’re in a rush, just 15 minutes of charging gets you three extra hours of playtime. It’s one of those little conveniences that can save the day if you’re running late or forgot to charge them the night before. The buds themselves take about an hour to go from zero to fully charged, while the case takes an hour and a half. It’s not instant, but it’s quick enough to keep you going without too much downtime.
Using the earbuds independently doubles their effective battery life, which is a neat trick. If you’re only wearing one bud—say, for taking calls or listening to a podcast—you can pop the other one back into the case to charge. This means you can stretch out the overall usage time, especially if you’re alternating between ears. It’s not something everyone will use daily, but it’s handy to have in your back pocket when you need it.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Non-slip silicone rubbery textured band.
- Great app integration with useful features.
- Comfortable for long-term wear.
- Multi-point connectivity and responsive wear detection.
Cons:
- Lack of wireless charging.
- Limited touch control options.
- No graphic equalizer or high-res audio support.
Final Verdict
The Edifier R1 earbuds are a solid option for anyone curious about open-ear audio without breaking the bank. They bring a lot to the table, especially for the price point, and while they aren’t perfect, they manage to stand out in a growing sea of similar products. They’re comfortable, durable, and packed with thoughtful features that make them easy to recommend for anyone looking to try open-ear audio. Sure, they have their quirks—like the limited touch controls and underwhelming bass—but none of these issues are dealbreakers, especially considering the sub-$50 price tag during sales.
