The SoundPEATS POP Clip is a bold reimagining of how audio gear can blend innovation, comfort, and affordability. Designed for those who crave freedom without sacrificing sound quality, these clip-on earbuds ditch traditional in-ear designs for a lightweight, open-fit style that stays put during workouts, commutes, or casual listening. At under $40, they challenge the notion that premium features require a premium price, packing in perks like 30-hour battery life, wind-resistant microphones, and a customizable app experience.
What sets the POP Clip apart is its knack for balancing practicality with performance. The clip mechanism hugs your ears securely—no slipping, even during intense runs—while the open-ear design keeps you aware of your surroundings, perfect for outdoor adventures or busy urban settings. SoundPEATS didn’t skimp on audio either: 10mm dynamic drivers deliver punchy bass and clear mids, while a dedicated “movie mode” creates an immersive, surround-sound effect for binge-watching sessions. Add physical buttons for reliable control (no more accidental taps!), sweat resistance, and a clever auto-channel adaptation feature.
Design & Build Quality
The SoundPEATS POP Clip takes a fresh approach to design; the earbuds themselves have a glossy finish that contrasts nicely with the matte case, giving them a two-tone appearance. They feel solid in hand, not like they’ll snap if you accidentally drop them. Each bud has a physical button instead of touch controls, and this decision feels intentional. With so many earbuds suffering from accidental taps or unresponsive gestures, the tactile feedback of a button is refreshing. It’s easier to adjust volume, skip tracks, or answer calls without second-guessing if the command went through.
At just 4.73 grams per earbud, these clip-ons are so light you might forget you’re wearing them. The build focuses on comfort and durability, using materials like nylon-reinforced titanium for the ear hooks. This makes the arch flexible enough to fit different ear shapes while staying sturdy during intense activities.
Comfort is where the POP Clip truly shines. The open-fit design leaves your ears feeling airy and unobstructed, unlike traditional in-ear models that can get uncomfortable after a while. The C-shaped hook fits snugly around the ear, staying put whether you’re jogging, commuting, or just lounging at home. Even after hours of wear, there’s no pinching or pressure points, making them suitable for all-day use. The lightweight build combined with the secure fit means they won’t slip off, even during sudden movements.
Durability gets a nod too, thanks to the IPX5 rating. These earbuds can handle sweat, rain, and even a splash or two without breaking a sweat themselves. After workouts or outdoor use, the app even has a sweat-draining function to help maintain performance.
The charging case is another standout. It’s compact but not overly tiny, striking a good balance between portability and usability. The matte finish gives it a premium look, even though it’s made of plastic. This texture also helps keep fingerprints and smudges at bay, which is a small but appreciated touch. On the back, there’s a USB-C port for charging, and the front has a small LED indicator to show battery status. No fancy wireless charging here, but the inclusion of a 15-minute quick charge feature more than makes up for it.
Connectivity and App Functionality
The SoundPEATS POP Clip nails connectivity in a reliable and straightforward way without any unnecessary complications. It uses Bluetooth 5.4, which is the latest version at the time of its release, and you can tell—it’s fast, stable, and doesn’t drop connections. Pairing is a breeze too. Just pop open the case, and the earbuds automatically enter pairing mode. Once paired, they reconnect instantly when you take them out of the case, no fiddling required.
One standout feature of the POP Clip is multipoint pairing, which allows you to connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time. For example, you can be listening to music on your laptop and seamlessly switch to a phone call without having to disconnect and reconnect devices manually. The earbuds prioritize audio based on activity—if you’re playing music on one device and a call comes in on the other, the call takes precedence. Once the call ends, the earbuds automatically switch back to the first device.
App Integration
Now, let’s talk about the Soundpeats Audio app because it adds a whole new layer of customization. The SoundPEATS app isn’t overly complicated, but it packs enough features to make tweaking your sound experience fun. The app has a clean and straightforward interface. The app shows the battery percentage for both earbuds and the charging case. You can Quickly switch between Gaming Mode, Movie Mode, and normal listening mode.
The app allows you to tweak the audio profile, you get access to nine preset EQ options, including Bass Boost, Treble Boost, Classical, Rock, and more. If none of these presets hit the sweet spot for you, there’s also a fully customizable 8-band EQ, where you can manually adjust different frequencies to fine-tune the sound to your liking. For even more convenience, the Dynamic EQ feature adjusts the sound profile on the fly, boosting bass and clarity depending on the track you’re listening to.
The app also lets you customize the physical buttons on the earbuds. By default, they handle basic functions like play/pause, skipping tracks, and answering calls, but you can reassign them to control volume or activate voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant. Another cool detail is the wind-resistant microphone technology. If you’ve ever tried taking a call outside on a breezy day, you know how frustrating it can be when the other person can barely hear you.
Latency Performance
Low-latency performance is another highlight of the PearlClip Pro. The earbuds feature a dedicated Gaming Mode, which reduces audio lag to just 80 milliseconds. This ensures that in-game sounds are synced perfectly with the on-screen action, making them a great choice for casual gaming on mobile devices.
For movie lovers, the Movie Mode enhances the audio depth, creating a more immersive cinematic experience. It widens the soundstage, giving dialogues and background music a more realistic and engaging feel. Switching between modes is easy, requiring just a simple triple-tap on the touch controls or a toggle in the app.
Sound Quality & Performance
The SoundPEATS POP Clip delivers a sound experience that’s surprisingly solid for its price point, though it does have its quirks. Right out of the box, the audio profile leans toward clarity and detail rather than bass-heavy thumping. The 10.8mm dual-magnetic drivers punch above their weight, offering crisp highs and mids that make vocals and instruments stand out. If you’re into genres like pop, rock, or podcasts, you’ll appreciate how well the POP Clip handles those mid-range frequencies. However, if you crave deep, chest-rattling bass, you might feel like something’s missing at first listen.
That said, the built-in EQ settings in the app can help bridge that gap. With a little tweaking, you can boost the bass to add some warmth and depth to your music. There are presets like “Bass Boost” and “Dynamic EQ,” which adapt based on what you’re listening to, making the sound more versatile. For example, during workouts, the Dynamic EQ amps up the low end to match the intensity of your activity. It’s not perfect—some of the micro-details get slightly masked when you crank up the bass—but it’s a nice touch for an earbud in this price range. Plus, the adaptive EQ feature lets you fine-tune the sound to your personal taste, which is rare for budget-friendly gear.
Vocals come through cleanly but lean toward the brighter side. This works great for podcasters or singers with softer tones, but sibilance (that sharp “s” or “t” sound) can creep in during certain tracks. It’s not deal-breaking, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to that kind of thing. On the flip side, the treble doesn’t feel harsh or fatiguing, even after hours of use. Listening to acoustic guitar strums or high-pitched synths feels natural rather than grating.
The POP Clip really shines in outdoor environments. Thanks to its open-ear design, you don’t lose awareness of your surroundings while enjoying your tunes. But here’s the kicker—the directional audio tech minimizes external sound leakage, so people nearby won’t hear your playlist blasting unless you’re cranking the volume way up. And speaking of volume, these earbuds get impressively loud. Indoors, setting it around 70-80% is plenty, while outdoors, you might need to bump it closer to 110-120% in noisy areas. Even at higher volumes, distortion isn’t an issue, which is impressive for earbuds at this price.
Another area worth mentioning is how the POP Clip handles different genres. Rock tracks sound energetic, with drums and electric guitars hitting hard enough to keep you pumped. Electronic music benefits from the boosted bass option, giving beats a fuller, richer texture. Classical pieces highlight the separation between instruments, letting you pick out subtle details like violin strings or piano notes. Hip-hop and EDM fans might miss that sub-bass rumble, but again, adjusting the EQ helps bring it closer to satisfying levels.
Noise Isolation & Microphone Quality
The SoundPEATS POP Clip takes a unique approach to noise isolation, and it’s one of those things you either love or need to adjust to, depending on how you plan to use them. These earbuds don’t seal off your ears like traditional in-ear models, which means you’ll still hear the world around you. That open-ear design is intentional, especially for people who value situational awareness during workouts, commutes, or outdoor activities. But here’s the kicker: while external sounds can seep in, the directional audio tech does a decent job of keeping your music or calls from leaking out too much. You won’t annoy your coworkers or seatmates unless you crank the volume way up, which isn’t something you’ll need to do often anyway.
Now, let’s talk about microphone quality because this is where the POP Clip really steps up its game. For earbuds at this price point, the call clarity is impressive. The dual microphones with bidirectional wind noise cancellation are no joke—they actually work. If you’ve ever tried taking a call outside on a windy day, you know how frustrating it can be when the other person can barely hear you. With the POP Clip, that frustration melts away. The mics actively reduce background noise, so your voice comes through loud and clear even if you’re walking along a busy street or cycling against the wind. Sure, if you listen closely, you can still pick up faint traces of environmental sounds, but they don’t drown out your voice.
Another cool detail is the AI call noise reduction feature accessible through the app. This isn’t just some fancy label—it genuinely enhances voice clarity during calls. When enabled, it smooths out sharp edges in your speech and filters out persistent low-frequency hums, like the rumble of an air conditioner or the distant buzz of machinery. Testing this feature side-by-side with others in its class, the POP Clip consistently delivered better results. Voices sounded crisper, and there was less strain trying to make yourself heard over background noise.
Battery Life & Charging
The SoundPEATS POP Clip doesn’t mess around regarding battery life—it’s one of those features that genuinely stands out; on a single charge, the earbuds themselves last up to 8 hours, which is already solid for everyday use. But when you factor in the charging case, the total playtime jumps to an impressive 30 hours. That’s enough juice to get you through days of commutes, workouts, or binge-watching sessions without needing to plug them in.
The charging case itself is no slouch either. It holds a 400mAh battery, which is what powers those additional 22 hours of backup playtime. While the case doesn’t support wireless charging, the USB-C port is fast and dependable. A full recharge of the case takes about two hours, which isn’t bad at all. Plus, the LED indicator on the front lets you know exactly how much battery is left—red for low, green for full, and yellow for somewhere in between. It’s simple, effective, and eliminates any guesswork.
What makes this even better is the quick-charge feature. If you’re running late and only have 15 minutes to spare, tossing the earbuds back into the case gives you an extra 3 hours of playback. It’s not groundbreaking tech, but it’s incredibly practical for those moments when you’re rushing out the door or realize your battery’s running low mid-commute.
Final Verdict
After spending time with the SoundPEATS POP Clip, it’s clear that this isn’t just another pair of cheap earbuds trying to ride the coattails of bigger brands. It’s a thoughtfully designed product that punches well above its weight class. Every aspect feels intentional, from the lightweight build to the clever clip mechanism. These earbuds aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel—they’re refining it for people who need reliable, affordable gear that gets the job done.
The POP Clip smashes expectations, especially considering the price tag. At under $40, it’s hard to find another pair of earbuds that offer this much functionality, comfort, and customization. The open-ear design is a standout feature that many brands reserve for their higher-end models, yet here it is in a budget-friendly package. You get situational awareness without sacrificing sound quality, which you’d typically pay double or triple for. Add in features like wind-resistant microphones, physical buttons, 30 hours of total battery life, and app-based EQ adjustments, and it starts to feel like you’re getting away with something.
Compared to competitors in the same price range, the POP Clip holds its own and then some. Many budget earbuds skimp on call quality, battery life, or durability, but this model nails all three. And while the sound profile might not blow audiophiles away, the ability to tweak the EQ means you can tailor the audio to your liking.
