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Clip-On Earbuds Are Now a Thing. Here Are the Pros and Cons.

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17.07.2026

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Clip-On Earbuds Are Now a Thing. Here Are the Pros and Cons.

Hear your music without blocking out the world around you.

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There are wireless and wired earbuds, in-the-ear earbuds versus over-the-ear headphones, and closed-back and open-back types of headphones, and that’s all before you get to those with active noise cancellation (ANC) and those without. Now lately you’ve probably seen a new-ish category of earbuds to muddle things up even more: clip-on earbuds. But what are clip-on earbuds, exactly?

how are clip-on earbuds different from regular earbuds?

Clip-on open earbuds are designed not to sit so snugly into your ear canal as normal earbuds. Because they aren’t crammed in there, they have a clip that fits over some part of your ear to keep them from falling out. They’re not exactly like Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, since those do clip on over your ear but also cram into the ear canal to block out noise. Rather, the point of clip-on open earbuds is to allow you to hear more of your surroundings, not less.

are clip-on........

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