Realme Buds Clip Review: The Most Comfortable Earbuds I've Worn In Years

Bose launched the Ultra Open back in 2024, and honestly, I was not convinced by the design or the use case. My scepticism only grew after using Sony’s take on open-style earbuds. When Realme entered the picture later with the Realme Buds Clip, their clip-style ear buds, I carried the same doubts. But, just like the Bose, these clip-styled buds genuinely surprised me.On paper, the specs are impressive, especially considering the Buds Clip’s pricing of ₹5,999: dual 11mm drivers, a 45ms low-latency mode, an IP55 rating with dust resistance, and the promise of reliable battery life. I have been using them for a while now, and here is what my experience has been like. Design and buildFirst things first, the look is sleek and modern, with an aesthetic that feels almost premium. The design follows the natural curves of the ear, which helps keep the earbuds in place most of the time. I did feel a bit of discomfort initially, but after some use, they started to feel reliable and settled in well. Credit: Hook.Online The case comes with a frosted finish and is available in black and gold. I have been using the gold variant, which looks shiny but never feels cheap. The overall design does feel inspired by the Shokz OpenDots, though Realme has added its own touches. One example is the circular ring on the case that glows in three different colours to indicate various statuses. The case itself is dual-toned and pairs nicely with the metal-finished, dual-toned earbuds. Magnetic pins hold the buds securely in place, and even an accidental drop did not cause any issues. A USB Type-C port and a physical power button round off the setup. From an ergonomic standpoint, the case is compact, pocketable, and easy to carry around. The earbuds use a round, clip-on design that sits well on the ears. At just 5.3 grams per bud, they feel almost weightless in daily use. Credit: Hook.Online Touch controls are responsive and intuitive. A double-tap plays or pauses audio, while a triple-tap lets you reject or end calls. They feel dependable rather than gimmicky. I wore them during workouts, and they never slipped, which makes them practical for active use. The IP55 rating means they can comfortably handle sweat-heavy sessions. The titanium alloy C-bridge keeps the earbuds lightweight and comfortable even during longer listening periods. Unlike many TWS earbuds that become uncomfortable after a couple of hours, the Realme Buds Clip stayed comfortable during extended use. Even while lying down at night, they did not cause any discomfort. The only minor issue is that you occasionally need to readjust them to get the perfect fit. Connectivity, sound and featuresConnectivity on the Realme Buds Clip is largely fuss-free, which is exactly what you want from a pair of everyday wireless earbuds. With Bluetooth 5.4 on board, pairing is quick and painless, whether you are connecting to a phone, laptop, or tablet. Credit: Hook.Online I did not run into random dropouts or unstable connections during daily use, and the wireless range comfortably stretches to around 10 metres indoors. Codec support is fairly standard, with SBC and AAC handling audio duties, which is expected at this price and form factor. Coming to sound quality, and speaking as someone who tends to be slightly picky about headphones, the Realme Buds Clip manage to hold their own better than I expected. They use dual 11mm drivers, and I have been using them regularly during my commute as well as while working at my desk. For open-style, clip-on earbuds, the overall listening experience is genuinely impressive. They do not try to overpower you with sound, but instead focus on balance and comfort. Listening to tracks by Michael Brook and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan revealed the earbuds’ character quite clearly. The bass is present and controlled, doing enough to give body to music without becoming overwhelming. Where things fall a bit short is in the treble, which can sound slightly muted or less detailed at times. That said, this is far less noticeable if your playlists lean towards softer genres such as Sufi, acoustic, or instrumental music. The inclusion of 3D spatial audio is a nice bonus, adding a sense of width and openness that makes music and podcasts feel more immersive, especially while travelling or moving around. The Buds Clip also comes with a 45ms low-latency mode, which I tested while gaming. Once again, they performed better than expected. Audio remained well-synced with on-screen action, and I did not find the lag distracting enough to break immersion. Credit: Hook.Online Call quality is another strong point. The dual-microphone setup, combined with noise cancellation, does a solid job of keeping voices clear. While loud sounds like traffic honks can occasionally sneak through, conversations remain easy to follow in most situations. Touch controls are simple and intuitive, with double taps handling playback and triple taps managing calls. Additional customisation is available through the Realme Link app on both Android and iOS. Beyond basic settings, the app also packs in AI-powered features like real-time translation modes, meeting assistance, and an Ask AI tool. A particularly handy addition is Find My Earbuds, which is a lifesaver if you are prone to misplacing your gadgets. Battery life and chargingThe Realme Buds Clip packs a 45mAh battery in each earbud, along with a 530mAh battery in the charging case. On a single charge, the buds easily last around 7 to 8 hours, and that figure stretches up to about 36 hours when you factor in the case. There is no charger included in the box and not even a cable, which is a bit disappointing, but the USB Type-C port means you can use any standard Type-C cable to top them up. There is also no wireless charging support, but at this price point, that is easy enough to overlook. Credit: Hook.Online Things I didn’t likeThe main drawback is the lack of active noise cancellation. In busy areas like Chandni Chowk, the audio can sometimes feel like it is floating around rather than sitting firmly in your ear, which is a limitation common to most open-ear designs. These earbuds are clearly built for open listening, keeping you aware of your surroundings instead of completely isolating you. The soundstage feels most impressive in quieter, more controlled environments. If total immersion is what you are after, these are not the earbuds for you. Verdict Credit: Hook.Online The Realme Buds Clip delivers on the basics that matter most for open-style earbuds: design, comfort, and a surprisingly decent sound output. They are not meant to replace your classic in-ear TWS, and Realme is not pretending otherwise. Instead, these earbuds work best as a secondary pair that fits neatly into your daily routine. Thanks to how comfortable they are over long periods, they make a lot of sense for extended workouts, long flights, or even casual all-day use where traditional earbuds start to feel fatiguing. At ₹5,999, the feature set is genuinely impressive. You get dual 11mm dynamic drivers, a lightweight 5.3g-per-earbud design, an IP55 rating, Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC and AAC support, and even 3D spatial audio. Taken together, this makes the Buds Clip a well-rounded option in this category, especially if comfort and wearability are high on your priority list. These earbuds are built for open listening. The idea is not to drown you in sound but to keep you aware of your surroundings and connected to the real world. In quieter environments, the soundstage they deliver is genuinely impressive for an open-ear design. However, if complete immersion or isolation is what you are after, these are not the right choice. For pure sound quality, I would still reach for a classic TWS or a proper pair of headphones. That said, the Realme Buds Clip has comfortably earned its place as a reliable companion device, and as a secondary pair, they are easy to recommend. Credit for all images: Hook.Online