JBL Soundgear Clips

The JBL Soundgear Clips nail the open-ear clip-on formula with great mics and all-day comfort. But build quality is weak and sound is just okay, which stings at $150. Worth it only if you need open-ear awareness and take a lot of calls.

The 11mm driver pushes decent bass thanks to the SonicArc design and Adaptive Bass Boost, but our sound score lands at 73rd percentile, solid but not a standout. The open-ear design means you get full situational awareness, which is the whole point, but it also caps how rich the audio can get. Mic quality is a genuine highlight at 91st percentile, and the AI noise reduction handles wind better than most. Connectivity is equally strong, also 91st percentile, with Fast Pair and multipoint working smoothly. Battery life at 79th percentile is respectable, and the 10-minute quick charge for 3 hours is handy. The weak spot is build quality at 34th percentile, which is disappointing for a $150 pair of buds.

Against the Sony LinkBuds Fit, the JBLs have better mic quality but lose on sound and build. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are in-ear and sound significantly better, but they block your surroundings, which defeats the purpose if you want open-ear. The JLab JBuds Pods ANC are way cheaper and offer ANC, but their open-ear comfort isn't as good. The Technics EAH-AZ100 are in a different league for sound quality, though they cost more and seal your ears. For pure open-ear awareness with great call quality, the JBLs hold their own, but they're not the best value in the group.

At $150 USD, these are a tough sell. The affordability score in our database is a brutal 14th percentile, meaning you're paying a premium for the open-ear form factor and the JBL name. The build quality doesn't match the price tag, and the sound is middle of the pack. You can find open-ear buds from lesser-known brands for half the price with similar features. If the clip-on style is exactly what you want and mic quality matters more than music, maybe. Otherwise, wait for a sale.

The JBL Soundgear Clips are clip-on open-ear buds for people who hate shoving things in their ear canals. They sit on the outside, leave your ears open, and promise all-day comfort with a memory wire hook. JBL leans hard into the look here, with translucent finishes and a design that's more fashion accessory than tech gadget.

Under the hood you get an 11mm dynamic driver, Adaptive Bass Boost, four mics with AI noise reduction, and Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint. Battery life is solid at 8 hours per bud and 32 total with the case. The catch? Build quality and value scores in our database are rough, and the sound won't blow anyone away.

Skip these if you want immersive sound or strong bass for music. The open-ear design sacrifices audio quality for awareness, and the build feels flimsy for $150. If you need something for intense workouts, the clip-on fit isn't secure enough, and the IP54 rating won't survive a real dunk. Audiophiles and gym rats should look elsewhere.

Buy these if you specifically want clip-on open-ear buds with excellent call quality and you hate in-ear tips. They're comfortable enough to wear all day, and the mic performance is genuinely top-tier. But if you care about music quality or build durability, look elsewhere. These are a niche product for a niche buyer, and that buyer will probably love them.