3. 5/5 Realme recently expanded its audio range with the launch of Buds Clip – the company’s first earbuds with open-ear design. Priced at Rs 5,999, Realme Buds Clip are claimed to offer up to 36 hours of playback on a single charge. With a focus on comfort, everyday use, and hands-free convenience, the Buds Clip appears to target users who prefer a lighter, less intrusive audio experience. On paper, the earbuds promise a mix of long battery life, smart features, and a design meant for prolonged wear—but how they perform in real-world use remains to be seen. Let’s find out
Design
Realme Buds Clip comes in Titanium Black and Titanium Gold colour options.
We received the Black variant for our review. Its matte-textured design makes it non-slippery and less prone to fingerprints or smudges. The most noticeable aspect of the design is the clip-style open-ear form factor. Instead of sitting inside the ear canal, each earbud clips around the outer ear and directs sound toward it, keeping the ear open. In daily use, this changes how the earbuds feel, as there is no pressure inside the ear and no complete isolation from surrounding sounds.
While using them over long hours, we found the clip-on design to be focused mainly on comfort. The earbuds feel light on the ear and remain easy to wear during office work, commuting, and casual movement. Each earbud weighs 5.3 grams, and after some time, they feel barely noticeable. The titanium memory metal C-bridge adds flexibility and helps the earbuds stay in place during walking or movement.
The fit feels secure for regular daily activities, though the open-ear design naturally differs from traditional in-ear earbuds.
The Buds Clip also carries an IP55 rating for dust and sweat resistance, making them suitable for light workouts and outdoor use.
The charging case has a matte, frosted finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. The earbuds themselves have glossy ends, which can feel slightly slippery when handling them. Overall, the design focuses on comfort and long wear rather than isolation, which aligns with the open-ear approach Realme is taking with the Buds Clip.
Performance
In daily use, Realme Buds Clip delivers a listening experience that feels tuned for casual and extended wear rather than isolation. Open-ear earbuds usually struggle with bass, but here the sound feels balanced for the form factor. While listening to Bollywood tracks such as the Dhurandhar title track, Gehra Hua, Ishq Jalakar, and Chaleya, we noticed that vocals remained clear and forward, which suits this design well.
The low end is present but controlled, and it does not overpower the mids and highs. As expected from an open-ear design, bass does not feel deep, but it works well for casual music and video playback.
The soundstage feels open and airy, enhanced by 3D spatial audio, which adds depth while watching videos or listening to live recordings. In everyday situations like working at a desk or walking outdoors, sound remains directed toward the ear, and leakage is limited for this category.
The earbuds support standard AAC and SBC codecs, which work reliably across devices.
For calls, the Buds Clip uses AI-powered dual-mic noise cancellation. In our daily use, call clarity remained consistent indoors, and background noise was reduced reasonably well outdoors. Voices came through clearly on both ends.
Smart features also play a role in daily use. The AI real-time translator can be useful during travel or quick multilingual conversations, though it is more situational than essential.
The earbuds also support an AI voice assistant powered by Google Gemini, which works reliably for basic tasks.
Connectivity remains stable with Bluetooth 5.4, and switching between two connected devices feels smooth. Low-latency mode helps while watching videos or playing casual games, keeping audio and visuals in sync. Overall, the performance feels practical and consistent, matching the comfort-focused design of the Buds Clip.
Verdict
Priced at Rs 5,999, the Realme Buds Clip takes a different approach from traditional in-ear earbuds by focusing on comfort and awareness rather than isolation. In daily use, the open-ear clip design feels easy to wear for long hours, and the lightweight build makes them suitable for work, commuting, and casual outdoor use.
Sound quality is balanced for the form factor, with clear vocals, a wide soundstage, and useful additions like 3D spatial audio. Call quality remains reliable, and features such as AI noise cancellation, dual-device connection, and AI translation add practical value. That said, the Buds Clip may not be aimed at users seeking heavy bass or complete noise isolation. However, for those who prioritise comfort, everyday usability, and smart features, they present a sensible option in this price range.
