As soon as I saw what the Soundpeats Pop Clip earbuds looked like, I was immediately curious—how would they fit, and more importantly, how would they feel?

Ironically, despite reviewing my fair share of earbuds over the years, very few have managed to stay in my life. Several pairs somehow ended up in the hands of others. Call it accidental gifting, or a shared custody arrangement that never came back around. Most recently, I’m fairly sure Gizmo, my friendly, hyperactive Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, may have carried off the case from my last set. I’ve yet to find it. Here’s hoping it turns up without bite marks.

In the meantime, another pair arrives. Thankfully, my headphones have fared much better than my earbuds over the years. But it’s also a reminder that beyond comfort and sound quality, I need durability and, ideally, some kind of active location tracking that actually works. My last set’s “find my device” feature claimed they were last seen at work, which would’ve been helpful… if I hadn’t been using them at home. So maybe part of this is a hardware issue, and part of it is me. Either way, here’s to fresh starts and new earbuds.

Soundpeats Pop Clip

First Impressions

Unboxing is always part curiosity, part cautious optimism. These weren’t just a new form factor, they looked like they might actually sit well without fuss, or end up being super irritating. As soon as I clipped them on, I was pleasantly surprised. I’d expected the outer clip to feel a little awkward or distracting—after all, it’s not a sensation I’m used to—but it was far more comfortable than anticipated.

One thing that did cross my mind, though, is how they sit just above the standard earlobe piercing. Depending on what kind of earrings you wear—or more to the point, how many piercings you have—these might not be the most compatible design. But with a single lobe piercing, they didn’t interfere at all, and I didn’t find them shifting or knocking against anything.

And while I hadn’t even made it to testing the features yet, I was already impressed with how effortlessly they paired straight out of the box.

 

In Use and Features

Fit-wise, they seated comfortably just outside my ear canal, and thanks to their position and angle, they naturally blocked out a fair bit of ambient noise. It’s not active noise cancelling, of course, but the speaker alignment alone does a decent job of reducing surrounding sound—at least while music is playing. Without audio, the outside world is completely noticeable, but once something’s streaming, the design largely compensates for it.

 

Comfort / Portability

These are the kind of earbuds you barely notice once they’re in, which is exactly what you want. Despite the unique clip-on design, they sit comfortably without pinching or slipping, even during extended use. I wore them for a few hours straight without any ear fatigue or pressure. They also passed the jacket hood test with ease, which is more than I can say for some of the chunkier designs out there.

In terms of portability, they’re ideal. The charging case is slim enough to disappear into a jeans pocket or the corner of a bag, and because they clip securely, there’s none of that vague worry about one falling out as you move. For quick errands or last-minute calls, these are genuinely grab-and-go.

One caveat: the clip-on form factor is low-profile enough that it’s easy to forget they’re even there—especially for the people around you. On more than one occasion, I had someone walk into the lab and start talking before realising I was mid-playlist. Useful stealth mode for zoning out… or selectively ignoring that one colleague with an unfiltered morning monologue.

 

Controls and Functionality

The Pop Clip do have physical controls—tiny buttons tucked underneath each earbud. They’re easy to miss at first glance, but they’re there. Once discovered, they proved functional, though not the most responsive. A quick press reliably pauses music, but resuming playback sometimes took a slightly longer hold than expected. The position of the buttons—behind the ear—also makes them a bit awkward to press without nudging the earbuds out of place. It’s doable if you hold the base with a thumb and press with your forefinger, but compared to more intuitive touch-based setups, this feels a little less refined. Still, having basic control onboard is better than none, especially for pausing quickly without needing to reach for your phone.

 

Microphone and Calls

The microphone actually performed better than I expected. Admittedly, I may have set the bar a little low, but call clarity was solid, and no one on the other end complained about not being able to hear me. Which is exactly what you want from a pair of earbuds like this.
I did encounter a moment of odd feedback during one morning Teams meeting, but it only happened once. Given that the engineer seated next to me was adjusting his own settings at the time, I’m inclined to think it wasn’t the earbuds themselves. Outside of that, they’ve handled daily calls and meetings without issue.

 

Sound Quality

To be fair, I went in with fairly low expectations. Something about the outer-clip design had me assuming the audio would feel distant or tinny. But, as with many things in life, I do enjoy being proven wrong.

The clarity was genuinely solid, and while the bass wasn’t chest-thumping, it was more present than I expected, especially when the volume was pushed up a little. Of course, we’re not talking haptic feedback levels or anything close to a good pair of over-ear headphones, but for earbuds in this category, the balance was surprisingly decent.

More importantly, I didn’t find myself getting annoyed or fatigued while listening. In fact, after using them for morning meetings, I often just kept them in to continue listening to music, rather than bothering to swap to a “better” pair. That alone feels like a small but genuine win.

One thing I’d been concerned about, given the clip-on design, was potential sound leakage—particularly in shared workspaces. But even with the volume cranked, my colleague sitting right next to me couldn’t hear what I was playing. (Granted, he did joke that our lab’s fan noise might drown out a fire alarm, but still, they’re clearly not obnoxious to those nearby.)

SoundPeats Pop Clip

 

Exercise Performance

The Pop Clip passed the stability test with flying colours. Even through a full workout, they stayed securely in place without slipping or needing adjustment. No awkward sweatiness, no shifting mid-set—just a low-profile, surprisingly stable fit.

That said, while their comfort held up, their volume didn’t quite rise to the occasion. The gym’s speaker system was loud and tinny (as is tradition), and the Pop Clip struggled to cut through it. Without active noise cancellation or particularly aggressive bass, they couldn’t fully compete in that environment. For quieter spaces or outdoor workouts, they’d do just fine—but for gym-goers who like to zone out with music front and centre, they might not hit quite hard enough.

 

Battery Life

With up to 8 hours of use on a single charge, the Pop Clip easily cover a full workday without issue. The case provides top-ups for a total of around 30 hours, making them well-suited for commuting, meetings, and casual listening over several days. I’ve consistently used them daily without yet needing to recharge the case.

 

Design Notes

The case is compact and closes securely, important for anyone who’s ever had one pop open in a bag. The magnetic hold is reliable, and the buds snap into place easily without fuss. Charging is via USB-C at the back, and a small green LED offers a rough battery indication when the case is opened or closed. There’s a green LED indicator when opening or closing the lid, which seems to signal that there’s still enough battery in the case. After more extended use, I noticed the light flashes yellow upon closing the lid—presumably indicating a medium charge—suggesting a red flash will follow when the battery is critically low. It’s a small but useful visual cue, even without a dedicated percentage display.

 

Bluetooth

One game I’ve started playing lately is seeing whether I can pair a new set of earbuds or headphones without touching the user manual. While I appreciate a good set of instructions, I also like to see how intuitive the pairing process is—especially for anyone who finds tech a little fiddly.

With the Soundpeats Pop Clip, I was pleasantly surprised. Pairing was smooth and completely hassle-free. They connected easily to both my Samsung phone and my work laptop, no manual required. Since I was already curious about whether they’d hold up for Teams meetings, it made sense to test them across devices.

Sometimes it’s just nice to skip the over-ear setup, especially for quick calls or portable listening on the go.

SoundPeats Pop Clip

 

Troubleshooting/Possible Improvements

One minor improvement I’d suggest is clearer battery feedback from the case itself. The LED initially glows green when opened, but once the charge dips lower, it flashes yellow upon closing. Presumably, red will follow when critically low, but that progression isn’t documented anywhere obvious. It’s helpful, but still a little ambiguous—some kind of percentage display or more explicit colour guide would make things clearer.

As for app integration, the situation is murky. While there is a Soundpeats app available, it appears outdated—and in any case, I wasn’t able to get the Pop Clip to connect. The app’s poor reviews seem to reflect a broader frustration. Without a functional companion app, there are no firmware updates, EQ customisation, or location tracking features—so if you’re someone who tends to misplace earbuds (guilty), this might be a drawback.

 

 

Conclusions

For a lightweight, everyday pair of earbuds, the Soundpeats Pop Clip punch above their weight in a few key areas. They’re comfortable, unobtrusive, and deliver surprisingly decent audio and call clarity for their category. The clip-on design, while unconventional, is more comfortable than it looks—and thanks to their low profile, they’re easy to wear for hours on end. Just maybe a little too low-profile if you’re hoping to signal that you’re mid-playlist and not currently taking applications for lab banter.

(Who am I kidding… I’m always up for it. But if I happen to miss an annoying question from across the room? Tragic.)

Sound-wise, they won’t blow you away, but they don’t need to. They deliver clean, balanced playback without leaning too hard in any one direction. They won’t overpower a loud gym speaker system, but for commuting, casual listening, and work calls, they hold up well.

The physical buttons—tiny though they are—do exist, which is more than I originally noticed (chaotic week, let’s just call it that). They’re functional, but not especially intuitive. You’ll need to press them with some precision, and they’re not the easiest to operate mid-movement without shifting the earbuds slightly. Still, once you know they’re there, they’re a welcome fallback when your phone isn’t in reach.

Without the companion app, if you’re hoping for firmware updates, custom EQ settings, or a “find my earbuds” function, you’ll be left wanting. But for the price point, the Pop Clip find a sweet spot between simplicity and practicality.

They’re not trying to be everything. But for a lot of people, they’ll be just enough.

The SoundsPeats Pop Clip are available on Amazon with RRP A$59.99, but it is currently on 25% discount to A$44.99.

DRN would like to thank SoundPeats for providing the review unit.

Soundpeats stickers

They come with a sheet of pretty cool stickers too!

 

Specifications

Core Specs

Bluetooth: V5.4
Profiles:A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6.2, HFP 1.8, SPP 1.2.4
Chipset:BT8932D
Supported Bluetooth Codec: AAC/ SBC

Battery

Battery Capacity: Earbuds: 45mAh*2 ; Charging Case: 400mAh
Charging Time: Earbuds: <1.5H ; Charging Case: ≤2H
Charging Port: Type-C
Total Playtime: 30 hours

What’s in the Box

SOUNDPEATS POP Clip Earbuds
Type-C Charging Cable
Charging Case
App Guide
User Manual
Package
Single Earbud Weight: 4.73g
Charging Case with Earbuds: 46.73g
Control Type: Physical Button
Waterproof Rating: IPX5