Soundcore AeroClip Review: Open-Ear Bass You Can Feel

Soundcore AeroClip Review: The first open-ear buds I can travel with.

{Tech} for Travel

Open-ear earbuds have always looked promising. You stay aware of your surroundings, there’s no pressure inside the ear, and the sound feels more open, with no ear fatigue, and better hygiene.

But for frequent travellers? They’ve never quite delivered.

Too often, they’ve lacked decent bass, struggled in noisy airports, or felt like a compromise on audio quality. That’s where the Soundcore AeroClip steps in. With a fresh take on the clip-on format and some serious hardware specs, it might finally be the open-ear option travellers can trust, without giving up sound performance or comfort.

At just 5.9g per earbud, the AeroClip uses a flexible memory titanium wire paired with soft TPU for a pressure-free fit that loops comfortably over the ear. It’s a clever clip-on design that avoids blocking the ear canal, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings.

For travellers with smaller or thinner ears, the AeroClip comes with two sizes of attachable ear grips to tailor the fit.

Each bud features a 12mm × 12mm titanium-coated driver, which is unusually large for this category. With the virtual bass enhancement, Soundcore claims to deliver punchy low-end sound while maintaining clarity in vocals and mids.

Battery performance supports up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge, with a total of 32 hours using the USB-C charging case. A 10-minute quick charge provides up to 3 hours of use.

The AeroClip runs on the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version, providing stable connections and improved power efficiency. Multipoint pairing is supported so that you can stay connected to your phone and laptop simultaneously. Tap-sensitive controls on the C-bridge handle playback, calls, and volume, which can be remapped in the Soundcore app and which also allows EQ customisation.

Four beamforming microphones with AI-driven noise reduction and wind-blocking meshes deliver clear calls even in busy environments. This setup is tuned to isolate your voice while minimising background interference.

With an IPX4 rating, the AeroClip resists sweat and splashes, making it safe for light rain or active travel days. While not waterproof, it’s more than capable of handling a commuter’s or traveller’s routine.

I’ve always liked the idea of open-ear earbuds, but as someone who travels often, I’ve yet to find a pair that earns a permanent place in my backpack. Soundcore’s AeroClip finally delivers enough where it matters to justify the space.

Coming from daily use of over-ear cans, the transition wasn’t instant. Open-ear listening takes a moment to click. Your brain has to work to separate the music from ambient noise, but it’s surprisingly natural once it adjusts.

What stood out most is how the AeroClip conveys a convincing sense of space. The soundstage has an almost wraparound quality, open yet controlled. Unlike other open designs I’ve tested, I never needed to crank up the volume to stay engaged. The 12mm titanium-coated drivers deliver clear mids, tight low-end, and enough presence to make my podcasts sound full and music sharp, even in noisy environments.

At the beginning of the review, Soundcore pushed its latest firmware, version 1.44, to the Aeroclip earbuds, adding LDAC codec switching to enhance the high-resolution audio experience. Firmware updates are straightforward and arrive via the Soundcore app (Android | Apple), require the AeroClips to be in the case, which uses the front LED to give a status update.

If discretion is what you’re after, the AeroClips deliver. Each bud comprises two bean-shaped units joined by a flexible and reassuringly firm soft-touch clip. No matter how much it bends, it always springs back to shape, a small detail that matters when you pull them on and off.

The larger bean tucks neatly behind your earlobe, while the clip arcs around the outer ear to position the smaller speaker pod just above the ear canal, not in it. This placement gives you the benefit of open-ear listening without sacrificing clarity. Two sizes of silicone covers slip over the rear section to help secure the fit if you have smaller ears, but I didn’t need them; the out-of-the-box fit was spot on.

These are probably the most comfortable earbuds I’ve tested in a while. There’s virtually no pressure anywhere on the ear, and the clip doesn’t rub or shift, even during extended use. The touch-sensitive area is easy to reach without accidental presses, and that snug but weightless feel meant I had no problem leaving them in while I grabbed six solid hours of sleep on a long-haul flight. No ear fatigue, no red marks, just stayed put and did the job.

Thanks to the Soundcore app, managing the AeroClip is straightforward, even if the earbuds don’t appear in the App Store listing. Once connected, the app recognises them instantly and unlocks a few essential tools for getting the most out of your audio.

A selection of sound presets is available, or you can produce your own custom EQ from scratch. For me, Volume Booster delivered the best results, giving the AeroClip an extra lift when flying or in busy environments without distorting the sound.

You can also remap the touch controls to suit how you listen. Each clip’s surface is fully touch-sensitive, and while they don’t look anything like traditional earbud stems, the controls behave the same, supporting double and triple tap gestures for playback and voice assistant shortcuts.

Call controls are more limited. Unlike the audio gestures, you can answer and hang up with a tap, but this can’t be customised. The touch area is easy to reach, and I never triggered anything accidentally.

The app also includes a basic Find Device feature. It’s not AirPods-level tracking, but if your AeroClips are within Bluetooth range, you can ping them and they’ll emit a loud alert tone. It’s a simple but effective option for tracking down a missing bud in your bag or between seat cushions.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Soundcore AeroClips genuinely impressed me. They came very close to earning a perfect five-star rating, with the only real drawback being the absence of active noise cancellation. That said, it is hard to criticise them for something that open-ear earbuds are not designed to do. Comparing them to over-ear headphones on a flight is not fair.

The listening experience surprised me. Once I got used to hearing a soundtrack layered over the sounds of the world around me, they were enjoyable to use in every situation. The sound is clear and balanced, and the open-ear format works well. They are also highly comfortable to wear, with almost no pressure on the ear, and the flexible clip stays put without ever feeling tight. I could easily forget I was wearing them, which says a lot.

They also serve a wider purpose than most earbuds. Walking through an unfamiliar city with voice directions in-ear while staying fully aware of traffic and people is a big plus for the security-conscious traveller. They were equally helpful in a hotel gym, where I could listen to music while being aware of others nearby.

If you are looking for lightweight, low-profile buds that fit around your day rather than blocking it out, the AeroClips are one of the best open-ear options I have used.

Features	Soundcore AeroClip
Dimensions	Buds: 44 × 23 × 14 mm Case: 61 × 49 × 25 mm
Weight	Buds: 12g each Case: 43g
Colour Options	Rosy Brown Midnight Champagne Mist
Features	Flexible open-ring design Ergonomic 5° curve Skin-friendly material
Sound Technology	Air conduction BassUp processing Virtual Bass
Microphones	4 beamforming mics AI-enhanced noise reduction
Battery Life	16 hours total 8 hours per charge
Charging	USB-C 10-min fast charge = 3 hours playback
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4 Multipoint pairing
Controls	Full-surface tap control Soundcore app customization
In the Box	Soundcore AeroClip earbuds Charging case USB-C cable 2x Tips User manual
Website	Soundcore UK

The Soundcore AeroClip open-ear earbuds are available at soundcore.com priced at $129/£129.