Vivo has introduced its new Buds Clip wireless earbuds in China, bringing a design that is quite different from conventional in ear earphones. Instead of sitting inside the ear canal, these earbuds use a clip style structure that rests around the ear.
The new audio device is priced at 599 yuan in China, which is roughly Rs 8,600 based on the supplied conversion. Vivo has announced Floating Purple, Moonlight White and Starry Night Black colour options. The company has not yet confirmed pricing or availability for India and other international markets.
The open ear construction is the biggest talking point. Each earbud uses a flexible titanium alloy bridge that holds the device around the ear without requiring a silicone tip inside the ear. Each side weighs about 5.2 grams, with the design aimed at making the earbuds comfortable for longer listening sessions.
This approach also allows users to remain more aware of surrounding sounds while listening to music or other content. The exact comfort experience can naturally vary from person to person, but the design gives the Buds Clip a clear difference from traditional TWS products.
Audio performance is handled by a 12mm dual magnetic moving coil unit. Vivo has also included support for Hi Res Audio Wireless, along with LDAC, AAC, SBC and LC3 codecs. These options give the earbuds compatibility with different audio requirements and supported devices.
The Buds Clip also include DeepX 5.0 stereo sound, spatial audio and custom equalizer controls. Users can adjust the sound according to their preferences instead of relying entirely on a fixed audio profile.
Calling is another area where Vivo has added additional technology. The earbuds use a bone conduction based AI call noise reduction system designed to reduce unwanted background sounds during conversations.
Users can choose between Balanced Mode, Voice Enhancement Mode and Noise Reduction Mode depending on the environment. These options are intended to help improve voice clarity when making calls in different surroundings.
Connectivity is handled through Bluetooth 5.4. One useful feature is the ability to connect the earbuds with up to three devices at the same time. This means users can keep them connected with devices such as a smartphone, tablet and computer and switch between supported devices more conveniently.
Vivo also claims latency as low as 70 milliseconds. Lower latency can be useful when watching videos or playing supported games because the delay between an action and the audio response can be reduced.
Battery life is another major feature of the Buds Clip. Vivo claims that the earbuds themselves can provide up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge. When the charging case is included, total playback is claimed to reach up to 42 hours.
The company also says that a quick 10 minute charge can provide around three hours of playback. The case uses a USB Type C port for charging, making it compatible with the increasingly common charging standard.
For everyday durability, the earbuds carry an IP55 rating. This provides some protection against dust and water exposure, although users should not treat the rating as complete protection against every type of liquid or environmental condition.
Vivo has also connected the Buds Clip to its BlueOS ecosystem. Features include Find My Earbuds, intelligent volume adjustment, a larger touch control area and alerts. Compatible Vivo and iQOO devices can also offer additional pairing and charging related features.
The company has added some customisation options for compatible devices as well. Users can personalise certain pairing and charging popups with photographs and stickers, giving the accessories a closer connection with the wider device ecosystem.
Real time translation is another feature available with compatible devices. This could be useful for users who regularly communicate across different languages, although the actual experience will depend on the connected device, supported languages and software capabilities.
The Vivo Buds Clip therefore combines a different physical design with a collection of audio and smart features. The open ear construction, lightweight body, three device connectivity, AI based call noise reduction and long claimed battery life are among its main highlights.
For now, the Buds Clip remains a China market product, with Vivo yet to announce an official India launch date. If the company expands the earbuds to other markets, pricing and local availability will determine how the new open ear model compares with other wireless audio options.
