Open-ear headphones and earbuds aren’t new, but they’re not necessarily the mainstream option, as the popularity of active noise cancellation tends to dominate the space. JBL wants to help change that with its newly announced Soundgear CLIPS, an open-style earbud that features an earring-like design to keep you looking stylish while you jam out with good sound .
The Soundgear CLIPS are reminiscent of earbuds with a similar design, like the Moto Buds Loop from Motorola, so these aren’t the first pair of earbuds on the scene that carry this style. They also come in several color options, including Copper, White, Blue, and Purple. The colors are translucent as well, adding to the overall sleek design that comes off as more fashion accessory than earbuds.
JBL Soundgear CLIPS keep music and calls private
One trait of open-ear style headphones and earbuds that you might think are present is sound leakage. It’s a logical thought process, but JBL insists that you won’t have to worry about that with the Soundgear CLIPS. They were designed in a way that JBL says stops sound leakage, so calls and listening sessions remain private. This is possible due to the ‘SonicArt’ shape that “perfectly positions the speaker for the best bass performance” without leaking sound. So, you shouldn’t have to worry about anyone around hearing what other people are saying. On the same token, you won’t have to worry about disturbing others with your music.
Just like the JBL Sense Pro that was announced today at CES 2026, the Soundgear CLIPS feature up to 32 hours of battery life. Keep in mind this is obviously with the included charging case. Listening time on a single charge is up to 8 hours. That’s still pretty decent, though. Plus, a quick 10-minute charge in the case provides you with 3 more hours of listening time when necessary. They’re also IP54-rated for water and dust resistance, and they’re designed to stay comfortable all day. The JBL Soundgear CLIPS will retail for $149.95, and JBL expects them to launch in March.
