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| The Vivo Buds Clip were released on September 21, along with the X500 series and the Watch 6. |
Vivo has entered the open-ear clip-on earbuds market in China with the new Buds Clip. The earbuds launched alongside the X500 series and Vivo Watch 6, and Vivo is clearly aiming them at the Huawei FreeClip 2. The headline features include up to 42 hours of total battery life, spatial audio, AI-powered call filtering, and the ability to stay connected to as many as three devices at once.
A clip-on design that keeps your ears open
Unlike traditional in-ear headphones, the Vivo Buds Clip sit on the outer ear rather than inside the ear canal. That means users can still hear what is happening around them while listening to music or taking calls. Each earbud weighs just 5.2 grams and is held in place by a flexible “memory titanium” bridge.
Vivo has also made the earbuds easy to wear without worrying about left and right. The Buds Clip can automatically detect their position and adjust the stereo channels accordingly.
For anyone who wants to dig into the official hardware details, Vivo has published the full Vivo Buds Clip parameter page on its Chinese website.
Audio features: Hi-Res sound and spatial audio
For playback, Vivo uses 12 mm dual-magnet drivers with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 40 kHz. The earbuds are Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified and support LDAC, LC3, AAC, and SBC Bluetooth codecs.
They also offer 3D spatial audio for stereo and multichannel content, a 10-band equalizer, and four sound profiles designed to mimic a theater, concert hall, recording studio, or live concert. A dedicated anti-leakage mode is included too, helping prevent people nearby from overhearing what the user is listening to.
Clear calls, long battery life, and multi-device connections
For calls, Vivo has equipped the Buds Clip with two beamforming microphones, AI noise cancellation, and a bone-conduction sensor. The goal is to keep voices clear even in traffic noise or strong winds.
Bluetooth 5.4 allows the earbuds to connect to three smartphones, tablets, or computers at the same time. According to Vivo, a single charge delivers up to ten hours of playback, while the charging case extends total battery life to 42 hours. A quick ten-minute charge is said to provide another three hours of listening.
The earbuds carry an IP55 rating, though Vivo does not specify an IP rating for the charging case.
Smart features need a compatible Vivo or iQOO phone
The Buds Clip support real-time translation, AI voice notifications for packages, flights, and train connections, plus an offline earbud finder. However, these features only work when paired with compatible Vivo and iQOO smartphones.
Depending on the feature, users will need at least Android 14 or Android 15 and a recent version of OriginOS. Vivo has not yet shared a list of compatible smartphones.
Price and availability in China
The Vivo Buds Clip have been available in China since September 21. The standard version is priced at 699 yuan, which is around $104, while the version that also supports Qi charging costs 799 yuan, or roughly $119.
There is no information yet about an international launch. Compared with the similarly designed Huawei FreeClip 2, the Vivo Buds Clip offer longer battery life and support for three connected devices instead of two. Huawei, however, offers a higher IP57 rating, a protected charging case, and Qi charging as standard.
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| Qi charging is only available on the Vivo Buds Clip at an additional cost. |