Cleer Earbuds Review 2026: Is It Worth the Money?
Ready to discover the most comfortable earbuds you will ever wear? Cleer Audio has just changed the game with their latest open ear designs. These earbuds let you enjoy powerful sound while staying aware of your surroundings.
The 2026 lineup from Cleer brings exciting improvements. You get lighter designs, longer battery life, and audio quality that rivals premium brands.
This review covers everything you need to know about Cleer earbuds in 2026. We tested multiple models. We compared them with competitors. We found which ones deliver the best value for your money.
Key Takeaways:
- Open Ear Design Comfort – Cleer pioneered the open ear category with their ARC series. These earbuds sit outside your ear canal. You can wear them all day without fatigue or pressure.
- THX Certified Audio Quality – The ARC 4 series became the world’s first open ear earbuds to earn THX certification. This means studio quality sound in a design that lets ambient noise through.
- Battery Life Champions – Up to 50 hours of total playtime with the charging case. Some models offer 8 hours on the earbuds alone. Quick charging gives you 1.5 hours from just 5 minutes of charging.
- Premium Features at Mid Range Prices – Dolby Atmos support, head tracking technology, IPX7 waterproof rating, and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. You get all this for under $150 in most models.
- Perfect for Active Lifestyles – Secure ear hook designs stay in place during workouts. Sweat resistance protects your investment. The open design keeps you safe by maintaining situational awareness.
Cleer ARC 4 Plus: The Flagship Experience
The Cleer ARC 4 Plus represents the pinnacle of open ear audio technology. This model introduces head tracked Dolby Atmos to the open ear category. The spatial audio adjusts based on your head movements. You feel like the sound moves with you in three dimensional space.
The design improved significantly over previous generations. Cleer made the earbuds 10% lighter than the ARC 3. The ear hooks became 45% thinner. These changes create a more comfortable fit that sits closer to your ear canal. You get better sound isolation without blocking your ears completely.
Battery performance stands out in this model. You receive 8 hours of playtime from the earbuds themselves. The charging case adds another 24 hours. Total playtime reaches 32 hours. The IPX7 rating means you can submerge these earbuds in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes.
Cleer ARC 3: Best Value Open Ear Earbuds
The Cleer ARC 3 offers incredible value for the features you get. This model costs less than the ARC 4 series but keeps many premium features. You still get Dolby Audio optimization. You still get the comfortable open ear design. You still get impressive battery life.
Battery performance actually exceeds the ARC 4 Plus in this model. The ARC 3 delivers up to 50 hours of total playtime. The earbuds provide 10 hours on their own. The charging case holds an additional 40 hours. This means you can go weeks between charges with moderate use.
The smart charging case includes a touch screen display. You can check battery levels without opening your phone. You can control playback directly from the case. This feature adds convenience during workouts or when your phone stays in your bag.
Cleer ARC II: Budget Friendly Performance
The Cleer ARC II brings open ear technology to a more affordable price point. These earbuds cost under $80. You sacrifice some premium features but keep the core benefits. The open ear design remains comfortable. The battery life stays impressive.
These earbuds offer 35 hours of total playtime. You get 8 hours from the earbuds plus 27 hours from the case. Quick charging provides 1.5 hours of playback from just 5 minutes of charging. This helps when you forget to charge overnight.
The dual microphone setup handles phone calls well. Environmental noise gets reduced. Your voice comes through clearly. The IPX5 water resistance protects against sweat and light rain. You can wear these during workouts without worry.
Top 3 Alternatives for Cleer Earbuds
Why Open Ear Design Changes Everything
Traditional earbuds block your ear canal. They create a seal for noise isolation. This design causes problems for many users. You experience ear fatigue after a few hours. You miss important environmental sounds. You feel disconnected from your surroundings.
Open ear earbuds solve these problems. They sit outside your ear canal. Sound enters your ear naturally. You hear your music clearly while remaining aware of traffic, conversations, and approaching footsteps.
This design benefits specific groups of people tremendously. Runners stay safe by hearing cars and cyclists. Office workers hear coworkers without removing their earbuds. Parents monitor their children while enjoying podcasts. The applications extend far beyond just comfort.
The technology behind open ear audio improved dramatically. Earlier models suffered from sound leakage and weak bass. Modern designs like Cleer’s ARC series use directional audio technology. The sound aims directly into your ear canal. Less audio escapes to bother people around you.
Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio Explained
Dolby Atmos transforms how you experience audio content. Traditional stereo creates left and right channels. Atmos adds height and depth. Sounds move around you in three dimensional space. You hear helicopters flying overhead. You hear footsteps approaching from behind.
The Cleer ARC 4 Plus takes this further with head tracking. Built in sensors monitor your head position. The audio adjusts in real time. Turn your head right and the sound stage stays fixed in space. The effect creates stunning immersion for movies and games.
Not all content supports Dolby Atmos. You need specifically mixed tracks. Apple Music offers thousands of Atmos songs. Disney Plus and Netflix stream movies in Atmos format. When you play regular stereo content, the earbuds still sound excellent.
The Snapdragon Sound technology works alongside Dolby Atmos. This Qualcomm technology reduces audio latency. The delay between video and audio drops to imperceptible levels. You can watch videos without lip sync issues. Gaming becomes more responsive.
Battery Life That Lasts All Week
Battery anxiety ruins the wireless earbud experience. You constantly check charge levels. You carry charging cables everywhere. You panic when the low battery warning appears.
Cleer earbuds eliminate this anxiety. The ARC 3 delivers 50 hours of total playtime. Even heavy users go days between charges. Light users might charge once every two weeks. This longevity changes how you interact with your earbuds.
The charging cases use USB C for fast charging. A full charge takes about 90 minutes. The quick charge feature proves more useful for daily life. Five minutes of charging provides 1.5 hours of listening time. Plug in while you shower and get enough power for your commute.
Some models support wireless charging. You can drop the case on any Qi compatible charging pad. This convenience eliminates cable clutter on your desk. The ARC 3’s case includes wireless charging as standard.
Water Resistance for Active Lifestyles
IPX7 rating means serious water protection. You can submerge these earbuds in fresh water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. Rain storms pose no threat. Intense workout sweat gets shrugged off. You can rinse the earbuds under running water to clean them.
The open ear design actually helps with water resistance. Traditional earbuds trap moisture in your ear canal. This creates discomfort and hygiene issues. Open ear designs let air circulate freely. Your ears stay dry and comfortable during long workouts.
Salt water and chlorine require more caution. The IPX7 rating applies to fresh water only. Ocean swimming and pool use might damage the internal components over time. Rinse with fresh water after any salt water or chlorine exposure.
The charging case typically has lower water resistance. Most models use IPX4 rating for the case. Light splashes are fine. Full submersion will damage the electronics. Keep the case away from water when possible.
Sound Quality Comparison With Premium Brands
How do Cleer earbuds compare to Apple AirPods or Sony WF 1000XM5? The answer depends on your priorities. For sound quality alone, Cleer competes well with brands costing twice as much. The larger 16.2mm drivers produce richer sound than most competitors use.
Traditional in ear designs have one advantage. They seal your ear canal. This isolation enhances bass response and blocks external noise. The Sony and Apple models excel at active noise cancellation. Cleer’s open ear design cannot match this isolation.
But Cleer wins in comfort and situational awareness. You can wear ARC series earbuds for 8 hours without discomfort. Try that with AirPods Pro and your ears will hurt. The open design keeps you connected to your environment. This matters for safety and social situations.
Audio codec support determines sound quality over Bluetooth. Cleer supports LDAC, aptX Adaptive, and AAC. LDAC transmits up to 990 kbps of data. This high bitrate preserves more detail from your music files. Apple only supports AAC. Sony includes LDAC.
Bluetooth 5.4 Connectivity Advantages
Bluetooth 5.4 brings several improvements over older versions. The connection range extends further. You can walk 30 feet from your phone without dropouts. The signal penetrates walls and obstacles better.
Power efficiency improved in Bluetooth 5.4. The earbuds use less energy during streaming. This contributes to the impressive battery life Cleer achieves. The low energy mode activates automatically when you pause playback.
MultiPoint connectivity lets you pair two devices simultaneously. Connect your phone and laptop at the same time. Audio automatically switches to whichever device plays sound. Take a call on your phone, then return to music on your laptop seamlessly.
Connection stability matters during workouts. Body movement and electronic interference can cause dropouts. Cleer uses advanced antenna designs. The connection remains stable even in crowded gyms with lots of Bluetooth devices nearby.
Microphone Quality for Calls and Voice Assistants
Phone call quality separates good earbuds from great ones. The Cleer ARC series uses dual or quad microphone arrays. Multiple microphones enable environmental noise cancellation. The earbuds analyze ambient sound and filter it out from your voice.
Wind noise challenges all wireless earbuds. The open ear design on Cleer models actually helps here. The microphones sit in less turbulent positions compared to in ear designs. A mesh covering protects against wind directly hitting the microphone element.
Voice assistant support works with Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa. Long press the touch control to activate your chosen assistant. The microphones pick up your voice clearly. You can issue commands without pulling out your phone.
Video calls through Zoom or Teams work well with Cleer earbuds. The low latency connection keeps your voice synced with your video. The noise cancellation helps colleagues hear you clearly. The long battery life lets you take back to back calls without charging breaks.
Touch Controls and Smart Features
Touch sensitive panels on each earbud respond to taps and swipes. Single tap plays or pauses. Double tap skips forward. Triple tap goes back. Long press adjusts volume or activates voice assistants. The controls work reliably without excessive force.
Some models include gesture controls. The 6 axis motion sensor detects head movements. Nod your head to answer calls. Shake your head to decline. These hands free controls help when your hands are dirty or busy.
The smart charging case on ARC 3 models includes a touch screen. You can see battery percentage for each earbud. You can control playback without touching the earbuds. You can switch EQ presets from the case interface.
The companion app provides deeper customization. You can remap touch controls. You can adjust the EQ with a graphic equalizer. You can update firmware to add new features. The app works on both iOS and Android.
Comparing Different Cleer Models
The ARC 4 Plus costs $129.99 and targets audiophiles who want the best. You get head tracked Dolby Atmos. You get THX certification. You get the lightest most comfortable design. The 32 hour battery life suits most users well.
The ARC 3 costs around $135.99 but often goes on sale. This model offers the longest battery life at 50 hours total. The smart touch screen case adds convenience. You miss the head tracking feature but keep excellent sound quality.
The ARC II brings the price down under $80. You sacrifice some premium features. Battery life drops to 35 hours. Water resistance decreases to IPX5. The core open ear experience remains intact. This model suits budget conscious buyers.
The ARC II Gaming variant adds ultra low latency mode. A USB C dongle connects to PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or PC. The wireless connection achieves latency under 30ms. This responsiveness matters for competitive gaming.
Who Should Buy Cleer Earbuds
Runners and cyclists benefit tremendously from open ear designs. You hear approaching vehicles. You hear other runners giving passing warnings. You hear bike bells. The secure ear hook design keeps the earbuds in place during intense movement.
Office workers can wear these all day without ear fatigue. You hear colleagues approaching your desk. You hear your name in meetings. You can take calls without explaining why you are wearing earbuds. The professional appearance suits workplace environments.
Parents need to monitor their surroundings constantly. Open ear earbuds let you enjoy podcasts while hearing your children. You catch every request for attention. You notice concerning sounds immediately. The long battery life means fewer charging interruptions.
Commuters on public transportation appreciate situational awareness. You hear station announcements. You notice unusual sounds that might indicate danger. The comfortable design makes long commutes pleasant. The water resistance protects against sudden rain storms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hear music clearly with open ear earbuds?
Yes, you hear music clearly with open ear earbuds like the Cleer ARC series. The directional audio technology aims sound directly into your ear canal. The 16.2mm drivers produce powerful sound. You might hear some ambient noise depending on your environment. Quiet spaces provide the best listening experience. Noisy environments like airplanes or construction sites let more external sound through.
Do open ear earbuds fall out during exercise?
No, Cleer open ear earbuds stay secure during exercise. The ear hook design wraps around your ear. The flexible hooks adjust to your ear shape. The lightweight construction reduces pressure that causes shifting. Users report these earbuds stay in place during running, jumping, and intense workouts. The secure fit rivals or exceeds traditional in ear designs.
How long does the battery really last?
Battery life depends on the model and usage. The ARC 3 provides up to 50 hours total with the case. The ARC 4 Plus offers 32 hours total. Real world testing confirms these claims. Volume level affects battery life significantly. Maximum volume drains batteries faster. Medium volume typically achieves the advertised battery life. Quick charging provides 1.5 hours of playback from 5 minutes of charging.
Are these earbuds good for phone calls?
Yes, Cleer earbuds excel at phone calls. The multiple microphone arrays cancel environmental noise. The open ear design eliminates the occlusion effect. You hear your own voice naturally. This prevents speaking too loudly. Test calls in various environments showed clear voice transmission. Wind noise gets filtered effectively. Colleagues on video calls reported hearing clearly.
Can other people hear your music?
Some sound leakage occurs with open ear earbuds. At moderate volumes, people nearby typically do not hear your music. At maximum volume, people within 3 feet might hear faint audio. The directional audio technology minimizes leakage compared to older open ear designs. Library quiet environments might require lower volumes. Normal office or outdoor environments pose no issues.
Do these work with iPhone and Android?
Yes, Cleer earbuds work perfectly with both iPhone and Android devices. They use standard Bluetooth connectivity. The Cleer app provides extra features on both platforms. iPhone users get AAC codec support. Android users can take advantage of LDAC and aptX Adaptive codecs. MultiPoint connectivity lets you connect both your iPhone and Android tablet simultaneously.
How do you clean open ear earbuds?
Cleaning open ear earbuds is simple. The IPX7 water resistance allows rinsing under running water. Use a soft cloth to wipe down the surfaces. A soft brush removes debris from speaker grills. Avoid harsh chemicals that might damage the coating. The open design accumulates less earwax than traditional earbuds. Clean the charging contacts monthly with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.
What is the warranty coverage?
Cleer provides a one year limited warranty on their earbuds. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and component failures. Physical damage from drops or water damage beyond the IPX rating are not covered. Keep your purchase receipt for warranty claims. Register your product on the Cleer website to activate the warranty. Some retailers offer extended warranty options for purchase.
