Vivo Buds Clip launch with 42-hour battery life and real-time translation

With the Buds Clip (in Chinese), Vivo has launched its first open-ear clip-on earbuds in China alongside the X500 series and Vivo Watch 6 – positioning them as a direct rival to the Huawei FreeClip 2. Key features include up to 42 hours of combined battery life, spatial audio, AI-powered call filtering and simultaneous connections with up to three devices.

Unlike traditional in-ear headphones, the Vivo Buds Clip attach to the outer ear, leaving the ear canal open so users can continue to hear their surroundings. Each earbud weighs 5.2 grams and is held in place by a flexible bridge made from “memory titanium.” The earbuds are not permanently assigned to the left or right ear, either: The Buds Clip are designed to automatically detect their position and adjust the stereo channels accordingly.

Vivo promises Hi-Res audio, clear calls and 42-hour battery life

For audio 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 as well as the 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 simulate a theater, concert hall, recording studio or live concert. A dedicated anti-leakage mode is also intended to prevent people nearby from overhearing what the user is listening to.

For calls, Vivo equips the earbuds with two beamforming microphones, AI noise cancellation and a bone-conduction sensor. This is intended to keep voices clear even in traffic noise or strong winds. Bluetooth 5.4 enables simultaneous connections with three smartphones, tablets or computers. According to Vivo, a single charge provides up to ten hours of playback, while the charging case extends total battery life to 42 hours. Ten minutes of charging is said to provide another three hours of playback. The earbuds are IP55-rated, while Vivo does not specify an IP rating for the charging case.

Real-time translation and offline search only with compatible smartphones

The Buds Clip offer real-time translation, AI voice notifications for packages, flights and train connections as well as an offline earbud finder – but only when paired with compatible Vivo and iQOO smartphones. Depending on the feature, at least Android 14 or Android 15 and a recent version of OriginOS are required. Vivo has not yet provided a list of compatible smartphones.

Launch in China

The Vivo Buds Clip have officially been available in China since September 21. The standard version has a regular price of 699 yuan (around $104), while the version that additionally supports Qi charging costs 799 yuan (around $119). There is currently no information about an international launch. Compared with the similarly designed Huawei FreeClip 2, the Vivo Buds Clip offer longer battery life and connections with three devices instead of two. Huawei, on the other hand, offers the higher IP57 rating, a protected charging case and Qi charging as standard.