Sony, Bose or Huawei – who makes the best clip-on headphones?
14.2.2026
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Pictures: Lorenz Keller
Many manufacturers are launching open in-ear headphones that no longer need to be inserted into your ear canal. Instead, they simply clip onto the outside of your ear. I’m comparing two new devices with top dog Bose – which model will win me over?
In 2022, Sony popularised the concept with its first LinkBuds. Instead of placing headphones into your ear canal, which can be uncomfortable, the speaker rests gently on the ear. It sounds like you’re standing very close to a loudspeaker. In addition, you can still hear some ambient noise – which can be both a plus and a minus point.
I’ve exclusively worn open in-ear headphones like these for several years now. They provide several advantages: they’re more comfortable to me, I like their sound and I’m not totally cut off from the outside world. In the meantime, various manufacturers have copied and further developed Sony’s idea. This latest generation, for example, no longer has you clamping the headphones onto your ear. Instead, you hang them on your ear like a clip.
But which models are actually good? Time to compare two brand new sets from Sony and Huawei released in January 2026 with the Bose model, originally launched in Spring 2024 and still considered the best open device to date.
Price: same concept, different costs
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Although this model has been out for some time, its price has fallen only slightly, from just under 300 francs to just under 250. As a result, Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds are the most expensive in today’s comparison. In total, they come in ten colours.
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Huawei FreeClip 2: These Huawei headphones normally cost just under 200 francs. However, you can benefit from a 40-franc discount using a voucher code until 1 March, making the FreeClip 2 the cheapest in-ears in my comparison. There are three colours to choose from.
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Sony LinkBuds Clip: At 200 francs, the Sony is priced right between its two competitors. Four colour options are available at market launch.
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Sound quality: Sony flat, Huawei clear, Bose bass-heavy
These headphones have to prove their worth across four wildly different songs. For this, I always use the standard sound preset and lossless quality on Spotify for the source material.
Selig: Von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit: The guitars, bass, drums and vocals from this German band sound raw and direct – as if I were standing in the studio and listening in on a session. This way, I can hear how pure and clear the headphones sound. The Bose model sounds somewhat muffled, the bass is pronounced. Huawei offers a better balanced sound – the headphones give me the clearest feeling of standing next to the band. Sony, on the other hand, sounds neutral.
Daft Punk: Giorgio by Moroder: Disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder starts us off by talking about his beginnings, then the hymn to his golden era slowly builds up. I can use this track to test out speaking voices as well as dance sounds with a lot of bass. Bose’s powerful bass works well here, even if the voice and plenty subtleties from the electric pianos, funk guitars and synthesisers are lost in the process. Huawei’s headphones are almost the opposite: the treble is ultra-clear down to the last detail, but the impact of the bass is less impressive. Sony’s neutral mix fits quite well. However, the default volume needs to be turned up.
Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra: The dynamics of classical music can be distinguished beautifully in this recording by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Bose’s headphones translate the force of the orchestra into powerful sound. The Huawei headphones are less impressive, but I can hear many more details, such as the cymbals or the transition from strings to organ at the very end. In contrast to these two extremes, Sony’s model sounds bland and boring.
Adele: Hello: The English singer’s voice is the clear focus here. Bose’s headphones transmit the vocals beautifully and with a lot of volume. Thanks to the sparse instrumentation, nothing blurs together. With Huawei’s headphones, the focus is even more on the singing. All details are nice and clear, including fragile intonations at the very start, for example. In contrast, one thing’s even more noticeable with this song than with the others: Sony’s model is so neutral and restrained that I have to turn it up much louder to achieve a similar sound experience to the other two brands. Nevertheless, these Japanese in-ears are more muffled.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: If you like bass, you’ll love this Bose model. Bose already offers the most pronounced bass in its standard setting. Details sometimes suffer as a result, but depending on your taste in music, that’s not so bad.
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Huawei FreeClip 2: The FreeClips sound good too, just different. Which of the two models you prefer is a question of taste. The Huawei impresses with its clear sound and particularly precise treble range – it just lacks a little bass in the default setting.
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Sony LinkBuds Clip: The sound disappointed me. Sony is known for its neutral sound, but the Clips just seem lifeless and flat. I have to turn up the volume considerably and can only adjust the sound to my taste later.
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Weight and case: Huawei’s the lightest
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: The whole thing weighs 56.8 grammes, with one earbud tipping the scales at 6.4 grammes. Both competing models are lighter. Bose’s charging case is made of hard plastic and doesn’t look particularly high-quality. The wobbly hinge on the lid also contributes to this impression.
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Huawei FreeClip 2: At 5.1 grammes per earbud and 48.8 grammes in total, the FreeClips are the lightest model in my comparison. The case is the most compact I’m looking at. It’s grippy, and the roughened surface gives it a higher quality appearance than the other charging cases.
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Sony LinkBuds Clip: The whole thing weighs 53.8 grammes, with one earbud tipping the scales at 6.3 grammes. That’s a little less than Bose, but significantly more than Huawei. The plastic on the case looks reasonably high-quality, but I’m annoyed that the upper bit is glossy while the lower part is matt. The piano lacquer is also really susceptible to fingerprints.
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Comfort and controls: varied, but solid overall
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Bose’s headphones sit snugly yet comfortably on the ear. Hats will only slightly push against them. The earpieces are each designed for one side – the left bud can only be inserted into the case on the left side, the right bud only on the right. Many detailed settings can be changed in the app: immersive audio or connecting to two playback devices simultaneously. The Ultra Open are the only device in my comparison that has buttons built directly into the earpiece – one each on the top of the bit that clamps behind your ears. Operating them is more precise than with touch-sensitive sensors, but I really have to hold the knob between my thumb and index finger to be able to click – one finger isn’t enough. In addition, Bose has predefined all commands – you can’t customise anything.
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Huawei FreeClip 2: Huawei’s Clips sit rather loosely on the ears. They’re barely noticeable, but still don’t fall off when I shake my head vigorously. If I put on a hat, the buds press against my temples. A useful feature: the earpieces automatically detect whether they’re on the left or right ear. You can change a lot of settings in the app, including the option of accepting calls by nodding or rejecting them by shaking your head. This works perfectly every time, as do the gesture controls. It distinguishes between double and triple taps, swipes and press and holds.
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Sony LinkBuds Clip: The earpieces can be clearly felt on the ear, partly also because the rear bit is quite large. Wearing a hat won’t make this any worse, at least. Overall, they hold onto your ears excellently. I barely noticed the additional padding on the handle – it’s neither good nor bad. Sony relies on clearly defined left and right buds that can only be inserted correctly into the case one way. You can use the app to connect the headphones to two devices at the same time and quickly switch back and forth. The Clips are controlled directly by tapping them several times – Sony can’t recognise other gestures. For example, you have to tap the Clips several times to adjust the volume, which works well.
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Battery life: five to seven hours minimum
I played a YouTube music stream at the same output volume across all three devices to compare this category. The volume was set at about two thirds – in other words, louder than I’d normally listen to music. Still, I’ll end up with realistic results this way.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: The manufacturer promises seven hours of battery life. I achieved five hours and 30 minutes in my test – a mediocre result.
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Huawei FreeClip 2: I measured seven hours and five minutes in my battery test. A decent value, but the manufacturer promises up to nine hours.
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Sony LinkBuds Clip: Sony has also specified a value of nine hours. I measured an excellent seven hours and 45 minutes. It’s the best value in my comparison, and the smallest deviation from the manufacturer’s specifications.
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Microphone: not that great on any model
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: The microphone picks up my voice relatively clearly, it’s just a bit quiet. Overall, however, the voice transmission doesn’t win me over.
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Huawei FreeClip 2: Recorded audio is louder, but S sounds are a little too pronounced. I wouldn’t recommend long or important phone calls with the Huawei headphones either.
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Sony LinkBuds Clip: The volume’s fine, but recordings sound muffled and are the least intelligible.
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Verdict: Huawei is the clear winner on points
If I add up the points from every category, there’s a clear winner. Outsider Huawei clearly prevails against established brands in the audio market. The Huawei FreeClip 2 delivers a solid overall package: the headphones have no real weaknesses, except for the microphone and call quality. Still, none of the models do well here anyway.
If I prioritise audio quality, Huawei still wins out. Mind you, Bose and Sony do move closer.
Overall, however, I can make arguments for all three models – none of them really performed badly.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Ideal for anyone who loves powerful bass. The large selection of colours and the comfortable yet full fit speak for this model.
Huawei FreeClip 2: The most striking earphones in my comparison sound good, are affordable and offer extensive controls directly on the ear.
Sony LinkBuds Clip: The long battery life and – depending on your taste – neutral sound, which can be adjusted with the equaliser if desired, speak in favour of the Sony model.
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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