vivo Buds Clip handle the left-right check for you

vivo introduced its Buds Clip open-ear earbuds in Europe on October 27, 2026. They clip around the outer ear without sealing the ear canal, and automatically assign left and right audio channels so you can pick up either bud. A flexible curved bridge holds each one in position, while three-device connectivity lets you move playback between a phone, tablet and computer.

No fixed left or right, but front and back still matter

Each earbud weighs about 5.2g and contains a 12mm driver. The symmetrical design removes the need to choose a particular bud for each ear, but you still need to position it correctly.

Place the speaker ball in front of the ear and the bean-shaped rear section behind it, with the sound outlet facing inward. Gently open the bridge, slide it over the outer ear, then adjust the angle to align the speaker port with the ear canal. The open design leaves surrounding sound audible; comfort and fit will depend on your ears.

Three connected devices, with phone-dependent controls

The Buds Clip support connections to up to three Android or Apple devices, including phones, tablets and computers. You switch between playback sources; they do not mix three music streams together.

On other phone brands, multi-device management requires the vEarphones app and Android 13 or later, or iOS 14 or later. Fully compatible vivo/iQOO phones can manage it without the app.

Extra features have narrower requirements. Spatial Audio needs a deeply compatible vivo/iQOO model running Android 15 and OS 5.0 or later, with a supported MediaTek or Qualcomm platform and more than 6GB of RAM. Other phone brands support Standard Mode only through the app, while gesture customization requires a supported vivo/iQOO phone.

vivo also advertises dual-microphone and VPU noise reduction to help the person at the other end of a call hear your voice. This is call noise reduction, not listening ANC that blocks surrounding sound.

Up to 10 hours in the buds, 42 with the case

vivo rates playback at up to 10 hours on a single charge, or 42 hours in total with recharges from the case. These are manufacturer laboratory figures for MP3 playback over AAC at 50% volume with sound effects disabled; actual battery life varies.

The IP55 dust- and water-resistance rating applies only to the earbuds, not the charging case. Protection can decrease with wear, and the buds are not intended for swimming.

Frandroid reports a price of €179 for the Buds Clip in France.