Open-ear earbuds weren’t my favorite audio choice for a long time. Most options I tried didn’t feel right, and the audio was often awful. The trade-offs between open-ear and regular in-ear buds didn’t exist, as there was only one winner.

Then I tried Anker Soundcore’s AeroClip, which changed my view completely. I could actually hear my music; they weren’t a huge pain to slot into place, and I could finally see what others liked about clip-on earbuds.

And now, the Soundcore AeroClip 2 are here to build on everything that made the original version very much worth your time. 12mm drivers, hi-res LDAC support, up to 40 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 6.0, and a design that uses 2,000 different ear profiles to find the perfect fit for any ear, all in one package.

The Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 have just become my favorite new clip-on earbuds — but they’re not without issue.

7/10

Battery Life

8 hours on earbud, up to 40 hours with case

Charging Case Included?

Yes

Microphones

4, plus 2 VPC

Brand

Anker Soundcore

The Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 is a premium open-ear, clip-on earbud featuring a Guinness-certified THUS AI audio chip for record-breaking call clarity. It upgrades its predecessor with a 12mm dual-magnet driver, LDAC Hi-Res audio, spatial sound, and wireless charging, all wrapped in a lightweight, IP57-rated 6.2g design.

Pros & Cons

• Comfortable, lightweight design
• Great audio for open-ear design
• Good battery life on earbud and charging case
• Case can fit into any pocket
• Extensive customization in companion app

• AI chatbot doesn’t really make sense
• Case is rattly

Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 Availability and Specifications

The AeroClip 2 are available from Anker Soundcore for £159/$169, or for $169 via Amazon. You can pick them up in Cloud White, Mist Blue, Burgundy Red, or Midnight Black.

2,000 ears can’t be wrong

The Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 has an all-new design

Well, I say “all new,” but the constraints of a clip-on earbud are evident. Still, the core of what I loved about the AeroClip is front and center with the AeroClip 2, with Anker Soundcore measuring 2,000 ears to help craft the perfect fit for anyone, anywhere.

It’s comfortable, that’s for sure. The AeroClip 2 is simple to slot into place and, once there, doesn’t really move around at all. I’ve worn the clip-ons while walking around the supermarket, strolling through the woods, climbing up the local moors and peaks, and on my regular runs, and they’ve done the job every time.

I don’t want to keep harking back to the original AeroClip, but there are actually some key differences between the two designs. First is that the AeroClip 2 has done away with the interchangeable silicone adjustment sleeves. The new model is one-size fits-all, and it seems to do the job. I’ve had my wife, teenage kids, and a couple of friends slot these on, and in each case, everyone has found them easy and comfortable. So, a win.

Second, the original model used something called an “adaptive open-ring,” while the AeroClip 2 uses “a C-bridge clip-on structure.” The main difference is that the AeroClip 2 “bridge” is slimmer than the original, meaning the charging carry case is also much slimmer — but more on this in a moment.

Weight-wise, the AeroClip 2 increases from 5.9g to 6.2g per earbud, which is effectively imperceptible, and given the other spec upgrades, is pretty decent overall.

The smaller charging case delivers the same battery

But it has one tiny problem

So, onto that charging case. Anker Soundcore has done a fantastic job by somehow cutting the case size almost in half but keeping the same 32 hours of battery time in place.

It’s really quite remarkable, speaking both to advancements in general battery technology and Anker’s implementation.

What I don’t like is the new earbud placement within the case. The slimmer bridge means the earbuds slot into place back to back; that is to say, the bridge elements occupy the same space. It’s a little fiddly to get used to, it has to be said.

But more than that, the case now rattles, which I don’t like. It’s not hugely audible, but it doesn’t feel as solidly built as the original. I don’t doubt for a moment that the earbuds aren’t perfectly safe in the case, but it’s just not something I was expecting.

The AeroClip 2 sound is on point for an open-ear design

Music sounds like music

As said, I was really taken by the AeroClip earbuds’ audio quality. They became the first set of open-ear clip-on earbuds that became part of my full-time earbud rotation — perfect for exercise, but also for not shouting while making a call while doing the shopping.

The AeroClip 2 delivers a similar audio experience, with the 12mm dynamic drivers pushing well-balanced audio that doesn’t massively overcompensate for the open design. I found the level of bass reasonable; slightly cranked up to push back against external sound leakage, but that’s to be expected. It makes for a surprisingly detailed listen, which you don’t always get with clip-on buds.

Those accustomed to Anker Soundcore earbuds will know its Soundcore Signature EQ profile well, and this is the profile the AeroClip 2 ships with out of the box.

My ongoing gripe with Anker Soundcore’s companion app remains, though. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: stop presenting the Soundcore Signature as a flat EQ. It’s anything but. It sounds fun, but be honest, especially when switching to a “flat EQ” presents with various peaks and troughs.

That said, I do like the Soundcore app in general. It makes customizing your EQ incredibly simple, especially as you’ll also find the Soundcore HearID test in the app. This quick test plays some music snippets for you to choose between, and it crafts a unique EQ for you based on your results.

I don’t always use this when I try new Soundcore headphones and earbuds, but given the AeroClip 2 are open-ear clip-ons, I gave it a go. It suggested that I prefer Rich Vocals, which is interesting to me; could it be down to the rock music sample played? I’d like to try some different styles.

If you use a host of Soundcore audio products, you can save the HeadID to your Soundcore profile, then move it between devices, updating it as you go, comparing the differences.

Elsewhere, the AeroClip 2 has been upgraded to Bluetooth 6.0, and the buds support AAC, SBC, and Sony’s hi-res LDAC codec. Given these are open-ear buds, I couldn’t really discern any difference between the codecs during general playback, especially not when walking or cycling or otherwise. It’s a neat option to have, but it’s not something to particularly worry about using.

The onboard AI has the makings of something useful

Microphones: yes; changing audio: no

In the era of “oh look it has AI,” Anker Soundcore is also, understandably, pursuing the same. Earlier in 2026, Anker rolled out its admittedly decent THUS AI chip, which has two direct effects for the AeroClip 2.

The first is that the AeroClip 2 microphone quality is exceptional. The number of microphones has risen from four to six with two additional Voice Pickup Units (VPUs), which I’m sure you’re immediately saying, “Isn’t that just a microphone?”

Well, yes and no. A VPU is a sensor powered by an AI chip — the THUS — designed to pick up audio, but also to specifically help isolate your voice in noisy environments. In this regard, Soundcore’s AI implementation is great.

But the other side of the AI coin is Anker’s Anka chatbot, which is better than I remember, but still lacking features that would actually make it useful, especially given how the company appears to want it to function.

Asking Anka to adjust my EQ worked, and that’s actually pretty cool. I could use commands like “add more bass” to this or “switch to a flat EQ,” and Anka did the job. But other, slightly more advanced requests fall on slightly deaf AI ears.

Frustratingly, Anka can play music, but is designed to play music from its own catalog. That means you can listen to some background, chill-out type audio, but other than that, you’re basically out of luck. So, I asked Anka to play some concentration, brainwave-type audio, which it did. Good stuff, right? But it played one track on repeat, without any option to change.

And this is the two-sided nature of Anker’s current AI implementation. It’s excellent for isolating your audio, but otherwise it feels too forced and needs more time to bake.

Should you buy the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2?

If you’re looking for a pair of open-ear clip-on earbuds, the AeroClip 2 should be very close to the top of your list. I’ve found these clip-ons comfortable for long periods with great audio quality, and the up to eight-hour battery life on the buds is also pretty handy.

My minor gripes aside — slightly rattly case, somewhat pointless AI implementation — the AeroClip 2 hit the mark in all other areas, which is fantastic, and means they’re very much worth your time.

7/10

Battery Life

8 hours on earbud, up to 40 hours with case

Charging Case Included?

Yes

Microphones

4, plus 2 VPC

Brand

Anker Soundcore

The Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 is a premium open-ear, clip-on earbud featuring a Guinness-certified THUS AI audio chip for record-breaking call clarity. It upgrades its predecessor with a 12mm dual-magnet driver, LDAC Hi-Res audio, spatial sound, and wireless charging, all wrapped in a lightweight, IP57-rated 6.2g design.