Open-ear wireless earbuds are becoming more and more common – check out the Sony LinkBuds (and LinkBuds S), Bose Sport Open Earbuds and Clear Audio Arc for proof. Now we have a follow-up to the last pair – the Clear Audio Arc II – and they have better battery life than the originals.
They last an hour longer from the buttons, with eight hours of battery life compared to the seven of the originals. Using the charging case gives you a total of 35 hours of runtime before needing to recharge, which is 11 hours more than the five-star ANC-carrying Sony WF-1000XM4 (though 10 less than the industry-leading Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus).
Like the original Arc, they sit on your ears instead of digging into them. This allows you to hear what is happening around you, making you more aware of your surroundings. It’s the opposite of noise-cancelling technology and is especially useful if you’re running or cycling and want to keep your wits about you.
Inside are custom-tuned 16.2mm graphene neodymium drivers that beam the sound to your ears. Their flexible hinge design puts minimal pressure on your ears, making them more comfortable than some wireless earbuds, Cleer claims.
Bluetooth 5.3 – the latest version – gives you more range and a more robust wireless connection, while you can also seamlessly switch between Bluetooth devices using the Multipoint function. Support for aptX codecs means higher sound quality.
You can fine-tune the equalizer and access firmware updates via the Cleer+ app
IPX4 water resistance makes them immune to rain and sweat, while touch controls let you change track and volume, access your voice assistant and answer calls.
The Cleer Arc II will launch in the first three months of the year, in graphite and warm gray finishes. Price? $149.99 (about £126, AU$222), which is $20 more expensive than the original pair.
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