Do Baseus Eli Sport 1 Open-Ear Earbuds Deliver on Sound and Comfort?

Baseus has kept things simple and practical. Inside the box, you’ll find:

• Eli Sport 1 earbuds in their charging case
• A detachable neckband
• A USB-C charging cable
• A user manual

After unboxing, the design immediately stood out for its practicality and subtle details. The open-ear concept is executed with a focus on comfort and usability. Instead of sitting in the ear canal like traditional earbuds, the Eli Sport 1 rests just outside, secured by slim, flexible hooks that wrap around the back of the ear. The hooks are made from a titanium alloy core coated in soft silicone, offering both durability and a gentle, skin-friendly feel. The result is a fit that feels stable without exerting pressure, even during long sessions.

The earbuds themselves are lightweight, with a matte finish that doesn’t attract fingerprints. The green accents on my review unit add a touch of vibrancy without being too flashy. These green hooks are marketed as glow-in-the-dark, and they do perform as advertised, especially in extremely low-light conditions.

The charging case, however, leans towards function over form. It’s noticeably larger than most earbud cases, making it less pocket-friendly. That said, it feels well-built, with a transparent polycarbonate lid that lets you see the earbuds’ LED indicators without opening it. The hinge on the case is sturdy enough, but I do wonder how scratch-resistant the clear lid will be over time.

It also comes with a detachable neckband that locks into the earbuds with a secure twist mechanism, giving you the option to wear the earbuds around your neck when not in use. While I didn’t use it frequently, it’s a handy feature for activities like running or sports.

These earbuds are rated IPX4 for water resistance, which means they can handle sweat and light splashes. I tested them during a sweaty workout, and they held up without any issues. While they’re not meant for heavy rain or submersion, the protection is enough for most everyday scenarios.

The Eli Sport 1 uses Bluetooth 5.3, and the connection has been consistently stable in my experience. Pairing is straightforward; as soon as I open the case, the earbuds enter pairing mode automatically. The first connection with my phone was quick, and I didn’t encounter any delays. However, I did notice an odd quirk: the charging case appears as a separate device during pairing. If you accidentally connect to the case instead of the earbuds, it won’t play media, which feels unnecessary and a bit confusing.

Once connected, the range was reliable up to the advertised 10 meters. I could move around my home without experiencing dropouts, even with a couple of walls in between.

The earbuds support dual connectivity, which allows them to pair with two devices simultaneously. I tested this by connecting them to my projector while also pairing them with my phone. Switching between devices is seamless as the earbuds automatically prioritize the active audio source. This feature came in handy when I needed to take a call without having to manually disconnect from one device first.

The Eli Sport 1 also supports low-latency mode, which can be enabled through the Baseus app. This is particularly useful for gaming or watching videos where audio delay can be noticeable. I tried this mode during a few YouTube and gaming sessions, and while I didn’t feel a massive difference compared to the default settings, the audio-video sync was smooth enough for casual viewing.

The earbuds are compatible with the Baseus app, adding a significant level of versatility to the Eli Sport 1, making it more than just a simple pair of open-ear earbuds. Setting up the app was quick; after downloading it, the earbuds were detected automatically once they were connected via Bluetooth. The app itself is intuitive, with a clean layout that makes finding features easy, even for first-time users.

The earbuds offer customizable touch controls, allowing remapping for playback, track skipping, volume adjustment, or low-latency mode. The touch controls can be finicky, but the app’s option to disable specific gestures provides a helpful solution.

The app also offers a range of EQ presets, such as Deep Bass, Hi-Fi Live, and Treble Boost along with a Custom EQ mode. While the presets can be inconsistent with their labels, the Custom EQ mode excels, featuring an eight-band equalizer that allows for precise sound adjustments, balancing highs, and enhancing bass without compromising clarity.

Another handy feature is the Find My Earbuds tool. If you misplace the earbuds, the app lets you play a loud sound on them to help locate them. There’s a map-based feature as well that shows the last known location of the earbuds, though this requires location permissions to be enabled. The app also displays the battery levels for both the earbuds and the case, which is a small but useful touch.

Sound quality was one of my main concerns with the Baseus Eli Sport 1, given its open-ear design, but I was pleasantly surprised. The 16.2mm drivers deliver a solid audio experience for the price, with a sound profile that feels balanced and well-suited for casual listening.

Out of the box, the default tuning offers clear mids, crisp highs, and a decent amount of bass, though it’s worth noting that open-ear earbuds inherently lack the punchy, immersive bass you’d get with in-ear designs. Even so, these manage to hold their own in the low-frequency department.

The directional audio technology does a good job of minimizing sound leakage. I tested this by turning up the volume in a quiet room, and while the music was faintly audible, it wasn’t intrusive.

Although the app provides a lot of EQ modes, the Custom EQ mode is where you can really tweak the sound to your preference. Using the eight-band equalizer, I was able to adjust the treble and mids to compensate for the slightly muted highs in some tracks. This feature proved useful for tailoring the audio to different genres, whether it was adding warmth or boosting clarity.

I noticed that environmental noise significantly impacts the listening experience. The open-ear design keeps you aware of your surroundings but also lets in external sounds like wind or chatter, which can compete with your music. For instance, during outdoor activities like sports or gym sessions, you might need to increase the volume to maintain clarity. Indoors, however, the sound remains consistent, allowing you to enjoy subtle details in tracks without distractions. In terms of call quality, it is adequate but not exceptional.

Battery life is often a deciding factor for me when choosing earbuds, and the Baseus Eli Sport 1 performs well in this area with only a few minor trade-offs. On a single charge, the earbuds are rated for 7.5 hours of playback at 50% volume. In my testing, I managed just over 7 hours with moderate volume levels, which aligns closely with Baseus’ claims.

The charging case boosts total battery life to 30 hours, a reliable figure for everyday use. It also supports quick charging, providing about 2 hours of playback with just 10 minutes in the case, ideal for those moments when you forget to charge them before heading out. Fully charging the earbuds takes around an hour, while the case itself requires slightly more time, depending on your charging setup.

The charging port is USB-C, which is now an expected standard and ensures faster and more efficient charging compared to older micro-USB setups. However, the lack of wireless charging might disappoint some, especially as it’s becoming more common even in midrange earbuds. For me, it wasn’t a significant drawback given the price point.

After spending time with the Baseus Eli Sport 1, I’ve come to appreciate how they cater to a specific kind of user. These aren’t trying to compete with premium earbuds offering active noise cancellation or booming bass. Instead, they focus on delivering a comfortable, open-ear experience for those who value awareness of their surroundings. For me, they hit that mark quite well, though not without a few compromises.

The open-ear design is undoubtedly their defining feature. It’s ideal for activities like running or walking in busy areas, where staying aware of your environment is critical. I also found the design exceptionally comfortable, so comfortable that I even sometimes forgot that I was wearing it. However, the same open design means you’ll have to contend with some external noise, and the maximum volume may feel insufficient in very loud settings.

In terms of features, the dual-wearing modes with the detachable neckband were a standout. While I didn’t need the neckband for stability, it was a thoughtful addition that added versatility when I wanted to take the earbuds out briefly. The IPX4 water resistance also reassured me that sweat or light splashes wouldn’t be a problem during workouts.

That said, the touch controls were a mixed bag for me. They worked most of the time, but the small touch-sensitive area and lack of tactile feedback required more precision than I’d prefer. Thankfully, the Baseus app offers customization options, which helped me tailor the controls to my needs and make the experience less frustrating.

On the sound front, the 16.2mm drivers delivered a balanced profile with clear mids and highs. While the bass isn’t as deep as you’d get from in-ear designs, the overall quality exceeded my expectations for open-ear earbuds in this price range. The app’s EQ presets and customizable equalizer were also handy for fine-tuning the sound, especially for different genres or listening environments.

Ultimately, the Baseus Eli Sport 1 isn’t perfect, but it delivers excellent value for its price. At around $55 to $80, depending on discounts, it offers a well-rounded mix of comfort, sound quality, and features. If you’re looking for open-ear earbuds that keep you connected to your surroundings while still delivering a good audio experience, these are worth considering. They’re not trying to be everything for everyone, but for the right user, they check a lot of boxes.

The Baseus Eli Sport 1 is available for $79.99, though frequent discounts bring the price down to as low as $55.99 on platforms like Amazon and Baseus’ official website. The earbuds come in Black, White, and Green, giving users some choice in aesthetics.

It is currently available for just $49.99 during the Black Friday sale, making it an unbeatable deal.

If you’re into gaming, check out this article to know unmissable Steam Autumn Sale deals on titles like God of War, Helldivers 2, RDR2, and more. Meanwhile, Boat has introduced its latest open-ear earbuds, the Airdopes Loop, in the Indian market.