Open‑ear earclips are now the most popular type of earbuds. They perfectly solve the problem of AirPods constantly slipping out. It seems the stem‑style earbuds—first popularized by the AirPods—are gradually being replaced by earclip‑type models. They fit any ear shape, stay comfortable for hours, and are much friendlier to your ear canal health. The star of today’s review is an open‑ear earclip from Baseus: the Bowie MC2. If you haven’t tried this type of earbuds yet, this is the one I highly recommend starting with.

Design and comfort

The Baseus Bowie MC2 has an oval-shaped case with a slightly more premium fit and finish compared to competitors in the same price range. Although some people may not like the oval-shaped case, it is more pocketable than most of the competition and is one of the best cases for jeans.

While this kind of open-ear earclip fits almost all ear shapes, Baseus has still added some thoughtful design touches to make it even more comfortable. For example, the replaceable CloudComfort 2.0 air cushions. These cushions help distribute pressure across the contact area, minimizing any wearing discomfort.

In fact, their SGS and TUV comfort certifications are the best proof of just how comfortable they are. The box also includes two other sizes of spare cushions, so you can choose the perfect fit for your specific ear shape.

Wave-Pattern Ultra-Thin C-Ring also makes for a surprisingly secure and comfortable fit. The C-Ring uses a memory titanium alloy that keeps the clamping force to a minimum. Another benefit of the C-ring is its longer length compared to most of the competition. This allows the speaker to be closer to the ear canal. Each earbud weighs only 5.1 grams. As you wear them longer, the comfort gap between the Bowie MC2 and other earbuds becomes even more noticeable; it’s easy to forget you’re even wearing them. The cherry on top is the IP67 rating. This ensures these ear-clips will survive the wettest workouts.

In summary, the Bowie MC2 is easily pocketable and has a case that feels solid. Compared to all other earclip designs I have tested in the past, these are the most comfortable earclips I have tried.

Sound

The Bowie MC2 uses 11mm dynamic drivers with metallic diaphragms, in addition to upgraded BISA special audio. Last year’s Inspire series featured tuning expertise learned from a collaboration with Bose, and that same technology has been packed into the MC2’s SuperBass 3.0. It also supports Hi-Res and LDAC codecs. And since the Bowie MC2 is recommended by a Grammy-winning audio professional, you know the audio DNA of this earclip is already solid.

The overall sound signature is V-shaped with good resolution and a surprising amount of depth. The bass is full-bodied, and the subbass is present with a moderate roll-off below 80 Hz. The bass is not boomy or bloated, and the vocals are clear. And clearly, it’s highly capable when it comes to vocal-heavy pop music. It may not perform quite like the flagship Inspire XC1, but the overall sound quality comes pretty close to top-tier models and is highly competitive for the price.

The Baseus app has several sound profiles and a customizable 8-band equalizer. You can create your own custom sound profile with the equalizer. For me, the default setting is easily the best overall choice, and it’s the one I use the most during my daily testing. Overall, the Bowie MC2 produces a full-bodied V-shaped sound with great resolution and depth.

Calls

In the video at the beginning of our article, there’s a call test — you can click to listen for yourself. To me, the call quality is pretty good. In theory, the 4-Mic Call Clarity and Smart Awareness help with ambient noise reduction and provide better-than-average call quality regardless of the background noise. Again, Bluetooth 6.0 allows for an excellent range from your phone.

Connectivity

A small button on the top side of each earbud controls all functions. With a little practice, all the functions are easy to master. Bluetooth 6.0 allows for a strong connection despite multiple walls and is a notable improvement over Bluetooth 5.0 devices I have tested. Latency was quite low and worked well for watching YouTube videos. For gaming, low-latency mode is accessible through the Baseus app.

Dual-Device connection should be standard on every pair of earbuds by now, but I still want to give it a quick mention. The Bowie MC2 does a great job with this; even when connecting between an iPhone and a MacBook, it delivers a switching experience that is just as seamless as AirPods.

Battery life

As Baseus’s latest earclip, the Bowie MC2’s battery life and charging capabilities are a huge advantage. They claim a single charge will last for 11.5 hours. 10 Min quick charge allows for up to 3 hours of listening. It’s safe to say this is currently Baseus’s strongest earclip in terms of battery and charging—bar none.

The Baseus Bowie MC2 is the most comfortable ear clip I have used. If you want an earclip that you can wear all day, this is it. They work well in the office, gym, and any situation that requires awareness of your surroundings. It sounds exceptional at a retail price under $60 (for early-bird deals). For a pair of open-ear earclips that deliver a flagship-level experience without the flagship price tag, Baseus has done an amazing job.

The Baseus Bowie MC2 retails for $79.99, but an exclusive early bird PD discount was secured for its debut on June 1st. Just use promo code MC2OWSPR at checkout to knock $30 off the price – that brings it down to just $49.99. Don’t sleep on this deal.

The post Baseus Bowie MC2 Review: Top-tier comfort and fit with great sound appeared first on Gizmochina.