Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review
I was incredibly excited to try out the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2. The original model is easily among my favorite pairs of clip-on open earbuds, delivering immersive audio, an exceptionally comfortable fit, and a solid feature-set to match. So can the sequel build upon the strengths of the original AeroClip? Here’s my verdict after testing them.
Let’s start by talking about the upgrades on the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2. Perhaps the main event is the new 'AnkerThus' chip, which — according to the company — offers 150x more computing power than the previous model. The key feature of the new chip is that it powers "Crystal-Clear Calls" and, indeed, you do get very solid call quality on the AeroClip 2. AI helps to scoop out pesky external sounds, and whether I was making a call or taking a voice recording, I found that my speech never sounded obscured. I also enjoyed the Whisper mode, which made my voice clear even if I was talking quietly.
One of the changes I really appreciate is HearID. Here, a few soundbites play, and you select the signature that sounds the best to you, before being shown your result. Perhaps unsurprisingly, my result favored a bit more emphasis in the low-end, making up for the low-end limitations of open-ear design. This feature helps the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 to stand out, even among the best open earbuds, and I recommend every user try it before they start listening to their tunes.
Elsewhere, the earbuds receive a huge waterproofing upgrade, from IPX4 to the AeroClip 2's IP57. This sees the buds protected against dust ingress, and submersion in up to a meter of water for as long as 30 minutes.
Battery life has also been improved. While the buds still offer a respectable, albeit unremarkable, eight hours of playback, they will stay alive for 32 hours with the charging case — an eight-hour boost over the original AeroClip.
The case design also see some changes; it's far more compact than the charging cradle on the first AeroClip. The buds also now slip into the case back-to-back, making the AeroClip 2 more convenient to slide into your pocket than their predecessors. The buds themselves look very similar — and still have that comfortable, lightweight, and secure fit of the original model that I so loved. They’re also pretty stylish, arriving in a range of colors including Burgundy Red, Cloud White, Midnight Black, and Mist Blue.
So, now on to how the AeroClip 2 sound. Something that piqued my interest is that the new buds seem to favor bass a little less than their predecessors — at least out of the box. If anything, I’d argue that bass is a little recessed, not helped by the AeroClip 2’s open architecture, which naturally leaks low-frequencies more than standard in-ear buds. But fear not: these are still very solid performers overall.
With my HearID tuning in use, I was able to get a bit more weight at the low-end, while still leaving plenty of room for instruments to breathe in the mid-range and treble. And while the sonic upgrade over the first AeroClip buds is more incremental than revolutionary, there are certainly a few enhancements worth covering.
For instance, the news buds include LDAC, enabling you to stream higher-res music over Bluetooth with a compatible device (such as a modern Android phone). In practice, LDAC did make a difference — finer details in vocal performances and subtle percussive elements came through more prominently, opening up a more intricate listening experience.
Into my listening notes now, and we’ll start with the jazz-funk track Pret-Á-Porter by Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti. The AeroClip 2 offered a wide, expansive soundstage — something clip-on open ears often excel at. Bass was well weighted and didn’t overstep its remit, but it wasn’t the most punchy or impactful. Treble sounded more articulate than on the original AeroClip, with precise, controlled percussion, and I was impressed by instrument separation, with horns and guitars operating separately rather than getting in each other's way.
Next, I switched over to a house track, Foreva by Caleb Jackson. Again, bass didn’t have that full-sounding, rich quality I love from my in-ear buds and over-ear headphones, but it was still agile and rhythmic. Vocals were well defined in the mix, and treble, while expressive and responsive, didn’t sound overly forward or grating — even at higher volumes. The subtlety of synths in the mid-range was also handled tastefully.
I finished up with Michi by Yuta Orisaka, a more stripped-back, acoustic track. Acoustic guitars in the intro were delicate and emotive — with LDAC helping the AeroClip 2 to provide more insight than their predecessor. Vocals, while not the most textured, were clear in the mic, and subtle bass came through nicely. All in all, the AeroClip 2 are a bit more revealing than the original model, and while they have limitations due to their open architecture, they perform pretty admirably overall.
The AeroClip 2 also feature a spatial sound mode, which can make your tunes sound more immersive, but I tended to keep this off for the most precise, natural presentation. You can access settings such as this in the Anker Soundcore app, which is responsive, well-laid out, and has a flashy UI. From there you can also alter EQ, with HearID, presets, or access a multi-band custom option. There’s also a section that enables you to listen to relaxing sounds such as waves crashing or forest noises — a little gimmicky, sure, but fun all the same.
In addition, the AeroClip 2 introduce customizable button controls, whose functions you can swap out for each bud via the Anker Soundcore app. So, for example, you might make one press on the right earbud to pause playback, but one press on the left earbud to trigger the voice assistant.
There’s no noise cancelling on the AeroClip 2. This is the norm for open ears, but there are some rival models, such as the Edifier LolliClip, for example, that include it. But the draw of the open fit is that you’ll be able to stay highly aware of your surroundings, which was true for the AeroClip 2, even when I was using them at max volume. Personally, I prefer the option to switch between ANC and a transparency mode, so I’m still more likely to reach for the JBL Live Beam 4, say. Nevertheless, if you like the open style, then the AeroClip 2 are a strong option.
So, are the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 worth buying? Overall, I'd say yes…but there’s a "but".
Anker has ramped up the price of its flagship clip-on earbuds to $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240), marking a $40 / £30 (about AU$30) increase over the first model. But do the improvements justify the increase?
Well, I really like the HearID setting, and the inclusion of LDAC is a neat bonus — as is the more compact design. But the sonic jump or boost in battery life isn’t massive, and some of the new features such as the AI assistant / translation and spatial audio feel more like "nice-to-haves" rather than essential upgrades. So, it really depends on what you value as a user.
The AeroClip 2 are still priced relatively well overall, and deliver very solid sound quality, a fantastic fit, and plenty of customization options. And I still think that they’re some of the more functionally fleshed-out and better-sounding models you can buy right now. Having said that, I don’t think the original AeroClip buds should be overlooked — especially if you’re an iPhone user who can’t harness the powers of LDAC, or if you want to make a bit of a saving.
Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review: price & release date
- $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240)
- Released in September 2026
The Anker SoundCore AeroClip 2 were released in September 2026, around a year and a half after their predecessors, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip. The AeroClip 2 are priced at $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240), which is a significant jump up in price from the original AeroClip model, which cost $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$210) at launch.
Of course, there are a number of improvements that help justify this price hike, including a more compact build, LDAC, enhanced waterproofing, and implementation of the AnkerThus chip. And while the AeroClip 2 are still cheaper than rivals such as the Shokz OpenDots 2 and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, you can get impressive quality from cheaper models such as the Edifier LolliClip and budget-friendly Baseus Bowie MC2.
Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review: specs
Waterproof rating | IP57 |
Drivers | 12mm dynamic |
Battery life | 8 hours (buds), 32 hours (with charging case) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.0 |
Weight | 6.2g (per bud) |
Frequency range | 20Hz-20kHz |
Should I buy the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2?
Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
Features | HearID works great, customizable controls, decent battery life, LDAC now here. | 4.5/5 |
Performance | Solid detail and balance, although open design limits bass output. | 4/5 |
Design | Ultra-comfortable and lightweight, more compact than before, neat color options, open design has its pros and cons. | 4.5/5 |
Value | A price hike that’s justified in many areas, but some improvements could be greater. | 4/5 |
Buy them if…
You’re drawn to the clip-on design
If you like the look of cuff-type earbuds, you’ll almost certainly enjoy the AeroClip 2. They have a stylish aesthetic, they're comfortable, and their highly secure fit all combine to make them solid all-rounders.
You’re looking for highly customizable sound
HearID enables you to take a multi-choice test that optimizes the AeroClip 2’s audio to suit your specific tastes. But if that wasn’t enough, there are also a handful of EQ presets as well as a multi-band custom equalizer, giving you advanced control over the sound of your open earbuds.
Don’t buy them if…
You want premium audio
If you’re looking for premium sound quality, you won’t get it here. That’s largely inherent to the open design that leaks sound, with the low-end especially weaker than in-ear buds.
You want noise cancelling
If you’re looking to shut out the outside world, then the AeroClip 2 aren’t for you. Some open earbuds include noise-cancelling technology, but it's pretty rare. Want ANC? I’d recommend the JBL Live Beam 4 or AirPods Pro 3 instead.
Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review: also consider
Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 | Shokz OpenDots 2 | AirPods 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Price | $169.99 / £159.99 (about AU$240) | $199.95 / £179.99 / AU$339 | $129 / £129 / AU$219 |
Drivers | 12mm dynamic | Dual 11.8mm dynamic | Custom high-excursion |
Waterproof rating | IP57 | IP55 | IP57 |
Battery life | 8 hours (buds), 32 hours (with charging case) | 10 hours (buds), 40 hours (with charging case) | 4 hours (buds), 20 hours (with charging case) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.0 | Bluetooth 6.1 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Weight | 6.2g (per bud) | 6.4g (per bud) | 4.3g (per bud) |
Frequency range | 20Hz-20kHz | 100Hz-20kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
Shokz OpenDots 2
The Shokz OpenDots 2 are an excellent pair of clip-on buds that boast great sound quality with punchy bass, good battery life, a secure and comfortable fit, and plenty of customization options. They’re a little bit pricier than the AeroClip 2, but you get more playtime, intuitive controls, and premium build quality that makes the investment feel worthwhile. Read our full Shokz OpenDots 2 review.
AirPods 5
Time for something a little different. The AirPods 5 are open-fit earbuds rather than clip-ons, but they still let you hear plenty of the world around you while delivering great style and sound quality to match. There's ANC to block out the outside world, plus they’re also highly waterproof, rammed with features, and beautifully lightweight. Non Apple-users may find their functionality overly restricted, and their battery life is disappointing, but they’re still a great pair of open-fit buds overall. Read more about the AirPods 5.
How I tested the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2
- Tested in the office and while out and about
- Mainly streamed music over Tidal
- Compared directly against predecessor
I spent countless hours testing the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2, during which time I made full use of their features, spent countless hours listening to music, and assessed their performance in a range of environments.
As always, I started my testing by sifting through the TechRadar reference playlist, but I also tuned into a huge variety of tracks from my personal library. I made sure to test the AeroClip 2 directly against their predecessor, as well as a handful of rivals.
More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from party speakers such as the Marshall Bromley 750 through to premium wireless headphones such as the Sony 1000X The Collexion. I’ve also tested a number of clip-on open earbuds, such as the Edifier LolliClip and the Sony LinkBuds Open.
- Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
- First reviewed: October 2026
