Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 Review: Open-Ear Headphones with an AI Chip for Crystal-Clear Calls

Open-ear earbuds in a clip-on design have become an indispensable part of my daily routine, and with the AeroClip 2, Anker (just one year after the first edition) is launching the second generation of its Soundcore Clip-On series. I wore the earbuds for a few days while commuting, working from home, and taking phone calls in noisy environments, and I was particularly surprised by one feature that Anker actively promotes: call and voice quality thanks to a proprietary AI chip. For 179.99 euros, you get a redesigned wearing concept, Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC, a wireless charging case with IP57 protection, and a whole range of additional features that are rarely found in this form in an open-ear model. In this review, I’ll show you whether the extra cost is worth it compared to cheaper clip-on earbuds like the Soundpeats UU2 (review) and where the AeroClip 2 reaches its limits in everyday use.

Technical Specifications of the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2

Design	Open-ear clip-on earbuds
Driver	12 mm, dual-magnet dynamic driver, titanium-coated diaphragm
Bluetooth Version	6.0
Supported Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC (Hi-Res Audio Wireless)
Multipoint connection	Yes, simultaneous connection to two devices
Certifications	MFi (Made for iPhone), Google Fast Pair
Chipset	Anker Thus AI chip
Microphones	4 microphones + 2 vibration pickup units (VPU)
Controls	Physical buttons (single, double, and triple press plus hold)
Water and dust resistance	IP57
Battery Playtime per charge	Up to 8 hours
Total playback time with charging case	Up to 32 hours
Fast-charging function	Approx. 10 minutes of charging for several hours of playtime
Charging	USB-C and wireless charging (Qi)
Weight per earbud	Approx. 6.2 g
App	Soundcore app
Colors	Burgundy, Midnight, Cloud White
Price (MSRP)	€ 179.99 *

Design and Comfort for Everyday Use

When unboxing, the first thing you notice is the redesigned wearing concept: Anker calls it the GoldenFit design and, according to the company, analyzed over 2,000 ear scans to optimize the shape of the ear hook. Instead of an ear tip in the ear canal, the Anker soundcore AeroClip 2 clips onto the earlobe with a C-shaped ear hook made of flexible memory titanium wire, while the actual driver sits outside the ear canal. This is just as comfortable as the market leader in open-ear headphones, namely the Huawei FreeClip 2 S (our review).

In practice, I immediately notice the difference from the first generation: The ear hook exerts noticeably less pressure, and I was able to wear the earbuds for several hours at a time without either ear feeling uncomfortable. Weighing about 6.2 grams per earbud, they’re pleasantly light, and the rubberized surface of the ear hooks provides additional grip without slipping. At least in everyday use—whether walking, biking, or at my desk. During very intense workouts involving rapid head movements, I noticed that the position occasionally shifts slightly, which is to be expected with an open-ear design. One thing that stands out: The AeroClip 2 completely lacks the separate silicone tips found on the previous generation, which I initially missed when unboxing them. However, I didn’t need them during testing, as the ear hooks alone provide a secure fit.

Visually, the AeroClip 2 looks simple and high-quality: sturdy hard plastic combined with flexible wire, plus a compact charging case that’s significantly smaller than those of many competing models. I tested the case in Midnight; the AeroClip 2 is also available in Burgundy and Cloud White.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2: Features

Under the hood, each earbud features a 12-mm dual-magnet driver with a titanium-coated diaphragm made from a material that Anker bills as “aerospace-grade.” The dual-magnet design is intended to provide more powerful sound, and this is indeed noticeable in the listening test—especially in the bass range. But more on that later in the section on sound quality.

For the wireless connection, Anker relies on Bluetooth 6.0, which provided me with a stable connection without dropouts during testing—even in busy train stations or when moving between different rooms. Multipoint is handy for everyday use: I was able to connect the earbuds to both my laptop and smartphone at the same time, so I didn’t have to manually switch when moving from a video call on my computer to an incoming call on my phone.

In terms of codecs, the AeroClip 2 supports not only SBC and AAC but also LDAC, the high-resolution codec that allows for higher transmission bandwidth and potentially better sound quality on Android devices. For iPhone users, MFi certification is also important, while Android users will appreciate Google Fast Pair, which noticeably speeds up the pairing process.

Operation & Battery Life of the AeroClip 2

Instead of touch-sensitive panels, Anker has opted for physical buttons on the AeroClip 2. In my opinion, this is the right choice for a device designed for sports and everyday use. Whether wearing gloves in the fall or with slightly damp fingers after a workout, the buttons always responded reliably during my testing, whereas touch sensors often fail to register input or trigger unintended actions in such situations. Most functions can be controlled directly on the earbuds with single, double, and triple button presses, as well as long presses. Play/pause, track skipping, volume control, and answering calls all work without having to look at your smartphone.

In terms of battery life, the AeroClip 2 performs well for its price range: In my test, I got about 7 to 8 hours of music playback per charge at moderate volume, which matches Anker’s claim of up to 8 hours. The charging case adds up to a total of 32 hours of playback time. That’s more than enough for a workweek with daily commuting, without having to plug the case into a charger every night.

The fast-charging feature is especially helpful in everyday use: About 10 minutes in the case provides several hours of additional playback time. It’s ideal when the battery is running low right before a last-minute appointment. The case can be charged either via USB-C or wirelessly—in practice, I often preferred wireless charging because the case can simply be placed on the charging dock I already had.

The Soundcore App in Detail

For me, Anker’s Soundcore app is one of the most polished companion apps I’ve used with open-ear headphones so far. The following features stood out particularly during testing:

• HearID 5.0, a personalized hearing test system that adjusts the equalizer to your individual hearing
• An 8-band equalizer with several preconfigured presets for different music genres
• A Nap Mode with soothing sounds
• A Game Mode to reduce latency
• Device finder in case you misplace an earbud
• Dual device pairing controllable directly from the app
• The real-time translation feature, which, according to Anker, allows for bidirectional translation in over 100 languages. In a quick everyday test with simple sentences, it worked surprisingly well, even though I wouldn’t consider it a substitute for a professional interpreter

What I personally find missing in the app is automatic wear detection that pauses playback as soon as you take out an earbud. At this price point, I would have expected that.

Sound Quality and Microphones

In terms of sound, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 surprised me in a good way, especially since open-ear clip-on earbuds tend to struggle with thin bass due to their design. In a direct listening test, the AeroClip 2 delivers surprisingly powerful bass. With hip-hop, pop, and electronic music, there’s plenty of punch without the bass sounding intrusive or uncontrolled. With bass-heavy rock and metal tracks, the highs can sound slightly sharper at higher volumes, but overall, the sound remains pleasantly balanced for this design.

I find the mids to be clear and present; voices and vocals are well-defined in the foreground without being overshadowed by the bass. The highs are cleanly defined, though they don’t sound quite as delicate as with some closed-back in-ear headphones when listening to very bright recordings. However, this is to be expected with an open-back design. If you’re not 100 percent satisfied with the factory sound profile, you can fine-tune it further using HearID 5.0 and the equalizer in the app to create a significantly more nuanced sound signature yourself. As with any open-back earbuds, the following applies: In very quiet environments and at high volumes, the music is faintly audible to people in the immediate vicinity. This is a fundamental characteristic of this design and not a quirk of the AeroClip 2.

Microphone Quality and Calls: The Big Strength

For me, the real star of the AeroClip 2 is its call and voice quality. This is made possible by the Anker Thus AI chip, which, according to the manufacturer, offers significantly more processing power than previous solutions, combined with a total of six microphones per pair of earbuds: four standard microphones plus two so-called vibration pickup units, which capture voice vibrations directly at the ear instead of relying solely on ambient sound.

Microphone test recording of the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2:

Microphone test recording of the Huawei FreeClip 2 S:

During testing, I deliberately made calls in noisy environments and was surprised at how clearly my voice came through to the person on the other end. Even with ambient noise estimated at 80 to 90 decibels, speech intelligibility remained high, while background noise was reliably filtered out. The advertised “Whisper Mode,” which is supposed to pick up even whispered speech, does work in everyday situations, but to me it feels more like a nice extra than a feature I need on a daily basis. For anyone who makes a lot of calls on the go or in noisy work environments, however, the microphone quality is a real selling point for the AeroClip 2.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 Review: Conclusion

After several days of everyday use, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 has left me with an all-around positive impression. Anker has made improvements in all the right places: The headband is more comfortable than on the previous generation, the sound delivers a surprising amount of bass for an open-ear design, and the battery life of up to 32 hours—including the case—easily covers everyday use. For me, however, their real strength clearly lies in call quality: Thanks to an AI chip and six microphones, your voice remains clear even in noisy environments—an area where many open-ear competitors fall short.

At 179.99 euros, the AeroClip 2 falls into the higher-end price range for open-ear earbuds, but in return, it delivers a well-rounded overall package of comfort, app features, and call quality. If you’re willing to pay a little extra for this combination, the AeroClip 2 currently offers one of the most comfortable and communication-friendly options in the open-ear segment.