M97 Clip On Earbuds Wireless Bluetooth Review
Open-ear clip-on headphones that sit in front of your ear, stay locked on during workouts, and let you hear your surroundings. Here's how they held up.
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Quick Verdict
I had them clipped on both ears, no music playing, and I could still hold a full conversation. These open ear clip headphones lock on tight, don’t hurt at all, and the little case screen controls everything without your phone. Super impressed for what they are.
Buy if you:
- Run or hit the gym and hate buds falling out
- Want to stay aware of traffic, kids, or coworkers
- Like controlling playback from a case screen, not your phone
- Find in-ear buds uncomfortable or painful
Skip if you:
- Want to be completely removed from your surroundings, these leak sound in
- Need deep noise isolation for flights or a loud office
- Want deep, sealed bass, an open-ear driver won’t get you there
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Open Ear Clip Headphones That Stay Put
I had the M100 clip headphones on both ears while filming and the first thing I noticed is that they don’t press into your ear or dig into the cartilage, even though the grip is rock solid. Doesn’t hurt whatsoever. But somehow they still sit extremely solid, extremely tight on your head. You can shake around and they’re not going to fly off, which is a really nice thing if you’re moving. If you want to grab a pair, they’re on Amazon here.
These are the different type of headphones. Not the kind that go into your ear canal. They literally just sit on top of your ear and clip behind it. That C-shaped design is the whole point, and it’s why they stay put when other buds would have popped out three strides into a jog.
The Specs Behind the Clip
Each earpiece weighs 5g and rides on a 12mm dynamic driver that sits in front of your ear opening. The listing tracks this as the M97, so if you see that model number it’s the same clip-on design shown in the video. Here’s what you’re working with.
Open driver = awareness: you hear music and traffic or coworkers at full volume simultaneously.
The driver sits right in front of your ear, not inside it. I took one off to show the little holes, that’s the driver, and the piece behind it is the holder where the touch controls live. Because that driver is sitting in front of your ear canal instead of plugging it, you don’t walk around the world unaware of what’s going on.
I tested it live with no music first. I could hear everything around me and I could hear myself talk, so a conversation is no problem. Then I started the music. I could hear the track, but I wasn’t screaming my head off, because I could still hear my surroundings at the same time. That balance is the thing these do well. You stay present. For running near traffic or working out at a busy gym, that awareness is a real advantage over sealed buds.
Sealed Isolation Is Not What These Do
If you want something that completely removes you from everything, these are not it. That same open design that lets you hear a car coming also lets the world leak straight into your ears. There’s no shutting it out. On a plane, a train, or in a noisy open-plan office, you’ll hear all of it right through your music. That’s not a defect, it’s the whole trade of an open-ear clip, but it’s worth knowing before you buy expecting quiet.
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M100 Clip On Open Ear Headphones
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The case screen controls playback, volume, EQ, and time without touching your phone.
The really cool thing is the little screen on the case. When it’s idle you just get those sleeping eyes, but swipe over and you get controls for the headphones and, for your phone too. I can play, pause, skip songs, change the volume, and open the equalizer straight from the case. Listening to some country music? Flip the EQ. There’s a clock on there too.
Not having your phone on you matters more than it sounds. Mid-run, I could pause, skip, and bump the volume without breaking stride or fishing my phone out of my pocket, just a swipe on the case screen. The silicone holder snaps the buds back in cleanly, and the whole thing is small enough to pocket without thinking about it.
These fit runners, gym-goers, and anyone active who needs to stay aware, not bass heads or silence seekers.
The clip design solves a specific problem: buds that fall out the moment you start moving or hurt after 30 minutes in your ear canal. If you run near traffic, take calls while walking, or bike commute, staying aware of your surroundings isn’t a compromise, it’s exactly what you need. The 6-hour battery and 50-hour case total means you’re not charging every night, and IPX5 covers sweat and rain without babying them.
Where these fall short is anyone wanting to disappear into their audio. Deep bass heads and people who need silence should look at a sealed in-ear or over-ear pair instead.
Buying Advice
Learn the case screen early. It’s the best feature here and it’s easy to leave sitting on the sleeping-eyes idle screen without realizing you can swipe to controls, volume, EQ, and the clock. Spend two minutes swiping through so you’re not fumbling mid-run. Set your volume expectations too: because these are open-ear, you’ll naturally push the volume higher in loud spots to compete with the world, and that eats into the 6-hour battery. Top up the case with the quick charge, 10 minutes gets you 2 more hours, and you’ll rarely be caught out.
Pros
- Clip doesn’t hurt at all but holds extremely tight, they won’t fly off
- You stay aware of your surroundings and can hold a conversation with music playing
- Case screen controls playback, volume, EQ, and shows the time, no phone needed
- Lightweight 5g earpieces and a compact case that looks great
- 6-hour battery, 50 hours with the case, plus IPX5 sweat and rain resistance
Cons
- No noise isolation at all, the world leaks straight in
- Open-ear driver won’t deliver deep sealed bass
- You’ll crank volume in loud places, which shortens battery life
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the M100 clip headphones work with any phone?
Yes, they pair over Bluetooth 6.0 with phones, tablets, and MP3 players, so any modern iPhone or Android works. Range is rated up to 33ft. You don’t need a special app to use the basic playback and volume controls.
Do they need an app or subscription?
No app or subscription is required to use them. Playback, volume, and the equalizer are all controlled from the case screen or the touch controls on the headphones themselves. That’s the appeal, you can leave your phone behind.
Will they fall off when I run or work out?
No, the clip holds them extremely tight without pressing painfully on your ear. I moved around while filming and they stayed put. The C-shaped clip is designed to lock behind your ear so they don’t budge during activity.
Can I wear them with glasses?
Yes, because they clip on the outer ear rather than hooking over the top like some open-ear styles, glasses arms aren’t competing for the same space. The listing markets them for glasses wearers and all ear sizes. The clip sits behind the ear, not on the temple.
Are they safe to use in the rain or when sweating?
Yes, they carry an IPX5 rating, which covers sweat and rain. That means a sweaty gym session or a light run in drizzle is fine. It’s not a rating for submersion, so don’t swim in them.
How long does the battery last?
You get 6 hours of continuous playback per charge, and up to 50 hours total using the charging case. A 10-minute quick charge adds about 2 more hours. Cranking the volume in loud environments will pull those numbers down a bit.
Can other people hear my music?
At normal volume in a quiet room, someone close might catch a faint bit of sound, since these are open-ear. It’s not loud leakage, but it’s not a sealed private listen either. In a library or silent office, keep the volume modest.
Is the model M100 or M97?
The video refers to them as M100, while the current product listing lists the same clip-on design as M97. They’re the same open-ear clip headphones. If you land on an M97 page through the link, that’s the right product.
Do they work for phone calls?
Yes, they have enhanced voice pickup for calls, and because the design keeps you aware of your surroundings, you can hear yourself talk naturally. That makes them comfortable for calls on the move without shouting.
Six hours of battery, a clip that survives a hard workout without digging into your ear, and a case screen that replaces your phone for playback and EQ, the M100 earns its place for active listeners who need to stay aware. If sealed isolation and deep bass aren’t your priority, grab them at the link below.
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M100 Clip On Open Ear Headphones
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🛍️ M100 Bluetooth Headphones — check price on Amazon →
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