We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want adjustable ear hooks that tune both fit and bass for all-day open-ear comfort, choose Anker Soundcore V40i; if you need marathon battery life, Hi-Res codec support and a clip-on fit that never touches your ear canal, choose EarFun Clip 2.
• Anker Soundcore V40i — biggest strength: 4-level adjustable ear hooks that shift the driver 5.5 mm closer to the ear canal, boosting bass by up to 7.5 dB (soundcore lab data) while fitting a huge range of ear shapes.
• Anker Soundcore V40i — biggest trade-off: Shorter battery life (6 hours per charge) and touch controls that are easier to trigger by accident than physical buttons.
• EarFun Clip 2 — biggest strength: Up to 11 hours per charge and 40 hours total with the case, plus LDAC/Hi-Res audio and Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint.
• EarFun Clip 2 — biggest trade-off: No adjustable hook mechanism — the fit relies on a flexible C-bridge and memory wire rather than a tunable structure; LDAC drops single-charge playtime to about 6 hours.
• Who each pick is for: V40i suits listeners who prioritize fit tuning and stronger bass in a compact lidless case; Clip 2 suits runners, commuters and heavy users who want long battery life, Hi-Res sound and physical buttons.
The V40i is the fit-tinkerer's open-ear bud. Anker built it around a 4-level adjustable ear hook, and that mechanism does two jobs at once: it adapts to a claimed 99%+ of ear shapes and sizes, and it physically moves the driver 5.5 mm closer to your ear canal. According to soundcore's own lab figures, that proximity adds up to 7.5 dB of extra bass versus a fixed hook. If you've tried open-ear buds before and found them thin-sounding, this is the design answer to that complaint.
The hardware backs it up. Inside you get 16 × 13 mm dynamic drivers with a high-elastic diaphragm in an hourglass-shaped chamber, tuned for loud volume and punchy low end — the kind of output that still reads clearly on a busy street. Four microphones plus AI noise handling cover calls, and Bluetooth 5.4 keeps the wireless link current. The case is lidless with magnets holding the buds in place and a light bar to show status, so there's no flip-open step — you just grab and go. At 69 g total (48.8 g of that the case), it's genuinely pocketable.
Battery is where you need to be honest with yourself: 6 hours per charge, 21 hours total with the case, and 2.5 hours to recharge. That's fine for commutes, office days and workouts. It's not fine if you want to leave the case at home and listen through a long shift.
EarFun Clip 2: Who It's For
The Clip 2 takes the opposite approach: set it once, forget it, and keep going. The C-shaped bridge is tested to 20,000+ flexes and combines a 40° soft silicone section with a 0.5 mm nickel-titanium memory wire — you stretch and rotate it into your ear shape, and it stays. Each bud weighs just 5.5 g, so the pressure-free promise here is about weight and a no-ear-canal design rather than an adjustable mechanism. Nothing goes inside your ear at all.
Battery is the headline. Up to 11 hours on a single charge, 40 hours with the USB-C case, and a 10-minute top-up gives you 2.5 hours — that's a genuinely useful emergency charge before a run or a commute. The caveat: enabling LDAC drops single-charge playtime to about 6 hours, so you're choosing between the best sound quality and the longest runtime.
Sound-wise, the Clip 2 brings a 12 mm titanium-composite dynamic driver with a dual-magnetic circuit, LDAC and Hi-Res Audio certification, plus EarFun's Spatial Stage processing for a wider 3D presentation. Directional sound tech keeps audio pointed at you while still letting traffic and announcements through — exactly what you want from open ear headphones on a run. Add Bluetooth 6.0, multipoint switching between phone and tablet, and Google Fast Pair, and the connectivity story is stronger than most. Calls run through 4 mics with AI noise cancellation. There's also real-time AI translation across 100+ languages through the EarFun Audio App, which is a genuinely unusual extra if you travel or work across languages.
Two more practical wins: IP55 dust and water resistance on the buds (the case is excluded), and physical push buttons instead of touch — no accidental skips when you adjust the fit mid-run. The app lets you remap those controls.
Buy it if you want maximum runtime, Hi-Res codec support, multipoint and buttons that behave. Skip it if you specifically want a tunable hook to chase deeper bass, or you'd rather not depend on an app for the translation feature.
• Best for battery life → EarFun Clip 2. 11 hours per charge and 40 hours total versus 6 and 21 on the V40i.
• Best for bass and fit tuning → Anker Soundcore V40i. The 4-level hook and 5.5 mm closer driver placement (up to 7.5 dB boost, soundcore lab data) are aimed squarely at fuller low end.
• Best for workouts and running → EarFun Clip 2. IP55 on the buds, 5.5 g per earbud, and directional audio that keeps you aware of traffic.
• Best for quick grab-and-go → Anker Soundcore V40i. The lidless magnetic case with a status light bar means no lid to open, ever.
• Best for sound quality and codecs → EarFun Clip 2. LDAC, Hi-Res Audio certification, a 12 mm titanium-composite driver and spatial processing give it the more advanced audio spec sheet.
• Best for calls in noisy places → Tie, leaning EarFun Clip 2. Both use 4 mics with AI noise handling; the Clip 2 adds multipoint so you can jump from a tablet video to a phone call without re-pairing.
• Best for control reliability → EarFun Clip 2. Physical buttons beat the V40i's touch controls for anyone who hates false presses.
• Best for travelers → EarFun Clip 2. Real-time AI translation across 100+ languages via the app is a feature the V40i simply doesn't offer.
If I were buying for myself, I'd pick the EarFun Clip 2. The combination of up to 40 hours total playback, LDAC and Hi-Res support, Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint, IP55 buds and physical buttons covers more of my actual day than a fit-tuning mechanism does — and fast charging means I'm rarely caught without power. That said, this is a genuinely close call. If bass depth and a hook you can tune to your exact ear matter more to you than runtime, the Anker Soundcore V40i is the better buy, and its lidless case is a small daily pleasure the Clip 2 doesn't match. Match the pick to your single biggest priority and you won't regret either.
how to open ear headphones work
Open ear headphones rest outside your ear canal instead of sealing inside it. The Anker Soundcore V40i hangs on an adjustable ear hook and angles its driver toward your ear canal, while the EarFun Clip 2 clips onto your ear with a flexible C-bridge. Both project sound toward you while leaving your canal open, so you stay aware of your surroundings.
how to wear open ear headphones
With the V40i, hook the earpiece over the top of your ear and use the 4-level adjustment to bring the driver closer until the bass and fit feel right. With the Clip 2, stretch and rotate the C-bridge and memory wire until it grips your ear comfortably at just 5.5 g per bud. Neither design goes inside your ear canal, so there's no insertion or sealing step.
how to use open ear headphones
Pair over Bluetooth — 5.4 on the V40i, 6.0 on the Clip 2 — then control playback with the onboard controls: touch on the V40i, physical buttons on the Clip 2. Charge via the included case, and on the Clip 2 you can also open the EarFun Audio App to remap buttons or use real-time translation. Because the ear canal stays open, keep volume sensible in traffic.
The EarFun Clip 2 offers up to 11 hours per charge and 40 hours total with its case, dropping to about 6 hours per charge with LDAC enabled. The Anker Soundcore V40i offers 6 hours per charge and 21 hours total, with a 2.5-hour recharge time. For long days away from a charger, the Clip 2 clearly lasts longer.
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