If you want open-ear gaming audio with a USB-C dongle and long stated battery life, choose Cleer ARC II Gaming; if you need active noise cancellation and a dedicated TV-listening setup for your laptop-and-home routine, choose Avantree Multi-Use ANC Earbuds. For a laptop, the Cleer’s open-ear design and two-device Bluetooth pairing make it the more natural fit for gaming and calls, while Avantree brings ANC, EQ options, and TV audio through its included transmitter.
• Cleer ARC II Gaming: Open-ear hooks, Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint, aptX audio technologies, and up to 35 hours of stated total battery life. Trade-off: no noise control, so it is not designed to block surrounding sound.
• Avantree Multi-Use ANC Earbuds: ANC, six EQ modes, and an included transmitter for compatible TV connections. Trade-off: TV use depends on a supported optical or 3.5 mm audio output; HDMI-only TVs are not supported.
• For laptop gaming, calls, and awareness of nearby sounds: Cleer is the more relevant fit based on its open-ear design and Bluetooth multipoint.
• For laptop listening in distracting surroundings, plus private TV audio: Avantree is the more versatile choice if its TV connection requirements work for your setup.
• The short version: Choose around how you listen most: open-ear and gaming-oriented, or noise-reducing earbuds with a TV transmitter.
Cleer ARC II Gaming is an open-ear wireless model with adjustable soft ear hooks. That design leaves the ear open rather than sealing it with an in-ear tip. For someone working at a laptop while wanting to remain aware of nearby voices or household sounds, that is a meaningful distinction. It also makes these earbuds a plausible pick for gaming sessions where you prefer not to feel a sealed in-ear fit.
The gaming-focused feature is its claimed latency below 67 milliseconds. That is intended to keep sound and picture closer together during gameplay, video streaming, and interactive use. The product information also lists a USB-C dongle and compatibility with PC and Switch, alongside Bluetooth 5.3. One important caveat: the feature details conflict about PS5 compatibility. The title mentions PS5, but the low-latency feature note says it is not compatible with PS5. I would not choose it for a PS5 setup without confirming that point first.
For laptop multitasking, Cleer can pair with two devices at once, such as a laptop and phone. Its listed audio features include Snapdragon Sound, aptX Lossless, and aptX Adaptive. Calls are supported by Qualcomm clear Voice capture technology, described as reducing echo and suppressing noise in voice transmission. The stated battery figure is up to 35 hours total, with up to eight hours of continuous play from the earbuds and another 27 hours from the case. Those are useful figures for planning a long day, though actual listening time can vary with use.
Who should skip it: Skip Cleer if blocking surrounding noise is a priority; the listed noise-control setting is none.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Its central feature is active noise cancellation. That makes Avantree the more relevant option for someone looking for noise-cancelling in-ear headphones for laptop work or other listening in distracting surroundings. The earbuds also offer six EQ modes—Pop, Rock, Vocal, Live, Classical, and Bass—selected through the Avantree app. These presets provide different ways to adjust the sound for music or spoken content. The product information does not give a battery-life figure, Bluetooth version, or a numerical latency specification, so I would not assume details that are not listed.
For TV watching, the transmitter is designed to keep audio in sync with the screen and let you listen at your preferred volume. The system also supports Auracast: the earbuds can join compatible broadcasts, and the transmitter can share TV audio with other compatible Auracast listening devices. Hearing aids need to support Auracast broadcast audio for that feature to apply. Another useful detail is call handling while watching TV: the earbuds can stay connected to a phone, answer a call, and automatically reconnect to TV audio after the call ends.
There is a practical setup check before choosing it. The television needs an optical/TOSLINK or 3.5 mm AUX audio output. HDMI-only TVs and soundbar passthrough setups are not supported. With an optical connection, the TV audio format should be set to PCM or Stereo.
Who should skip it: Skip Avantree if your TV lacks the specified audio output or you want an open-ear design rather than in-ear earbuds with ANC.
• Best fit for laptop gaming with a stated latency figure → Cleer ARC II Gaming. Its feature sheet specifies latency below 67 ms and includes a USB-C dongle, though confirm compatibility with your particular gaming device.
• Best for staying aware of nearby sounds → Cleer ARC II Gaming. Its open-ear hooks do not aim to block the ear canal.
• Best for reducing distracting background noise → Avantree Multi-Use ANC Earbuds. ANC is a listed feature; Cleer lists no noise control.
• Best for connecting a laptop and phone at the same time → Cleer ARC II Gaming. Its Bluetooth multipoint feature supports two connected devices.
• Best for adding private listening to a compatible TV → Avantree Multi-Use ANC Earbuds. The package includes the Audikast 4 transmitter for the specified TV connections.
• Best for choosing among sound presets → Avantree Multi-Use ANC Earbuds. Its six EQ modes are available through the Avantree app.
• Best when stated total battery runtime matters → Cleer ARC II Gaming. The listed total is up to 35 hours, including the case; Avantree’s supplied details do not specify battery life.
• Best for Auracast sharing → Avantree Multi-Use ANC Earbuds. Its earbuds and transmitter support Auracast functions with compatible listening devices.
My Verdict
Before buying Cleer, think about whether open-ear listening is a benefit or a drawback in your environment. It can suit someone who wants to remain aware of people nearby, but it is not the choice for isolating yourself from a noisy room. Also check whether you plan to use Bluetooth or the USB-C dongle, and verify compatibility for your specific console. The product data’s PS5 note is inconsistent, so that detail deserves extra care.
For Avantree, start with the television rather than the earbuds. Confirm that the TV has an optical/TOSLINK or 3.5 mm AUX output, and make sure your intended setup does not rely on an unsupported HDMI-only connection or soundbar passthrough. If you mainly want in-ear earbuds for laptop use, consider whether ANC and EQ presets outweigh the more specialized TV bundle. Auracast is useful only when the other listening device or broadcast is compatible.
Both products cover calls, but the details differ. Cleer identifies voice capture, echo cancellation, and noise suppression technology. Avantree lists built-in microphones and phone-call support, including call answering during TV listening and automatic return to TV audio afterward. Neither set of supplied specifications gives a detailed microphone performance comparison, so the choice should rest on the listed functions rather than assumptions about call quality.
For laptop gaming, two-device pairing, and an open-ear fit, Cleer is the more direct match. For laptop listening where ANC and selectable EQ modes matter more, Avantree is the stronger fit on the listed features.
The supplied information does not support calling either model IPX7. Cleer’s description mentions IPX5 sweat resistance, which is not the same specification as IPX7 waterproofing. No water-resistance rating is provided for Avantree.
No. The TV needs an optical/TOSLINK or 3.5 mm AUX audio output. HDMI-only televisions and soundbar passthrough setups are listed as unsupported; optical connections should use PCM or Stereo audio.
Avantree lists active noise cancellation. Cleer lists no noise-control feature and uses an open-ear design, so it is not the noise-blocking alternative in this comparison.
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