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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• LOBKIN's biggest strength: A clip-on design that avoids the ear canal entirely, plus a genuinely unusual feature set — a 4GB built-in MP3 mode and a full-color LED touchscreen on the case.
• LOBKIN's biggest trade-off: 6 hours per charge and a 600mAh case, which is modest next to the Cleer's total playtime figure, and IPX5 rather than IPX7 water protection.
• Cleer ARC 5's biggest strength: Dolby Atmos and THX Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive and Lossless, and a total playtime figure of up to 60 hours.
• Cleer ARC 5's biggest trade-off: It's a heavier, hook-style design at 145 g with a 97 g case, and it leans on the Cleer+ app and touch/voice/app controls rather than physical simplicity.
• Who LOBKIN is for: Runners, gym-goers and commuters who want a light, secure clip-on fit and the freedom to leave the phone at home.
• Who Cleer ARC 5 is for: Listeners who prioritize sound quality, long trips away from a charger, and wet-weather durability.
The LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds are the "travel light" option. The earpiece is a clip-on shape made from skin-friendly, highly flexible silicone, and the whole point of that design is that nothing enters your ear canal. You get situational awareness by default — traffic, a jogging partner, a gym announcement — while the 12 mm dynamic driver handles the music. The adjustable clip is specifically described as fitting small ears snugly without pressure, which matters if standard earbuds tend to feel loose or sore after an hour.
Where LOBKIN gets interesting is the case. It has a full-color LED touchscreen that controls playback, track skipping and volume, and it also hosts a set of extra interfaces — alarm clock, camera shutter, headphone finder, lock-screen wallpaper. That's a lot of function packed into a 5 × 3 × 6.7 cm ABS/PC case, and it's the kind of thing that either delights you or feels like overkill depending on your taste.
Battery is where you need to be honest with yourself. LOBKIN lists 6 hours of continuous playback per charge, with the 600mAh case taking that to 36 hours total, and a full recharge in 1.5 hours. That's plenty for a week of workouts, but it's not a "forget the charger on a two-week trip" number. The other standout is the built-in 4GB memory, which lets the buds run as a standalone MP3 player holding over 1,000 songs — no phone, no network. If you run without your phone, that single feature may decide it for you.
Buy LOBKIN if you want a lightweight clip-on, a case that doubles as a tiny control hub, and offline music without a phone. Skip it if you need maximum total battery, the highest water rating, or premium spatial audio codecs.
The Cleer ARC 5 is the more ambitious product. It's an open ear hook design — the earpiece shape is listed as "Hook," with a metal, plastic and silicone build — and it's aimed squarely at people who want open-ear awareness without giving up flagship-style sound features. The headline is Dolby Atmos and THX Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, which is a genuinely different experience from plain stereo: the soundstage moves with your head rather than sitting flat in front of you.
The codec story backs that up. Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive and Lossless support, plus DBE 4.0 for fuller low frequencies. On paper this is the more audiophile-leaning of the two, and the Cleer+ app lets you tune EQ and update firmware to your taste. Physical controls handle playback, volume and power, and there's voice and app control on top — useful, though it does mean more of the experience lives in software.
Battery is the ARC 5's clearest advantage. Cleer lists up to 60 hours of total playtime with the case, and a 5-minute quick charge gives up to 2 hours of playback. A 2-hour full charge tops it up. For travel or a week of long commutes, that's a different class of convenience. The IPX7 rating also outranks the LOBKIN's IPX5 — IPX7 means it's built to handle immersion-level water exposure, so sweat and heavy rain are not a concern.
The smart case is the other talking point: a slim, pocket-sized unit with an FHD touchscreen for Dolby effects, EQ and controls, plus UV-C sanitization that kicks in when you close the lid. Apple MFi certification keeps iPhone and iPad pairing clean.
Buy the ARC 5 if sound quality, spatial audio, long battery and wet-weather toughness top your list. Skip it if you want the lightest possible carry or you'd rather not manage settings through an app.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for total battery life → Cleer ARC 5. Up to 60 hours with the case versus LOBKIN's 36 hours total, plus a 5-minute quick charge for 2 hours of playback.
• Best for phone-free listening → LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. The built-in 4GB memory and standalone MP3 mode is something the ARC 5 doesn't offer at all.
• Best for water and sweat resistance → Cleer ARC 5. IPX7 beats IPX5 if you train hard or get caught in the rain.
• Best for the lightest, simplest fit → LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. A clip-on with flexible silicone and a 62 g case is a smaller, simpler package than the ARC 5's hook design and 97 g case.
• Best for calls in noisy places → Cleer ARC 5. Cleer highlights noise-reducing microphones for calls and meetings; LOBKIN uses ENC with a mic, but the ARC 5 positions itself around call clarity.
• Best for a case that does more than charge → LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. Alarm clock, camera trigger, headphone finder and wallpaper on a touchscreen case is a very different value proposition from the ARC 5's FHD screen and UV-C sanitizing.
• Best for iPhone and iPad owners → Cleer ARC 5. Apple MFi certification makes pairing and integration smoother.
In my opinion, the Cleer ARC 5 is the better buy for most people, and it's the one I'd pick. The combination of Dolby Atmos and THX Spatial Audio, Snapdragon Sound with Lossless, up to 60 hours total playtime and IPX7 waterproofing covers more of what open ear headphones are actually used for — long days, workouts, travel and calls. The LOBKIN is a genuinely clever alternative, and if you run without your phone, its 4GB MP3 mode and clip-on comfort are real reasons to choose it instead. But as an all-rounder, the ARC 5 does more, and does it at a higher spec ceiling.
FAQ
how to open ear headphones work
how to wear open ear headphones
Clip-on models like the LOBKIN hook over the edge of your ear with the flexible silicone clip, adjusted until it sits snugly without pressure. Hook-style models like the Cleer ARC 5 loop behind the ear, with the driver resting near — but not inside — the ear opening. In both cases, comfort comes from a light, non-sealing fit.
how to use open ear headphones
Pair them over Bluetooth 5.4, which both models use, then control playback through touch controls — LOBKIN also puts controls on its LED touchscreen case, while the Cleer ARC 5 adds physical buttons, voice control and the Cleer+ app. The LOBKIN can additionally switch to standalone MP3 mode using its built-in 4GB storage, no phone required.
are open ear headphones good for running in the rain
It depends on the rating. The LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds are IPX5, meaning they resist sweat and rain spray. The Cleer ARC 5 is IPX7, a higher rating that covers heavier exposure. For intense training or wet weather, the ARC 5's IPX7 protection gives you more margin.
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