- Ultra-comfortable, lightweight
- Affordable
- Clear sound
- Limited bass
- Average volume
- No multipoint
The 1MORE Clip SE12 feels like a rare budget win. It’s extremely comfortable, light enough to forget you’re wearing it, and sounds far better than most open-ear earbuds at this price. You won’t get huge bass, but for everyday listening and all-day wear, it delivers surprising value.
I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect much when I first clipped the 1MORE Clip SE12 onto my ears. Open-ear, clip-on earbuds at this price usually come with compromises you can hear immediately. Thin sound, awkward fit, plasticky builds. The usual budget stuff.
But after living with these for a couple of weeks—at the gym, on calls, walking through busy streets, and just wearing them around the house—they’ve quietly become one of the most surprising audio products I’ve tested this year. And yes, that price still feels unreal.
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1MORE Clip SE12 – Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Driver Size | 10mm Dynamic Drivers |
| Sound | Studio-calibrated, 360° panoramic sound |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, AAC & SBC codec |
| Battery Life | 6–8 hours per charge, 18–28 hours with case |
| Water Resistance | IPX5 |
| Weight | 5g per earbud |
| Controls | Touch controls with app customization |
| Special Features | Open-ear clip-on design, low-latency mode, mono mode |
| Price | $40 |
Design and Comfort
The Clip SE12 uses a clip-on, open-ear design. Nothing goes inside your ear canal. When this style first started trending, I wasn’t sold on it. Most early open-ear designs sounded flat and felt like a compromise. That’s changed—and 1MORE clearly got the memo.
The case is compact and pocket-friendly, with USB-C charging around the back. No wireless charging, no fast charging tricks—but again, at this price, I wasn’t expecting luxury features.
Each earbud weighs just around 5 grams. Once clipped on, they almost disappear. I’m not exaggerating when I say I forgot I was wearing them after a few minutes. No pressure, no ear fatigue, no soreness even after long listening sessions.
They stay put, too. I’ve used them during workouts, brisk walks, and daily errands. A quick head shake test? They don’t budge. For anyone who struggles with in-ear tips or just hates the sealed feeling of traditional earbuds, this design is a genuine relief.
Sound Quality
Let’s set expectations properly. These are not going to replace high-end in-ear earbuds if pure audio fidelity is your top priority. But for open-ear clip-ons, the sound here is genuinely impressive.
1MORE packed in 10mm dynamic drivers, which is larger than what you usually see at this price. That extra surface area matters. The soundstage feels wider than expected, and 1MORE’s “360° panoramic sound” marketing isn’t just fluff—it actually translates into a more open, room-like presentation.
Bass is present but controlled. You won’t get skull-rattling low-end, and that’s just the nature of open-ear designs. Still, it’s satisfying enough for casual listening. The mids are clear and natural, making vocals sound clean and realistic, while the highs have enough detail without turning sharp or fatiguing.
For an open design, the balance is impressive.
Real-World Listening
I used these in a mix of situations: workouts, phone calls, walking around the city, and quiet listening at home. Comfort remained consistent across the board, but sound performance naturally depends on your environment.
In quiet or moderately noisy spaces, they sound great. In louder outdoor settings, you’ll need to push the volume higher—sometimes up to 80–90%—to fully cut through background noise. That’s not ideal, but it’s also expected for open-ear earbuds.
Sound leakage exists, but it’s not as bad as you might fear. At reasonable volumes, people around you won’t notice. Crank them to max in a quiet room, though, and yes—others nearby will hear what you’re listening to.
App Experience and Controls
The 1MORE app is clean and easy to use on both Android and iOS. You don’t get a full graphic EQ, which is a bit disappointing, but there are several preset sound modes like Studio, Bass Boost, Voice Enhancement, Classical, and Pop. Most people will find one that works for them—I stuck with Studio and Classical most of the time.
Touch controls are responsive, though somewhat limited. You get double-tap and triple-tap gestures for playback and track skipping, plus a long-press for voice assistants. It works well, but power users might wish for more customization.
Bluetooth 5.4 keeps the connection stable, and I didn’t experience random dropouts or syncing issues. There’s also a low-latency gaming mode, which helps with video and gaming, though it does drain the battery a bit faster.
Call Quality and Microphones
The built-in microphones perform better than expected. In quiet rooms, voice clarity is solid. In noisier environments, the earbuds still manage to focus on your voice reasonably well, though they won’t magically erase heavy background noise.
For casual calls, work meetings, or quick voice chats, they’re more than usable—and better than many budget earbuds I’ve tested.
Battery Life
Battery life is respectable. You’ll get around six to eight hours on a single charge, depending on volume, and up to roughly 18–28 hours total with the case.
There’s no fast charging or wireless charging here, but for day-to-day use, it’s enough to get you through multiple days without stress.
A nice touch is mono mode—you can use one earbud while the other charges, effectively extending usage time.
Final Thoughts
The 1MORE Clip SE12 is one of those rare budget products that makes you pause and double-check the price. Excellent comfort, surprisingly balanced sound, solid build quality, and thoughtful features—all for around $40.
They’re not perfect, but they absolutely nail what they set out to do: deliver an easy, comfortable, open-ear listening experience without feeling cheap or compromised.
If you’ve ever struggled with in-ear earbuds, or you want something you can wear all day while staying aware of your surroundings, these are an easy recommendation. At this price, they’re not just good—they’re kind of ridiculous.
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Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
