This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan. ACEFAST provided the ACECLIP PRO for this review (sponsored).
Quick take
The ACECLIP PRO is an open, ear-cuff style earbud that clips onto the side of your ear. Next to the HUAWEI FreeClip I’ve used for about three years — which costs over 20,000 yen — it has less treble and a narrower soundstage. But the fit is excellent and it costs less than a third as much, which makes it a good first ear-cuff earbud for listening while still hearing everything around you.
What I tested
- ACEFAST ACECLIP PRO in Gold (also sold in Black and White), Bluetooth 6.0
- HUAWEI FreeClip, my daily ear-cuff earbuds for about three years
- Paired with an iPhone; I also used the ACEFAST app
What I found
- The case looks like a macaron and doesn’t feel cheap. It is light and the lid snaps shut magnetically. The charging port is on the bottom, so the case has to be flipped over to charge.
- The earbuds are bigger than the FreeClip’s, especially the speaker part.
- Left and right are fixed (and labelled). The FreeClip detects which ear it’s in automatically.
- The clamping force is just right: it doesn’t slip, yet it doesn’t feel like it is squeezing your ear. My FreeClip moves around a little more.
- It connects to the iPhone as soon as you take it out and put it on. Mic quality was fine for calls.
- Sound is “decent”. Treble is weak and it can sound a little muffled; I’d boost the bass and treble with the app’s EQ. Volume is plentiful.
- Battery: 7 hours from the earbuds, 32 hours with the case.
| ACECLIP PRO | HUAWEI FreeClip | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight with case (my scale) | 43.7 g | 56.9 g |
| One earbud (my scale) | 6.5 g | 5.6 g |
| Left/right | Fixed | Detected automatically |
| Stability on the ear | Stays put | Moves a little more |
| Sound | Weaker treble, a bit muffled | Wider range and soundstage |
| Price at the time of recording | 6,431 yen (sale price) | Over 20,000 yen |
Who it’s for
People who only own in-ear or earbud-style headphones and want to try open listening — at work, so you notice when someone talks to you, or anywhere you want to hear ambient sound. If you care most about music quality or want automatic left/right detection, the FreeClip is still the better pair.
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese; YouTube’s auto-translated captions can help. From about 13:50 there are recordings of both earbuds so you can compare the sound yourself.
Limitations
This was a sponsored review and I tested it for a short period. Sound impressions are subjective. The prices were Amazon Japan’s at the time of recording.
Products
ACEFAST ACECLIP PRO: on Amazon Japan
HUAWEI FreeClip: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Earbuds, Speakers & Audio (35) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.