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.
Quick take
Ear-cuff earbuds usually cost well over ¥10,000. UGREEN sells one for around ¥3,000, and I paid about ¥2,400 at the time of recording. I compared it with the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 (around ¥25,000), which I use every day. For casual music listening the UGREEN sounds far better than its price suggests. The FreeClip 2 still wins on comfort, bass, automatic left/right detection and, by a wide margin, the microphone.
What I tested
- UGREEN ear-cuff open earbuds (purple)
- HUAWEI FreeClip 2 (blue), my daily pair
- Build and charging case, weight on a scale, music playback side by side, and a voice recording through each microphone
What I found
- Design: the UGREEN looks almost identical to the first-generation FreeClip, down to the color. It feels a little chunkier and the finish is a step below HUAWEI, but the packaging and build are far better than I expected at this price.
- Charging port: on the back of the UGREEN case, on the bottom of the FreeClip case. The FreeClip can stand upright while charging; the UGREEN cable is slightly awkward to plug in.
- Left and right: the FreeClip earbuds are identical and detect which ear they are in. The UGREEN buds are fixed left/right, marked only by a small embossed L and R, so you have to check every time.
- Weight: case 47 g (UGREEN) vs 48 g (FreeClip 2); single earbud 5.5 g vs 5.1 g. The FreeClip 2 bridge is thinner and it feels a bit lighter on the ear.
- Sound: the UGREEN connects instantly and is perfectly enjoyable for music, with full awareness of your surroundings. The FreeClip 2 has much more bass and goes louder. I would put the UGREEN close to the first-generation FreeClip.
- Microphone: the UGREEN mic seems too sensitive and my voice sounded distorted throughout. Fine for a short call, but people may struggle to hear you in a long meeting. The FreeClip 2 is far clearer.
- Latency: even the FreeClip 2 has slight delay, so neither suits timing-sensitive games.
| UGREEN ear-cuff | HUAWEI FreeClip 2 | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Price at recording | about ¥2,400 (list around ¥3,000) | around ¥25,000 |
| Case weight | 47 g | 48 g |
| Earbud weight | 5.5 g | 5.1 g |
| Charging port | Back of case | Bottom of case |
| Left/right | Fixed (L/R marked) | Automatic |
| Microphone | Distorted, too sensitive | Much clearer |
Who it is for
- Anyone curious about ear-cuff earbuds who does not want to spend much
- A second pair for background listening at home or on walks
- Not for people who take many calls or long online meetings on their earbuds
The video is in Japanese. The listening comparison starts around 5:56 and the microphone test around 8:10.
Limitations
This was a first-impressions review after a short session, not a long-term test. Sound impressions are my own; I did not measure frequency response or latency. The UGREEN battery figure (up to about 30 hours, likely including the case) is from the spec sheet, not my testing.
Products
UGREEN ear-cuff open earbuds (purple): on Amazon Japan
HUAWEI FreeClip 2 (blue): 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.