Disclaimer: Nank (Naenka) sent this product to us for free for a review. That does not affect our opinion about the product. In this article, we list both what we like and dislike. Read more about this here.
The Clip-On Earbuds That Don’t Go Inside Your Ear Canal
The Nank Clip Super earbuds are different because they clip onto your outer ear.
This design lets you hear what’s happening around you since your ear canal isn’t blocked. They aren’t bone-conduction headphones, but air-conduction ones.
This just means they have tiny speakers that line up with your ear to send sound directly in. For a clip-on style, the sound is surprisingly loud, clear, and punchy.
While many modern in-ear earbuds offer a “transparency mode” that uses microphones to pipe in external sound, it rarely feels as natural as simply keeping your ear canals open.
In this review, I’ll skip the technical talk about air conduction and focus on how they feel to wear and how they actually sound.
The Nank Clip Super
Case & Battery Life
The case looks like most standard earbud cases. It uses magnets to keep the lid shut and the buds in place. The case has its own battery to recharge the earbuds, giving you 32 hours of playtime.
In my own tests, I got a little over five hours of music on a single charge. Nank says they can last eight hours, but that usually depends on your volume levels and settings.
Since I rarely wear headphones for over two hours at a time, I’m happy with the battery. However, if you work a full eight-hour shift, you’ll definitely need to pop them back in the case for a quick charge halfway through the day.
Once you grab a bud out of the case, it turns on instantly. They feel comfortable and snap onto the ear easily, though you might need to wiggle them a bit at first to find the “sweet spot” for the best sound.
Controls
The controls are all touch-based. You tap the part of the earbud where it says “Nank” to change settings.
The touch controls work well enough for skipping songs or changing the volume. However, there is no “click” or sound to let you know the tap worked, which is a bit of a downside.
This is why I usually prefer physical buttons, especially when I can’t see what I’m doing. It’s also worth noting that touch controls don’t work if you’re wearing gloves or if your hands are very sweaty.
The screenshot below from Nank’s website shows the different controls. L is for your left earbud, R for your right.
Comfort
Both my wife and I found these very comfortable. We both have sensitive ears that usually get tired or sore after wearing headphones for a while, but we could wear these for hours with no issues.
They also stay put. They don’t wiggle around much, which makes them great for walking or running. I personally like being able to hear traffic or nature while I’m outside, so these are perfect for staying aware of my surroundings.
Sound Quality
I listen to music all day, whether I’m at my desk or in the gym. For the price, the sound on the Nank Clip Super is great. If I’m going for a walk and want to hear the world around me, I’d actually pick these over my standard in-ear buds.
The Bass: Surprisingly strong! It’s great for house or dance music.
The Clarity: Good for acoustic or pop music. They really shine on tracks with just a singer and a guitar.
The Highs: I wish the higher notes were a bit brighter to balance out the bass, but overall, I’m happy.
Interestingly, my wife had to adjust them more than I did to get the best sound, even though her ears are smaller.
There is also a built-in microphone for calls. It sounds a bit “boxy,” but my voice came through clearly on the other end, even when it was noisy around me.
Things I Wish Were Different
I’d love to see a pairing button on the case. It would make switching between my phone and computer much easier. Right now, there is only one light to show the battery status, but I prefer more feedback.
I’m still not a huge fan of touch controls, but I realize they are becoming the new standard. An app to adjust the sound (EQ) would also be a nice bonus, though that might be asking too much for this price point.
Conclusion
If you need headphones for a specific reason, like hearing your surroundings while you listen to music, you’ll likely be very happy with the Nank Clip Super.
These were my first clip-on style earbuds, and the comfort and sound caught me by surprise. You aren’t getting professional-grade studio sound, but you are getting a comfortable fit, good bass, and a battery that lasts.
 Clip Super Open-Ear Headphones Review){kind=link}