**Baseus Inspire XC1 Review: Affordable Open-Ear Earbuds with Impressive Comfort and Sound**
For those who struggle to find traditional wireless earbuds comfortable or secure, open-ear earbuds offer a compelling alternative. Unlike conventional “closed” earbuds that seal off the ear canal—such as Apple’s AirPods Pro—open-ear designs rest outside the ear, offering enhanced comfort and preserving situational awareness. This makes them particularly appealing for users who find in-ear tips irritating or who need to remain tuned in to their surroundings, whether for safety during outdoor activities or for ease of conversation.
**Design and Comfort**
Open-ear earbuds generally come in two styles: the familiar ear hook and the more recent “clip” design, which wraps around the ear’s outer edge like an earring. The Baseus Inspire XC1 adopts this newer clip approach, providing a snug but unobtrusive fit. This style is especially advantageous for glasses wearers, as it avoids the interference often caused by ear hooks that share space with eyewear arms.
Baseus, a relatively new name in personal audio, has built a reputation for delivering impressive performance at prices well below the competition. The Inspire XC1 continues this trend, boasting both thoughtful design and functionality. Crafted in partnership with audio giant Bose, the XC1 comes in two color options—Cosmic Black and Starlight Off-White—mirroring Bose’s signature hues. The compact charging case, while a bit slippery to open, securely holds the earbuds with strong magnets. Notably, wireless charging is absent, but this is typical for open-ear earbuds, especially in the clip category.
Wearing comfort is a standout feature. The XC1 can be worn for hours—up to three in one reviewer’s experience—without discomfort. Once clipped in place, they remain stable even during workouts, and their IP66 rating ensures robust protection against dust and water, making them suitable for everything short of swimming.
**Controls, Connectivity, and App Features**
The Inspire XC1 incorporates a single physical button on each bud, which is easy to press and functional even with gloves. Through the Baseus app, users can customize click gestures for single, double, triple, and long presses, allowing for extensive control over playback, volume, calls, and voice assistants. Wear sensors automatically pause and resume music as you remove or replace the earbuds, adding further convenience.
Bluetooth Multipoint support is particularly well-executed. The app enables seamless switching among paired devices, simplifying connectivity for users who frequently alternate between their phone, laptop, or tablet.
**Listening Experience and Sound Quality**
By design, open-ear earbuds allow a significant amount of external noise through. This can be a double-edged sword: it’s ideal for conversations and phone calls, as you can hear your own voice and those around you without needing to remove the earbuds or rely on artificial “transparency modes.” However, the trade-off is that music and podcasts compete directly with ambient sounds. In noisy environments—on busy