When we first slipped on the Edifier R1 earbuds, we were immediately struck by their open-ear, clip-on design—a lightweight, pressure-free setup that feels almost invisible after just a few minutes. We love that they let us stay aware of our surroundings—great for urban walks or multitasking at home.
Comfort and build quality are real strengths here. Each earbud weighs a mere ~5.8 g, and the silicone-backed clip hooks snugly just outside the ear canal, ensuring they stay put without any discomfort. Whether we were jogging, hiking, or even trying to sleep in them, they remained unobtrusive and secure—something we don’t take for granted. The IP56 rating adds peace of mind against dust and splashes.
Battery life impressed us too: about 7 hours per charge and a total of 28 hours with the charging case, which charges via USB-C. A quick 15-minute top-up nets approximately 3 hours of use—handy if we’re in a rush.
In terms of connectivity, we appreciated Bluetooth 5.4 for its stable range and energy efficiency, along with multipoint pairing that lets us switch between two devices with relative ease. It’s seamless enough for hopping between our laptop and phone, though we noticed that switching sometimes requires pausing one device first—not ideal, but workable.
We also tapped into the Edifier ConneX app, which offers EQ presets (“Classic”, “Bass Boost”, “Vocal”, “Treble Boost”), wear detection, a “find my earbuds” tool, and a unique drainage feature that vibrates away moisture—cool and practical. That said, having a separate app from Edifier’s usual platform felt mildly annoying.
When it comes to sound quality, our experience—and reviews—paint a mixed picture. On the plus side, we found audio to be crisp, clear, and balanced enough for casual listening. The soundstage benefits from the open-ear design, keeping us connected to both our music and the world.
However, deeper listening revealed that the sound isn’t quite detailed enough for fans of bass-heavy genres or vocals needing warmth. Some reviewers noted relatively thin mids and sharper treble, which may feel fatiguing over time.
Touch controls, unfortunately, are less intuitive. The touch-sensitive area is tiny—located on the slender clip-bridge—which makes double and triple-tap inputs inconsistent. We frequently misregister commands, even after tweaking tap sensitivity via the app.
On the call quality front, the earbuds’ AI-assisted mics performed well in filtering ambient noise and producing intelligible voice clarity—comparatively strong for this open-ear category.
Summary table:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight, very comfortable open-ear design | Sound lacks bass warmth; treble can feel sharp |
| Excellent wearing comfort and stability | Touch controls are fiddly and imprecise |
| Long battery life and fast charging | App fragmentation (ConneX separate from other Edifier apps) |
| Useful app features (EQ, drainage, wear detect) | Multipoint switching requires pausing one device first |
| Good call clarity for open-ear design |
In essence, we’d say the Edifier R1 earbuds shine in comfort, battery performance, and practical features like wear detection and the drainage function. However, they fall short in delivering rich, immersive audio and smooth usability via touch controls. If your priority is staying aware of your environment with convenience and you don’t demand booming bass or flawless control, the R1 is a strong contender. For audiophiles or gesture-perfect multitaskers, a pricier alternative might be worthwhile.
£59.99
Available from amazon.co.uk