The Baseus Inspire XC1 open-ear earbuds offer comfort and quality sound at an affordable price, according to a WIRED review. Partnered with Bose for audio tuning, these clip-style buds excel in situational awareness and workout use. They compete with pricier models like Bose's own open-ear options.
Baseus, a newcomer in personal audio, has launched the Inspire XC1, open-ear earbuds designed for comfort without inserting into the ear canal. Unlike traditional closed designs like AirPods Pro, these buds provide better situational awareness and avoid discomfort during extended wear. The clip-style, resembling an earring, wraps around the ear and is reversible, with onboard sensors adjusting left/right balance automatically.
Available in Cosmic Black and Starlight Off-White—colors echoing Bose's palette—the earbuds feature a smooth plastic charging case with magnetic snaps but no wireless charging. They boast an IP66 rating for dust and water resistance, suitable for showers and workouts but not swimming. Reviewers noted exceptional comfort, even after three hours, and stability during exercise, especially for glasses wearers.
Controls consist of physical buttons on each bud, customizable via the Baseus app for single, double, triple, and long clicks to handle playback, volume, calls, and voice assistants. The app also supports Bluetooth Multipoint for easy device switching and wear sensors for auto-pause/resume. Sound quality benefits from a Bose partnership, with dual drivers: a dynamic one for lows and a Knowles balanced armature for highs. This setup delivers deep bass surpassing Bose Open Earbuds Ultra and clear mids rivaling Shokz OpenDots One.
In quiet settings, the buds impress with bass response and clarity on tracks like Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy.” The app offers a “Sound by Bose” EQ preset, six others, and an eight-band custom equalizer. They support LDAC codec for hi-res audio on compatible Android devices and Dolby Audio modes, though the latter can muddy sound. At 60 percent volume, indoor listening is engaging, but louder environments challenge podcasts and calls due to external noise.
Call quality is strong, with clear transmission indoors and outdoors, though some outdoor distortion occurs. Battery life reaches eight hours per charge and 40 hours with the case at 50 percent volume, without LDAC or Dolby modes. Priced below competitors, the XC1 lack Auracast but excel in value, making them a top affordable open-ear choice.