Open-back earphones are a genre that’s loved by very few, thanks especially to their form factor, which, instead of sitting inside the ear canal, sits outside it. This allows people to keep an eye on their surroundings while also listening to music. I’ve never really understood why anyone would want a worse listening experience, but a lot of my friends and family hate that suction feeling with earbuds. If that’s you, the Truke TrueClips promise an open-back listening experience that’s stylish and costs less than ₹2,000.

So, when Truke reached out for a review opportunity, I said yes immediately. It’s been over a month since that call, and I’ve been using the Truke TrueClips pretty extensively, taking them on a couple of flights as well. So here’s whether they’re actually worth your money.

Design & Hardware

When I first heard the price of the Truke TrueClips, I tempered my expectations, since there’s only so much a brand can do in terms of the design on a tight budget. Well, I’ve been proven wrong, as the TrueClips actually look really good. Don’t get me wrong, the case is made from plastic, but that leather pattern looks super premium. The pattern also protects against oily smudges and scratches, meaning they still look fresh. If you’ve read my previous reviews, you know I’m a sucker for oval earphone cases, and the same can be said here. The oval design keeps portability excellent, so I wasn’t walking around with a huge bulge in my pocket. The opening and closing mechanism is pretty satisfactory, so you can use it as a fidget toy, as well.

Inside the case are the open-back earbuds. Usually, comfort is pretty tricky to answer with earbuds, as everyone has different ear shapes. But with the TrueClips, it’s not a concern. The earbuds have two components: the speaker part and the brains. Both are joined by a wire that clips onto your ears.

The result? I gave these to my parents, who both don’t like the regular earbuds, and their experience was just amazing. They loved how comfortable these were to wear for long periods, and how they could still hear their surroundings. Even I could wear them for hours at a time, and they made for perfect companions on an evening stroll, when I do not want to be cut off from the world. Beyond that, the buds are also IPX5 rated, meaning sweaty gym sessions shouldn’t be a problem. I tried them at my local gym, and they held up well, just don’t drop them in water.

Sound Quality & Battery Life

It’s no secret that you can’t have everything in life, and the same goes for open-back earbuds. The TrueClips bleed sound into the surroundings, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. The 12mm drivers sound pretty decent, with a wide-ish soundstage. There’s limited separation between the different elements, but that’s expected for this price. All that said, the treble is on point, and I also liked the mids, which is where most of the dialogue is. You also get spatial audio support with these buds, which worked just fine in my testing.

I also really like the quad-mic setup of the TrueClips, which kept my voice clear to the other person on calls. That being said, another price you pay for the open-back design, or lack thereof. You’ll hear everything around you, and that can sometimes get overwhelming, especially in a country like India, where honking is basically a national sport. Still, you can turn your volume up a lot without losing detail, so that’s a bonus. The in-flight experience with the TrueClips was similar as well, but I did turn a lot of heads with the unique design.

The battery life is another big plus of the Truke TrueClips, as they lasted me a full week of use before needing a recharge. For context, I used the earbuds for about 3 hours each day, which comes out to roughly 40–45 hours total. Not to mention the USB-C charging port.

Controls

Unlike others, Truke doesn’t have a companion app; everything’s handled through on-device controls. For example, clicking the earbud four times activates dual-connection mode to pair with two devices simultaneously. On the other hand, a triple tap summons the digital assistant, while single taps and double taps are used to play/pause and skip forward the music. It’s a lot to learn, yes. But I’d much rather have this than another app on my phone that hogs storage space.

Verdict

At ₹1,999, the Truke TrueClips are a unique pair of earbuds. They bring something new to people who’ve been starved for choice. And I really appreciate that. For the price, you get a very stylish design that’s sure to turn heads. The form factor is super comfortable, while not compromising much on sound. And the battery life is the best in business. So yeah, I’d recommend the Truke TrueClips.