Cleer Audio has truly gone all out with its latest open-ear earphones, the Cleer Arc 3. Building upon the features of the previous model, the Cleer Arc II Sport, this newest version includes enhancements like a charging case equipped with its own battery, UV-C lighting for antibacterial properties, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound technology. Additionally, the Arc 3 boasts improved water resistance, voice control capabilities, and spatial audio featuring Dolby head tracking. A notable upgrade is the charging case, which now includes a colorful touchscreen display. The Cleer Arc 3 can be purchased in black and pink for $220 on amazon.com, starting October 24, with more color options expected soon.
From a design perspective, the Cleer Arc 3 retains the articulated, spring-loaded earhook seen in previous models, which I find provides a snug and comfortable fit. Cleer has upgraded the earbuds to an IPX7 rating, ensuring they are effectively waterproof, even if fully submerged.
Battery life has also seen significant enhancement, offering a claimed 10 hours of use per charge, with the charging case providing an additional 40 hours. The case has undergone remarkable transformations; it features UV-C sterilization for the earbuds when not in use, a mirror on the inside of the lid, and a color touchscreen on the outside. It can now be charged wirelessly, as well as through a USB-C connection.
The Cleer Arc II Sport introduced Snapdragon Sound, which delivered hi-res aptX Adaptive and CD-quality aptX Lossless Bluetooth codecs, but the Arc 3 takes these capabilities a step further. Users now have the option to utilize Sony’s LDAC hi-res codec, compatible with a wider range of Android devices compared to Snapdragon Sound. Cleer claims to have improved bass performance, though the published frequency range for the Arc 3 seems to contradict this assertion. According to its product page, the Arc 3 is capable of reproducing frequencies from 50Hz to 40kHz, while the Arc II Sport offers a range of 20Hz to 20kHz.
We are starting to see hands-free voice commands appear in newer wireless earbuds. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Sony’s LinkBuds Fit offer a wide range of commands, and the Cleer Arc 3 follows suit, supporting basic functions such as previous/next track, play/pause, volume adjustments, and call management.
Like the Arc II Sport, the Arc 3 includes six-axis sensors, allowing users to manage phone calls through head gestures, and it also supports Bluetooth Multipoint, enabling simultaneous connections to two devices.
