Baseus Eli Sport 2 Review: Budget Open-Ear Earbuds

Price note: Overseas prices have been converted to approximate pound equivalents using the reference exchange rate current when this page was updated. UK prices and availability may differ.

Pricey models currently dominate the open-ear market — so is there a budget option that still sounds good? That is exactly what many buyers are asking about the Baseus Eli Sport 2. These hook-style earbuds promise refined sound and high wearing comfort for just £26 at the time of testing. Too good to be true? The test results provide the answer.

The Baseus Eli Sport 2 are open-ears with a small hook that wraps gently around each ear. At just 8 grams apiece the buds are pleasingly light, and overall they sit very comfortably. The hooks are somewhat stiff, however, which takes a little getting used to.

As the name suggests, open-ears leave the ear canal uncovered, so wearers stay aware of their surroundings — practical when jogging outdoors, for example.

The "Sport" in the name is well earned, not least because of the robust housing. Thanks to IP57 certification, the Eli Sport 2 shrug off sweat and even heavy rain — excellent at this price.

Each teardrop-shaped stem carries a single button that handles both volume and playback. That sounds overloaded, but the commands are quickly learned and control is straightforward overall. Baseus also offers a companion app of the same name for iOS and Android, with a range of genuinely useful functions including a battery indicator and an earbud finder — handy should one or both buds go missing.

The smartphone app also unlocks a bass boost, and the Eli Sport 2 need it. Without the extra reinforcement they deliver a rather thin, anaemic sound. On the plus side, the character is clear and vocals come through cleanly, though the mids blur together — particularly noticeable with guitar-heavy music such as rock.

Listeners can also switch on the LDAC codec for near-lossless playback, which makes the sound somewhat more spacious and brilliant overall. A compatible source device is essential, though.

Call quality left a better impression than the music performance. The built-in microphones filter out a degree of ambient noise, and speech is picked up clearly and intelligibly.

Battery life is where Baseus really needs to improve. On a full charge with the LDAC codec active, the open-ears managed just 3 hours and 50 minutes — meagre for this design. A ten-minute rest in the case buys another hour of playback. The charging case itself is pleasingly compact and feels well made.

For their low price, the Baseus Eli Sport 2 turn in a passable performance. They sit comfortably, offer good call quality and are easy to control. The sound is nicely clear but rather thin; the switchable bass boost compensates for a fair amount, but expectations should stay modest. The same goes for the battery life of around four hours, which is decidedly short. It is not enough for a podium place — the Eli Sport 2 belong towards the lower end of the open-ear table, albeit at a price that forgives a lot.