Cleer Audio has been steadily refining its take on open-ear audio, and the Arc 3 Sport Pro and Arc 3 Gaming are two of the newest additions to the company’s growing lineup. They arrive with a shared goal and a clear message: open-ear earbuds don’t have to be a compromise. Instead of isolating you from the world, these models are designed to keep you aware of your surroundings while still delivering the kind of sound, comfort, and feature depth that serious users expect. Where they differ is in who they’re built for.
At a glance, the Arc 3 Sport Pro and Arc 3 Gaming look like siblings. They use the same over-ear, open-ear design philosophy and share a lot of underlying tech. In practice, though, they’re tuned for very different lifestyles. One is made for motion, workouts, and biometric insight. The other is dialed in for speed, immersion, and long gaming sessions. Together, they show how flexible the Arc 3 platform really is.
One Design, Two Use Cases
Both earbuds rely on Cleer’s open-ear hook design, which sits just outside the ear canal rather than sealing it off. That means you can hear what’s going on around you without pulling an earbud out. For runners and cyclists, that’s a safety feature. For gamers, it means you’re not cut off from the room you’re in.
Comfort is a shared strength. The adjustable hinge system adapts to different ear shapes, and the lightweight construction keeps pressure and heat buildup to a minimum. These are earbuds you can wear for hours without the usual fatigue that comes with traditional in-ear designs.
Arc 3 Sport Pro: Audio With a Fitness Mindset
The Arc 3 Sport Pro ($200) is built around active use. Its defining feature is integrated health monitoring, with built-in heart rate and SpOâ‚‚ sensors that track key metrics directly from your ears. For many users, that means one less device to strap on before a workout. All of that data feeds into the Cleer+ app, where you can review performance and keep tabs on training intensity.
Sound quality is stronger than most open-ear designs manage. Large 16.2mm graphene drivers, paired with Snapdragon Sound and support for codecs like aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, and LDAC, deliver clear, energetic audio that holds up even outdoors. Dolby Atmos support adds a bit of spatial depth with compatible content, but the real value is consistent clarity without needing to crank the volume.
The Sport Pro is also built to take abuse. An IPX7 rating covers sweat, rain, and accidental splashes, and battery life lands at around 8 hours from the earbuds with another 32 hours from the case. The smart charging case adds wireless charging, a touchscreen interface, and UV-C sterilization, turning it into more than just a storage box.
This is the Arc 3 model for runners, gym regulars, and outdoor athletes who want awareness, durability, and health insights in one package.
Arc 3 Gaming: Tuned for Speed and Precision
The Arc 3 Gaming ($175) takes the same open-ear foundation and pushes it in a different direction. Here, the priority is responsiveness. The included USB-C dongle enables ultra-low latency, dropping audio delay to under 30 milliseconds. That keeps sound locked to on-screen action, which is critical for competitive and fast-paced games.
Audio tuning leans into positional awareness. The same 16.2mm graphene drivers are paired with gaming-focused EQ presets that highlight directional cues and environmental details. Dolby Atmos support, combined with head tracking via a 6-axis motion sensor, helps create a convincing sense of space in supported titles.
Battery life is even stronger here, with up to 10 hours from the earbuds and an additional 40 hours from the case. Like the Sport Pro, the Gaming model includes the touchscreen smart case, wireless charging, and UV-C sterilization. It also carries an IPX7 rating, making it surprisingly versatile outside of gaming sessions.
While it’s clearly designed with gamers in mind, the Arc 3 Gaming works just as well as an everyday open-ear earbud when you’re not plugged into a match.
Which Arc 3 Is Right for You?
The choice between these two newer Cleer Audio models really comes down to how you plan to use them. If your routine centers on workouts, outdoor training, and keeping tabs on your physical performance, the Arc 3 Sport Pro feels purpose-built for that life. If gaming is your primary focus and latency and spatial audio matter, the Arc 3 Gaming delivers a headset-like experience without the bulk or isolation.
What’s consistent across both is the core Arc 3 experience: comfortable open-ear design, strong audio performance, and a smart charging case that actually adds value. Together, these earbuds show where Cleer Audio is heading, and why open-ear audio is starting to feel like a real alternative rather than a niche experiment.
