Hisense is expanding its Australian consumer electronics business beyond televisions and appliances with the launch of its first personal audio product, the $199 HiClips open-ear earbuds.

The move marks the latest stage in Hisense’s broader push to build a connected product ecosystem spanning televisions, whitegoods, small appliances and smart home technology.

Once known primarily as a value TV brand, Hisense now generates roughly half of its Australian revenue from televisions and half from appliances, after expanding heavily into refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners and kitchen products.

The company also owns premium appliance brand ASKO and is increasingly positioning its ConnectLife platform as a central control point for connected products.

HiClips brings that strategy into personal audio for the first time.

Hisense is targeting commuters, fitness users and remote workers, with each earbud weighing 5.5 grams. They come in orange, white, blue and black.

The clip-on earbuds are designed to deliver music, podcasts and calls without completely blocking the wearer’s ears, allowing users to remain aware of conversations, traffic and other surrounding sounds.

A flexible titanium-nickel C-bridge frame wrapped in soft-touch silicone is designed to adapt to different ear shapes and remain secure during extended use.

“At Hisense, we believe great technology should enhance everyday life, not disconnect us from it,” Hisense Australia and New Zealand managing director Kevin Ke said.

“HiClips has been purpose-built around that philosophy, combining premium sound with an open-ear design that allows Australians to stay connected to both their content and the world around them.”

 

Hisense said the earbuds use acoustically tuned hardware, multiple listening modes and anti-leak technology intended to reduce the amount of audio heard by people nearby.

They also include a dual-microphone system and smart noise reduction for calls, dual-device connectivity and intelligent wear detection that automatically identifies which ear each HiClip is attached to.

Controls can be personalised through Hisense’s ConnectLife app, which also includes a feature for locating misplaced earbuds.

Hisense has not disclosed the total battery life, although it claims fast charging can provide several hours of playback after only a few minutes.

They will initially be sold exclusively through the Hisense Australia website, suggesting the company may be testing demand before expanding the range through its major retail partners.