Review of Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic - successful wireless headphones for 3 thousand rubles

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The creators had to save on some things, but this does not affect the overall impression of the device.

Four years after the announcement of AirPods, wireless earbuds have become mainstream, and the market has been flooded with models from smartphone manufacturers. But if Apple launched a trend, then Xiaomi made it affordable.

At the end of July, the company brought to Russia Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 - a new generation of wireless headphones. We find out whether the novelty for 3 thousand rubles will be the best solution for your money.

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Design
• Connection and communication
• Control
• Sound
• Autonomy
• Outcomes

Specifications

Type of emitters	Dynamic, 14.2 mm
Case weight with headphones	48 g
Case dimensions	150 × 75 × 35 mm
Battery case	410 mAh
Connection	Bluetooth 5.0
Supported codecs	SBC / AAC

Design

Against the background of endless clones of AirPods, the headphones stand out with thick cylindrical "legs". The cases are made of two grades of white plastic: matte outside and glossy around the ears.

Build and materials are excellent by the standards of the class. Nevertheless, the company had to “cut corners” where it is invisible at first glance. For example, there is no protection against moisture and sweat, so headphones are not suitable for workouts.

The housings are very light and hardly felt in the ears. The fit is surprisingly firm, but the earbuds do not isolate in any way from ambient sounds. For listening to music in a noisy environment, it is better to take in-ear models.

In the main part of the body there are speakers and proximity sensors - Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 understand when they are taken out of the ears and pause the music. Below are LEDs that indicate the status of the headphones. In addition to them, two microphones and magnetic connectors for charging are placed on each "leg".

The charging case is compact, but the sharp edges of the lid make it difficult to fit in your pocket. It is also more difficult to open than the AirPods case. On the back side there is a USB Type ‑ C input for charging, in front there is an LED indicator.

Connection and communication

The easiest way to connect Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic is to a Xiaomi smartphone: when you open the case, a pairing window pops up on the screen. On models from other manufacturers, you must first go to the settings and manually connect the headphones. Subsequent connections will be automatic, just open the case.

I am glad that both channels are connected in parallel and independently of each other. In most cheap models, one of the headphones is the head unit through which the other is connected. This leads to signal delays and timing problems.

The novelty does not catch interference on the street and in transport, however, it loses connection if an obstacle arises in the signal path. Leaving the smartphone in the next room, we get delays and interruptions. This is strange, because the size of the "legs" allows you to install powerful antennas.

There are no complaints about working in headset mode. The headphones have two microphones on each side: one is directed downward and captures the voice, the second is brought out to the outside and registers background noise. Then the built-in processor processes the signal from both microphones, making the speech clearer. The interlocutors were satisfied with the result.

Control

The model received touch pads for control. Double-tapping on the right stops or resumes playback, and on the left starts the voice assistant. You can answer and end a call by double-tapping any of the earbuds.

Unfortunately, the touch panels are too small and not highlighted tactilely, it is very easy to miss. It is easier to remove the device from your ear to stop playback. Not being able to switch tracks is not very frustrating: given the implementation of touch controls, it would be a real torture.

Sound

Dynamic emitters with a diameter of 14.2 mm are installed inside the headphones. Equally large speakers are in Vivo TWS Neo - one of the best wireless headphones of this form factor. Nevertheless, you should not expect a similar sound from the Xiaomi model, since it does not support the aptX Adaptive codec.

The signal is transmitted via SBC / AAC codecs, so it makes no sense to listen to FLAC or other lossless audio formats. However, most streaming services do not offer this option, which means that headphones will satisfy the needs of their users.

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic deliver deep bass that can be heard even at low volumes. This is very unusual for earbuds. At the same time, the gadget does not clog the ears, so the low-frequency rumble does not tire at all.

Voices sound natural, but fast instrumental parts lose their intelligibility. The model is clearly not tailored to aggressive music. It is best to listen to calm genres in it. For example, indie-pop SayWeCanFly plays very well. Headphones are ideal for listening to such music or podcasts in the background.

The high frequencies are relegated to the background, so that their coarseness and simplicity do not strike the ears so much. It is very easy to get used to such a presentation, after which the tonality is perceived as even. Considering the price of the device, there is no better waiting for something.

Autonomy

The headphones work up to 5 hours from the built-in rechargeable batteries, and the case provides another 15 hours of playtime. During testing, the model lasted four days of use with listening to music and podcasts, watching videos on YouTube and working as a headset. The result is at the level of other models of a similar format. Recharging the earbuds and case takes 1.5 hours.

Outcomes

Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic are definitely the best wireless headphones under 3 thousand rubles. They cope with all basic tasks. Although the things that were saved on are obvious: lack of moisture protection, insufficiently powerful antennas, senseless touch control. If these nuances are not critical, you can safely take a novelty and forget about the model twice as expensive.