Review of Redmi AirDots - the cheapest Xiaomi true wireless headphones

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

Top for your money.

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Equipment
• Appearance and ergonomics
• Connection and management
• Sound
• Autonomy
• Stability of work
• Outcomes

Specifications

Headphone type	In-ear, true wireless
Emitters	Dynamic, 7.2 mm
Sensitivity	93 dB ± 3dB
Source connection	Bluetooth 5.0
Charging port	microUSB
Protection	IPX4
Earphone battery	43 mAh
Charging time for earbuds in case	1.5 hours
Operating time of headphones on a single charge (conversation)	4 hours
Headphone standby time	About 150 hours
Case battery	300 mAh
Case charging time	2 hours
Case work time in standby mode	About 4 months
Headphone dimensions	26.6 × 16.4 × 21.6mm
Case dimensions	62 × 40 × 27.2 mm
Earphone weight	4.1g
Headphone weight with case	35.4 g

Equipment

Scanty. Headphones in a carrying case, two sets of additional ear pads in sizes S and L, a warranty card and an instruction book.

It's strange that the bundle does not include a microUSB cable for charging. In 2019, the average user may not have this.

Appearance and ergonomics

In Russia, Redmi AirDots variants are sold, differing in external nuances. Both AirDots and Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic can be written on the box, and both Redmi and simply Mi can be written on the case. In addition, Xiaomi sells other similar headphones - the white Mi AirDots. Therefore, just in case, we will clarify: today we are reviewing the Redmi AirDots model with the product number TWSEJ04LS.

Nice surprise: the headphone case fits into your jeans pocket. It is larger than the AirPods case, but noticeably smaller than the cases of the Powerbeats Pro and UNI TWS recently reviewed. Both models are much more expensive. A point in favor of Redmi AirDots.

On closer inspection, everything turns out to be a little less rosy. Xiaomi saved decisively on everything: on plastic, on paint for markings on the bottom of the case, on the interface for charging, on internal movable mechanisms. The cover creaks and groans, and the inscriptions noticeably faded after a couple of days of use. The matte and scratch-collecting case confirms all the stereotypes about budget Chinese production. We remember the price of the headphones, calm down and move on.

The case is not very confident in the one-hand test. You can get used to opening the case with your thumb, but clicking the lid is inconvenient and certainly unpleasant - it was not possible to adopt this from AirPods, as well as the confident position of the headphones in the case: if you shake the closed case, you will hear them tapping.

There is a charge indicator on the front side of the case. At what moments it lights up - it is not entirely clear. It seems when he wants to. On the back is a microUSB input for charging.

On the front panel of the headphones themselves there are buttons with charge indicators. The keys are large and rather tight.

I did not like the button system of Redmi AirDots: all the unpleasant nuances of the in-ear device of the headphones are felt here in a double volume. They already sit deeply and tightly, and when the buttons are pressed, they rest against the ear canal even more. Sometimes a vacuum is created in it and the ears are blocked. I had to learn how to press a button while holding the earpiece with two fingers.

There are no complaints about the ergonomics of the headphones themselves. Unpleasant tactile sensations do not arise, excessive fatigue when listening too.

Redmi AirDots hold up perfectly, the body rests tightly against the upper cavity of the auricle. In addition, the manufacturer claims to be splash-proof, which means the headphones are suitable for sports.

Connection and management

At this point, Redmi AirDots are not like everyone else. Firstly, there is no button for pairing with sound sources: everything happens automatically. Secondly, headphones have their own hierarchy and therefore instructions for non-classical scenarios. For example, if you want to use one right earbud, you have to act differently from connecting only the left. The guide will help you figure out all this, it comes in the kit.

The first connection experience was unexpectedly successful. The iPhone immediately detected the appearance of headphones nearby and offered to connect to the Mi True Wireless EBs Basic_R device. Alas, this strange name will stay with Redmi AirDots forever.

The headphones emitted sounds of magic - it means that the connection was successful. Everything, you can listen to music. Now Redmi AirDots will automatically pair with the device when removed from the case and turn off when you put them back. If you simply remove the earbud from your ear, the music will not pause.

The preset button configuration cannot be changed. The functions on the right and left are identical: one press - pause, two - call the voice assistant. Everything. You cannot switch between tracks using the buttons.

Sound

The headphones sound better than they look, and better than they could at their price point. Here is the frequency response graph from the Les Numeriques portal.

The graph shows that the sound is not balanced. The nearly parabolic curve indicates sag in the mids and a strong emphasis on the bass. There is also a rolloff from 10 to 20 kHz.

The sound here is bass, dull, inexpressive, but the ear cuts nothing and does not tire. Redmi AirDots are suitable for playing music, podcasts and audiobooks, but you won't be able to savor the sound. And forget about lossless: the gadget does not support aptX. However, not everyone requires cool sound from city headphones. Often much more important is noise isolation and, for example, the quality of communication during conversations.

In terms of noise isolation, I liked the Redmi AirDots. They do not block outside sounds enough to hear nothing at all, but quite enough to listen to Lifehacker's podcast "Who Would Talk" in the Moscow metro.

We tested the audio quality when talking in an office environment. Redmi AirDots did it. But the more complex the scenario, the worse they work. The instructions even include a tip: "When you are on the phone, point the microphone towards your mouth so that you can be heard better."

There is some lag in the Redmi AirDots. Not in the way in most scenarios, but can be annoying when watching videos.

Autonomy

The earbuds honestly work out about four declared hours and even a little more. A fully charged case lasts for about three headphone recharges. This is not a lot, so if you listen to it every day, you will have to recharge the case every 2-3 days.

Stability of work

The Redmi AirDots test in the editorial office was successful, but it is worth remembering that you always take risks with devices in the budget segment. I have heard several reviews from dissatisfied users of different Xiaomi headphones, and it seems that defects can occur in batches of this model as well.

For example, here is the balance of opinions under the product card on Yandex. Market.

Most of those who gave unsatisfactory ratings are upset by the quality of the connection between the headphones and the sound source. Moreover, if some reviews can still be attributed to the fact that the user himself did not figure out the device, then complaints about the physical destruction of the headphones and cracks that appear on their own are suspicious.

However, there are more people who have given Redmi AirDots the highest rating than everyone else. But be prepared to lose money if you're unlucky.

Outcomes

The price of the headphones in the official Xiaomi store is 2,990 rubles. Prices in other stores and on AliExpress start at about 1,150 rubles.

For this money, you will receive working (judging by your experience) true-wireless headphones with good sound and a compact case. There is a feeling that they will not serve you forever, but this is the best deal for the money.