Xiaomi Redmi AirDots: Review
November 28, 2019Specifications
Xiaomi Redmi AirDots
Bluetooth 5.0
Battery life: 4 hours (12 hours when used with case)
Weight: 4.1g (each earpiece)
Battery size: 40mAh (each earpiece)
Transmission Distance: 10m
Mention the words ‘wireless earbuds’ and the first devices that come to mind are the Apple Airpods and Galaxy Buds. They are considered the crème de la crème of Bluetooth earphones, a status symbol and what many choose, when deciding to ‘cut the cord’ and go ‘wireless’.
Both these devices offer decent quality and hassle-free Bluetooth connectivity. But you are paying a premium for what are essentially, mid-range earphones. Enter the Xiaomi Redmi AirDots. A budget offering from the Chinese smartphone maker, that is a testament to how good low end devices can be – and waterproof too!
Its Looks
The matte black, capsule shaped earbuds, only weigh 4.1g and fit easily and comfortably in the ears. The moment you remove them from the similarly shaped case, both turn on, and the left earbud pairs to the right. Then, all that’s left to do is pair the unit to your smartphone. Mind, they connect via Bluetooth 5.0, no outdated standard here.
They’re pretty reliable too, because there have only been a handful of times when the transmission felt a little choppy. Xiaomi says that the connection is good for a distance of 10m, and we have no cause to doubt that claim. I left my smartphone at my desk, and went about my day, ‘solving problems’, at Gizmos Chamber.
How’s Performance?
Despite walking in and out of multiple different rooms, each progressively further away from my desk, the transmission quality was excellent. My music came through as though I was sitting right next to my phone. I did notice some intermittent interference when about 6m away, and with multiple walls between the AirDots and my smartphone.
There’s only a single button on the earbuds, which allow you to pause or skip to the next song. No fancy touch sensitive interface here, and though it might be a deal breaker to some, for those on a tight budget, this will do just fine. A tiny led in each earbud glows red or blue to indicate connection status, it’s a little subtle, but gets the job done.
How Do They Sound?
Sound quality is decent too. The mids and lows are well pronounced but high pitched sounds do get a little muddled at times. If you prefer bass heavy music playback, then these aren’t the earbuds for you. And though they may not do justice to the crisp and clear high-definition audio playback from your smartphone, but admittedly, 70% of that do reach your ears.
Battery life is ‘just ok’, because they are only equipped with 40mAh Li-ion units. On a single charge, the AirDots will offer about 4 hours of continuous music playback. But, when coupled with the carrying case, service life is extended to 12 hours. It’s on a par with most products in this range. Apple’s Air Pods, though superior in sound quality, offer similar battery life.
Xiaomi says that its waterproof, and we can attest to that. Despite my better judgement, I kept my AirDots in my ears, music blaring through both earbuds, while filling my bathtub before a long soak. Some how, the left earbuds managed to fall out when I bent over to close the faucet. I could only watch in horror as the it plunged swiftly into the water filled tub, letting off a light splash on its way down.
Convinced that I had ruined it, I frantically picked it up, and shook it to dispel the remaining water droplets from the inside. And to my amazement, the AirDots still worked. Even days after the incident, there was no discernible difference in audio quality compared to when I first got it. Not bad for a budget device.
What’s The Bottom line?
For what it’s worth, the AirDots are a decent addition to any tech enthusiast who is on a shoestring budget. It offers mid-range performance and characteristics for an incredibly low price tag. This isn’t a device for audiophiles, but then again, neither are the Air Pods. So, don’t have high expectations for Xiaomi’s earbuds, but expect to be amazed at what it can offer you.
