Until about a year ago, the wireless earphones market was dominated by just a few players and only the affluent could flaunt the Apple Airpods or the Bose noise-cancelling earphones. But over the last few months there has been a huge upsurge in the number of wireless earbuds and earphones in the market. Practically every smartphone brand has released their own version of the wireless earbuds. Few days ago Xiaomi released their own earbuds called Redmi Earbuds S at the affordable price of Rs 1,799. But before buying them it is important to know about their specs and make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality
The Redmi Earbuds S are designed to give a sleek and refined look with a smooth black matte finish body. These earbuds look nothing like Apple’s AirPods, but that is not necessarily a bad thing as a lot of brands are copying Apple’s products while Redmi is determined to create its own niche. The earbuds are built for complete in-ear wearing which means that there are no stems hanging out.
They have a good grip inside the ear and are IPX4 rated which means that they are sweat and splash proof. This quality is rare in the price range that it is being sold at. However one setback is that the case of the earbuds is made of a really flimsy plastic and looks as if it will break any moment. This could be a deal breaker for someone looking to carry their earbuds in their bag or their back pocket.
Another disappointment is that the earbuds come with a micro USB port for charging. No one has a USB charger these days and Redmi has not provided one. This means that one would have to buy a USB charger separately while buying the earbuds.
Connectivity
A major factor to consider in any wireless device is its connectivity and pairing. Redmi Earbuds S score very high marks in this criteria. They are easy to connect and come equipped with Bluetooth 5. You simply have to take the earbuds out of the case and your smartphone will detect them. The earbuds may also be connected with your laptop both Windows and Macbook. The connectivity is very strong and has a range of upto 10m. Thus if you are looking for earbuds with a good connectivity, these are the ones to go for.
Sound Quality
The Redmi Earbuds S fail at this juncture. Their sound quality is frustratingly bad and will leave you wanting for more. The earbuds come equipped with 7.2mm drivers and support the most basic SBC codec for wireless transmission. This is fine considering its cheap price. But the sound leans towards base and is good for just hip hop and not subtle instrumentals. Thus hip hop fans will love them while everyone else should look elsewhere.
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Earbuds S Price
Battery Life
These earbuds have an impressive battery life and can last upto 4 hours on a single charge. There is no fast charging per se and it takes about two hours for the case to be charged and 1.5 hours for the earbuds to charge. Thus excluding the absence of fast charging, the Redmi Earbuds S has a pretty good battery life.
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Final Verdict
All said and done, the Redmi Earbuds S are impressive in their below 2000 price range and are a great deal to consider. There are some cons including a sub par sound quality and flimsy quality of the case but considering that it is extremely difficult to create a reliable pair of wireless earbuds at this price, Redmi has done a pretty impressive job. Thus if you are a budget spender you should definitely go for these earbuds.
