Xiaomi Mi AirDots, a very decent alternative to Apple AirPods
Ever since Apple have made the bold and highly criticized move to get rid of the headphone jack, the idea of easy wireless sound has quickly spread its wings. And while Bluetooth headphones makers have entertained the idea of removing unnecessary cables for quite a while, a whole new line of earbuds are now emerging – true wireless earbuds that have absolutely no wires attached to them. The Xiaomi Mi AirDots are the latest example of true wireless earphones.
What are true wireless earbuds?
In case you are new to the term, true wireless earbuds are the type of earphones that have absolutely no wires coming with them – neither to connect them to your music streaming device, nor to connect them to each other. Each bud is a totally independent piece of equipment that communicates with its counterpart absolutely wire-free.
Xiaomi Mi AirDots: design
The AirDots, as you may have already implied from the similar sounding name, are very close in their looks (as well as functionality) to Apple’s AirPods. The AirDots are made in Xiaomi’s signature white and are absolutely tiny weighing just a bit over 4 grams.
The earbuds come in a small and sleek white case that, as you may have already guessed, also serves as the changing dock and power bank. The earbuds themselves are made of plastic with soft rubber covers where they will be inserted in your ear. You only get one set of rubber covers to go with the earphones, which is okay, but it would have been a nice touch to have some alternatives as well as we all have different ears and different wearing preferences. A spare set would be very welcome as well.
On the side of each earbuds, you will see small control buttons, which, despite the size, are quite easy to push. There is also an LED indicator.
Sound quality
The AirDots sit right in your ear canal. But because of their shape, they will not cover your ear entirely, as is the case with more pointy earphone designs. This makes them quite a bit more comfortable to wear as they are not at all intrusive. However, this also means that outside sounds may get in from time to time, especially if you are listing to your audio in low volume. With that said, the 7.2mm dynamic speaker provides for very a decent quality of sound and is capable of explosive audios and strong bass.
Microphone
The earphones we use every day are not only for entertainment and music. We may often need to make important answer calls on the go or just chat casually with friends over the phone with hands free. Plus there is online gaming and quite a few more instances when having a quality microphone on your headset can come in handy.
With the Xiaomi Mi AirDots, you might have your doubts about the microphone due to the earphones’ unconventional design – and you will be partly right. Because of the earphones’ small size and placement, they do catch quite a bit echo when using them with the phone. With that, the sound is quite clear, there isn’t much distortion and the volume is quite good. However, the earphone are not intended to be used with a PC.
Charging and battery
As we’ve mentioned above, the AirDots can be conveniently charged both plugged and on the go. All you need to do is put them back into the carrying case and connect the case to a power source. To charge on the go, you will need to have charged the case in advance. According to Xiaomi, the 300mAh charging dock will give you up to 12 hours of working time.
Xiaomi Mi AirDots: the verdict
Let’s go over the key highlights of the AirDots once more:
● These are truly wireless earbuds.
● They connect with highly efficient Bluetooth 5.0.
● You get the convenient smart touch operation.
● The 7.2 dynamic speaker offers a very decent quality of sound.
● Mic quality is not bad either.
● The earbuds charge easily by just being placed in the case.
The Mi AirDots are not the cheapest earbuds on the market, you can buy from Gearbest for a very good price now. But, then again, if you consider that the price of the original AirPods by Apple is $159, this does put things into perspective.
Did this article help you? If so, please tell me in a comment what do you think about it.
Don’t miss any of our future video tutorials, follow us on Youtube. Like us on Facebook. Add us in your circles on Google+. Watch our photo albums on Flickr. Subscribe now to our newsletter.
