The Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro is a game-changer in the world of open-fit earbuds, but is it worth the hype? Get ready to dive into a detailed review that might challenge your expectations.
The open-fit earbud market has been buzzing, and Xiaomi's latest entry, the OpenWear Stereo Pro, aims to stand out with its premium design and unique features. Unlike traditional earbuds that sit inside your ear, these OWS models position themselves at the tip of your ear canal, offering a unique listening experience. But here's the catch: while you gain environmental awareness, you sacrifice passive noise isolation.
Xiaomi's Premium Promise:
The OpenWear Stereo Pro boasts a premium build, promising reduced sound leakage and an incredible 8.5 hours of battery life for the buds, with an additional 45 hours from the charging case. But do they live up to these bold claims?
Design and Comfort:
The earbuds feature a sleek metal finish and a unique TPU connection to the bulb, creating a stylish look. However, the shiny plastic may attract fingerprints. The ergonomic design hooks around your ear, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit, even during intense workouts. Each earbud weighs a mere 9.8 grams, and the case adds only 53 grams, making the set incredibly lightweight. The case, though not compact, is a work of art with its smooth, sculpted design and soft touch.
Our review unit, in Graphite Black, showcases a faux leather lid and a matte bottom, exuding a premium feel despite its plastic construction. The case's hinge and lid provide a satisfying snap, and the interior surprises with an imitation suede lining, a unique touch. The earbuds offer IP54 dust and water resistance, ensuring durability.
Feature-Packed:
These earbuds are loaded with features, including Bluetooth 5.4 for dual-device pairing and 360° head-tracking for immersive surround sound. But here's where it gets controversial: they lack active noise cancellation (ANC), a feature many expect from premium earbuds. Xiaomi justifies this by emphasizing the importance of environmental awareness, especially for outdoor activities. Instead, they focus on improving sound leakage, a common issue with OWS buds, by implementing a dedicated driver for sound leakage reduction.
Sound Quality and Control:
The OpenWear Stereo Pro delivers a vibrant soundstage with impressive bass for open-fit earbuds. The custom 18 x 13mm dynamic drivers, piezoelectric ceramic tweeters, and dual balanced armatures create a rich audio experience. Xiaomi's Harman audio tuning further enhances the sound quality. The touch controls are responsive, allowing for easy customization of gestures. Adaptive volume control adjusts to ambient noise, though it struggles in noisier environments.
Recording and Connectivity:
A unique feature is the ability to record audio directly from the buds, offering 120 minutes of recording per earbud. While the recording quality isn't exceptional, it's a handy tool for quick notes. Connectivity is seamless across Android, iOS, and macOS devices, ensuring a stable connection.
Battery Life:
Xiaomi's battery life claims hold up, with over 8 hours of playback from the buds and a total of 45 hours with the case. The case's 700mAh battery provides multiple full recharges, ensuring you're never out of power. A quick 10-minute charge gives you 2 hours of listening time.
Verdict:
The OpenWear Stereo Pro is an impressive set of OWS earbuds, delivering detailed sound, spatial awareness, and excellent battery life. The premium design and ergonomic fit make them a pleasure to use. Despite the sound leakage, which is inherent in OWS designs, the overall experience is top-notch. At €150/£140, they offer a compelling package, though in-ear TWS earbuds with ANC might provide better deals. Xiaomi's bundling offer with the Xiaomi 15T Pro is an attractive option for those looking for a complete upgrade.
Are you team Open-Fit or do you prefer the traditional in-ear experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
