Xiaomi Redmi Headphones Neo – Cheap and incredibly affordable over-ear headphones

Noise-reduced headphones for SEK 800

One has to look to find characteristics that distinguish the Redmi Headphones Neo from headphones for three times the price.

Cheap true wireless headphones are easy to come by, and some of them are really good. Cheap over-ear headphones, with ear cups that cover the entire ears, are harder to come by, and you can normally expect to pay at least SEK 2,000 for a pair.

With a price tag of SEK 799, the Xiaomi Redmi Headphones stand out.

From the outside, there is nothing to suggest that the Redmi Headphones Neo would be a budget model. The design is anonymous, which means that they look like most other significantly more expensive headphones, and neither the materials nor the feeling of quality feel cheaper. Possibly, I can feel that the arches that adjust the fit over the head can become a little loose over time. Since I didn’t have time to fully test the headphones before I went on a three-week vacation, I took them with me, and they’ve been used extensively and thumped around on trips without seeming to care about wear and tear. The headset can be folded into a compact format when you are not using them, but it does not come with a case or similar to store them in. you cannot get everything for under SEK 800.

The headset is controlled with three buttons that feel quite similar under the finger, and it takes time before I learn which one turns on the headphones and which one starts playback, but at least the buttons are clearly separated in their placement.

Good sound for most people

Most headsets these days sound great for music, but if there was ever a time you could expect to hear the difference, it’s in this price range. I try to awaken my inner audiophile, and hear that the sound may sound a little flat, without separated details, although the balance is good. The bass feels natural, but the headphones are tuned so that the sound when listening to podcasts can feel a bit muffled. This when I really make an effort, during normal listening I absolutely do not think that I have a pair of budget headphones on me.

Redmi Headphones Neo lacks support for high-resolution audio via Bluetooth, but you can get it if you connect via cable, that is, a USB-C cable between headset and phone. I can’t say that I notice a big difference in the sound quality then, but at the same time it is difficult to switch between cable and Bluetooth to compare.

The headphones are also equipped with active noise reduction (ANC). But here at least the price tag makes itself felt. The noise reduction is not non-existent, but it can be classified as below average by today’s standards. Some of the ambient noise is filtered out but I never get the feeling of being in a quiet bubble.

On the other hand, the sound when I call with the headset is a positive surprise. You can hear me talking in a headset, it sounds a bit muffled, but I can still be heard clearly. The headset does a really good job of filtering out noise in the environment such as the kitchen fan and traffic, and that without my voice being processed on the coup. However, when I’m standing next to a kettle or outside in a strong wind, it becomes too much to carry on a conversation.

Via the Xiaomi Earbuds app, you can control the noise reduction, what happens when you press the buttons and set the equalizer. Here you can also switch on so that the headset can be connected to two devices simultaneously.

Xiaomi states that the headphones have 72 hours of battery life, and even though I’m testing them for longer periods of time, I really don’t need to charge them often. The battery life is one of the headset’s strengths. The weaknesses are not many, especially considering the price tag. The Redmi Headphones Neo are quite simply a really good pair of cheap headphones.