Xiaomi has become a household name in India, thanks in large part to its aggressive pricing strategy. The company consistently offers products packed with features at price points that were once unimaginable. While Xiaomi has taken a bit of a backseat in the audio space lately, with competitors like Realme and Boat taking the lead, the latest Mi products are poised to bring the value-for-money brand back to the forefront. Xiaomi recently launched the Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker (16W) and Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro in India, priced at Rs. 2,499 and Rs. 1,799 respectively. Today, we focus on the latter, which is among the most affordable wireless headsets in India to feature active noise cancellation. On paper, this looks like a compelling pair of wireless earphones, but how does the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro perform in real-world use? Let’s dive into my review.
The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro: Feature-Packed for the Price
The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro, a successor to the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones launched in late 2019, features subtle design refinements while maintaining the familiar form factor and basic aesthetic. The earpieces boast a sharper look and a distinctive patterned design on the outer side. They can be magnetically attached when not in use, a smart feature that, unlike the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z, doesn’t control the power. The neckband itself has a textured finish, a departure from the smooth texture of its non-Pro counterpart.
Despite these improvements, the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro continues to maintain a rather basic, functional aesthetic, not designed to attract attention. The neckband itself is flexible, allowing you to twist it in any direction for easy and secure storage. Weighing just 36g, the headset is so light you’ll barely notice it’s there when worn. The fit is comfortable, providing a decent noise-isolating seal that complements the active noise cancellation.
On the right side of the neckband, you’ll find a few buttons for control, while the left side remains plain, with only the Mi logo present. A multi-function button manages power, playback, call answering/ending, and there’s a rocker for volume control. An internal button toggles the active noise cancellation feature, and a micro-USB charging port is located on the bottom. The package includes three pairs of ear tips and a micro-USB cable.
Beyond active noise cancellation, the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro offers environmental noise cancellation, enhancing call clarity, and boasts an IPX5 water resistance rating. The earphones are equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers and leverage Bluetooth 5 for connectivity, supporting the SBC and AAC codecs. The one notable omission in the specifications is the micro-USB charging port. Even at this price point and with this feature set, the use of this outdated standard is inexcusable. A USB Type-C port would have been a welcome inclusion.
Battery life on the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro is impressive. I consistently achieved approximately 15 hours of listening time with active noise cancellation typically engaged and AAC codec in use. While fast charging isn’t supported, topping up the 150mAh battery doesn’t take an excessive amount of time.
Bass-Heavy Sound on the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro
Xiaomi’s entry-level audio products have always resonated with a wide audience in India, largely due to their characteristic sound signatures. The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro follows this trend, offering a similar sound profile to the non-Pro version, with a pronounced emphasis on the bass. This bass emphasis, at times, can feel overpowering and distracting from the mid and high frequencies. While the remaining frequency ranges still have ample representation, the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro undoubtedly leans heavily towards the low end.
This sonic bias results in a punchy and aggressive sound, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and doesn’t often detract from the vocals and highs. The deep rumble of the beat in Justin Timberlake’s "Take Back The Night" was enjoyable and didn’t induce fatigue at moderate volumes. Timberlake’s energetic vocals and the distinct trumpet melodies that set the mood of the track were clear and easy to groove to.
The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro delivers a sound that is often quite aggressive and punchy, making it an engaging experience for specific genres and tracks when listened to in moderation. The sound is also loud and reasonably clean, with the bass being powerful but far from unpleasant or muddy, even on the most aggressive tracks. It’s in line with what you might expect at this price point, but I have encountered better-sounding headsets that still cost less than Rs. 2,000, such as the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z.
This punchy bass, however, is somewhat lacking in terms of tightness and definition, which is expected given the earphones’ affordability. With Earth, Wind, and Fire’s "Let’s Groove," the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro often sounded excessively raw and basic, with very little depth or detail in the lows, and a very narrow soundstage. The mood-setting disco beats in the track felt a bit dull, a consequence of the earphones’ tuning. It’s important to remember that this is an entry-level headset, and the tuning is rudimentary at best. It manages to produce a sound that isn’t unpleasant, but that’s about the extent of its sonic achievement.
Active Noise Cancellation That Surprises for the Price
It’s truly remarkable that we can find active noise cancellation (ANC) on a pair of wireless earphones priced at Rs. 1,799, and the ANC on this headset is indeed quite impressive for the price point. Xiaomi claims a reduction of 25dB with specific noise types, including airplane engines, hair dryers, and vacuum cleaners. In practice, a noticeable decrease in noise levels was observed when using the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro, roughly on par with what other options under Rs. 5,000, such as the Realme Buds Wireless Pro, are able to deliver.
While noise reduction wasn’t substantial in many home and outdoor urban environments, it undeniably made listening to music significantly easier, and noticeably enhanced the audibility of dialogue in videos. Call performance was also decent. Although my voice came through clearly, the person on the other end of the call sometimes experienced a slightly rough and boomy sound quality. Nonetheless, this inconsistency didn’t hinder the ability to have brief conversations.
Verdict: Value for Money with Room for Improvement
The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro, by Xiaomi, represents a remarkable achievement in offering fully functional and worthwhile active noise cancellation at a price point under Rs. 2,000. Active noise cancellation is undeniably the defining feature of this headset, but the earphones also impress with their design, build quality, battery life, and to some degree, sound quality.
While the sound quality isn’t exceptional, it’s acceptable considering the price and feature set of the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro. If you prioritize active noise cancellation for under Rs. 2,000 and are willing to accept reasonable overall performance, this is the headset for you. However, if sound quality trumps all else, and you can forgo ANC, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z or the Oppo Enco M31 are worth considering alternatives.
