Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro Review: Are These Wireless Earbuds Worth the Hype?

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• Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro Review: Design, specifications, and pricing details.
• Maybe you missed it? Xiaomi Buds 3 Review

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Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro

Xiaomi, the popular Chinese electronics manufacturer, has recently launched its new wireless earbuds – the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. These earbuds are an upgrade to the previous model – the Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and come packed with new features and improved sound quality.

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Specification

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Main Highlights

1. The device features Bluetooth 5.3 technology.
2. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Up to 48dB to reduce background noise.
3. The device includes a Built-in 3mic+ bone voiceprint noise reduction system for clear calls.
4. It has an IP54 rating for dust and waterproof protection.
5. The device uses an 11mm large-amplitude moving coil unit for enhanced audio quality.
6. The device has a long battery life of up to 38 hours with its charging case.
7. It supports high-quality audio with 96kHz resolution and audio codecs such as SBC, AAC, and LHDC 4.0.

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Xiaomi Buds 4 vs Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Pro

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The Package

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Unboxing

Package Content

• x2 Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro Buds.
• x1 Charging Case.
• x1 USB-Type C Charging Cable.
• x1 User Guide.
• x2 Extra spare earbud tips

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Design

The buds 4 pro feature a top-notch design and high-quality plastic finish. Comparing the buds design to dominant brands, in terms of quality and design it’s on the same level as Apple or Samsung. Our first impression was that the star gold edition we received would be more suitable for women, but that is not the case at all. Although Xiaomi currently provides only two color variants, the gold color we received looked pretty amazing and can be used by both genders.

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A Closer Look at the Case Design

The external surface of the case is very glossy and shiny. In terms of case design, Xiaomi designed the case cover to open forwards, just like opening a car’s front engine cover. As opposed to previous Xiaomi company models with upwards openings, this is a new design approach. We previously mentioned that the earbuds are designed for both genders. However, the gold star edition we received for testing certainly gives the product a fashionable personal accessory, similar to a makeup kit. It will certainly fit nicely in a woman’s purse or a bag.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro vs. Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro (Black) – Cover opening design

On the button of the case, you will find your standard Bluetooth pairing button that you can find in all if not most of Xiaomi Earbud products. On the downside, Xiaomi could have provided a silicon protective case to protect its smooth surfaces from any possible scratches, especially when carrying outdoors.

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Ergonomic design

The earbuds have a compact and ergonomic design, which makes them comfortable to wear for extended periods. The ear tips come in three different sizes, small, medium and large ensuring a secure and snug fit for all ear sizes. The earbuds are also water-resistant with an IPX4 rating, making them suitable for use during workouts or in light rain. As for color selection options. There are two options to choose from: gold and black. Perhaps other upcoming colors will become available after the official launch date but we can’t guarantee that.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro Main Colors

Based on our personal subjective experience. The buds 4 Pro are very comfortable to wear and sit well inside the ears without slipping. They are also very lightweight, weighing 5g per bud or 10g for a pair and a charging case weighing 50g. In total, you have 60g of weight to carry inside a small pocket or bag which is considered to be super light. Furthermore, Xiaomi included a pair of medium and large buds that can be used according to the user’s psychological ear characteristics.

Weighting the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro (Excluding Case)

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Earbud(s) design

Three microphones are included with the Buds 4 Pro. One is located at the bottom of the earpiece (1). A second one is located inside the buds, and a third feed-forward mic is positioned on the back of the earbud (2). For the sake of comparison, Apple’s AirPods (3rd generation) launched on October 2021 which is an equivalent or direct competitor to the Buds 4 Pro comes with just two microphone arrays and only supports Bluetooth V 5.0 connectivity. It’s not a deal breaker, but something to consider when buying earbuds in 2023.

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Is the sound quality good?

Producing excellent sound quality, Xiaomi has designed high-fidelity premium earbuds with an enjoyable listening experience. Video and phone calls sound clear and natural, with little background noise. Also listening to video clips on streaming services like YouTube produces effective bass effects as well.

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Xiaomi Earbuds

Mobile App Experience

We teste the Xiaomi Earbuds app (Android version) that worked well for us. The app is intuitive and very easy to operate. You have all the necessary tools to monitor the earbud batteries status, including the charging case. Xiaomi also pushes firmware updates through the app which is a positive thing that we checked and worked. You can find a few useful functions there, such as in-ear detection and Find your earphones that lets you set an alarm for each earbud in case one of them accidentally gets lost.

In addition, you can find the Xiaomi Earbuds app integrated inside Xiaomi’s recent devices firmware, so you don’t need to install any additional third-party apps. The app is now part of the Xiaomi Bluetooth app and the company keeps updating their device list with the latest Earbuds models. The latest Xiaomi Redmi Pad Tablet PC series is also included among the most popular devices.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad 5 Paired with the Bud 4 Pro

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ANC (Effective noise canceling)

One of the key features of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro is the advanced noise-canceling technology. It uses a triple-microphone setup to cancel out the surrounding noise and provide crystal-clear sound quality. This is especially useful when you’re in a crowded place or on a noisy commute, and you want to focus on your music or podcast without any distractions.

The Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro also come with three transparency modes, which allows you to hear your surroundings without having to remove the earbuds. This is particularly useful when you need to listen to announcements or have a conversation with someone without having to take off your earbuds. Inside the app you can find three levels of transparency levels you can choose from. In addition, you have six levels of (ANC) Active noise cancellation. This feature can be set manually or automatically by selecting the Adaptative noise cancellation option.

Immersive sound

One of the highlights of the Buds 4 Pro Buds is the immersive sound function that basically gives you a surrounding 3D sound effect. According to our personal experience, our experience wasn’t too immersive when playing music tracks on YouTube. Xiaomi probably forgot to emphasize that to get an optimal experience, you need to check if your Xiaomi device is Dolby supported and enable the Dolby Atoms function on. Last but not least, it’s also wise to check if the video or music was originally recorded in Dolby format.

Track head movement

An excellent feature that really makes listening to live shows more convenient. The earbuds probably have an internal built-in sensor that automatically adjusts the sound levels according to head movement, making it feel like you are listening to a live show or concert.

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Battery Life

In addition to the convenience of wireless charging, the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro also come with a fast charging feature. This means that even if you’re in a rush and don’t have much time to recharge your earbuds, a quick 5-minute charge can provide up to 2 hours of playback time, while a full charge can last up to 9 hours of continuous use. The charging case provides an additional 38 hours of battery life, which means you can use the earbuds for a whole day without having to recharge them.

The Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.3 and can be paired with both Android and iOS devices. The earbuds also come with touch controls, which allow you to control your music, answer calls, and activate voice assistants with a simple tap.

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Charging

With the inclusion of wireless charging, the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro take convenience and ease of use to the next level. The earbuds can be charged without the need for any cables or cords, and all you need is a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad.

This means that you can simply place the charging case of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro on a wireless charging pad and let it charge without having to fumble around with cords or worry about plugging in the charging case. It also eliminates the need to have multiple charging cables for different devices, making it a convenient and practical solution for those who are always on the go.

Moreover, the charging case of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro also supports USB-C charging, which is a faster and more efficient way to charge compared to traditional micro-USB charging. This means that if you don’t have a wireless charging pad or prefer to use a cable, you can still charge your earbuds quickly and efficiently.

Overall, the addition of wireless charging to the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro is a significant advantage and makes it an even more compelling choice for those who value convenience and ease of use. With fast charging, USB-C charging, and wireless charging all in one, the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro provide a seamless and hassle-free experience for music lovers on the go.

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Wireless Charging

As mentioned in the earbuds specification, the product supports wired charging via USB-Type C Charging via cable and wirelessly. We tested how long it would take to charge our case with the earbuds. Both the buds and the case are an integral part of the compete product.

According to Xiaomi official specs both buds come with a 53mAh battery, and the carrying case which also functions as a charger is equipped with a large 565mAh battery.

How did we test?

With only 2% of battery power left in the case and 1% in each earbud, we started testing charging time with our Huawei’s 15W (Max) wireless charging station (Model CP60) and tested the case with earbuds for exactly 60m. As soon as our stopwatch/timer stopped, the case which serves as the main power source for our earbuds battery was full at 35% of its capacity. Extracting from this data, to fully charge the charging case you will need to charge it slightly above 180 min. Keep in mind that results can vary using faster chargers. If you really need speed, the most efficient and preferred method is using a Type-C USB cable.

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Final words

Overall, the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro is an excellent pair of wireless earbuds that come packed with features and provide exceptional sound quality. The earbuds are comfortable to wear, have a long battery life, and support fast charging. The noise-canceling and transparency modes are particularly useful, and the touch controls make it easy to navigate through your music and calls. With its competitive price point, the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro is definitely worth considering for anyone in the market for a new pair of wireless earbuds.

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Product Review summary

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Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro: Price and Availability

Focusing on the selling price point, the Xiaomi buds 4 pro are not the most cheapest earbuds on the market, but on a positive side, it is expected that Xiaomi’s retail prices will probably be lower and more appealing compared to Xiaomi’s official launch price of 240 Euros, declared on February 26, 2023 in Barcelona, SPAIN.

The product itself offers excellent design with great sound quality. Furthermore, the product is categorized as a premium product with direct competition with Apple’s AirPods (3rd generation) model. But still, you can find a few Chinese sellers on AliExpress that are currently selling it at a much lower and attractive price starting at $150 (excluding shipping), which makes it more appealing to potential customers.