Affordable Hi-Res Audio: Redmi Earphones Review Under Rs. 1,000

Xiaomi Nepal introduced the Redmi Earphones as part of its "Celebrate Dahsain with Mi" campaign, positioning them as a budget-friendly option with a notable feature: Hi-Res audio support below the Rs. 1,000 mark. In this review, we evaluate how well these earphones perform in real-world use.

The Redmi Earphones feature a 10mm dynamic driver, Hi-Res Audio certification, and a 1.2m Y-shaped cable, priced at Rs. 749. The earpieces have an aluminum body with a shiny finish and include anti-earwax tips, but the overall design remains fairly plain. While the cable is lengthy, it lacks braiding, and the single multifunction button feels cheap and unresponsive in certain areas.

On the audio front, the earphones deliver a strong performance for the cost. Testing with Spotify at Very High quality (~320kbps), the sound was crisp, with well-separated vocals and background instruments. Tracks like Coldplay's "Hymn for the Weekend" and Jeremy Zucker's "all the kids are depressed" sounded particularly good, showcasing the earphones' ability to handle both vocal-heavy and instrument-rich songs.

However, there are drawbacks. The control button, while capable of handling play/pause, track skipping, and call management, does not work properly on Windows machines and has limited functionality on iOS. Additionally, the lack of a braided cable and a somewhat rigid build at the wire-to-earpiece junction are notable shortcomings.

Despite these issues, the Redmi Earphones stand out for offering Hi-Res audio at an incredibly affordable price, a feature usually reserved for more expensive models. For listeners prioritizing sound quality over design and advanced controls, these earphones represent excellent value.