Xiaomi has stepped into the growing clip-on earbud segment with the launch of its Xiaomi Clip, an open-ear model unveiled in China on May 21 with a retail price of $125, discounted to around $118 during its introductory period.
Known in markets such as the UK for its affordable audio lineup, including products like the Redmi Buds 8 Pro, the company’s latest release signals a move toward the more premium end of the wireless audio market. Its eventual positioning against higher-priced competitors like Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds and more budget-friendly alternatives such as the EarFun Clip 2 will likely depend on how Xiaomi prices the device in Western markets.
The Xiaomi Clip earbuds are engineered with lightweight comfort in mind, each unit weighing just 5.5 grams. They are equipped with an 11mm dynamic driver capable of delivering audio across a frequency range of 20Hz to 48kHz. The earbuds support multiple codecs, including AAC, SBC, and LHDC 5.0, a high-resolution standard often compared to Sony’s LDAC for its ability to transmit higher-quality audio over Bluetooth. Connectivity is powered by Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring stable pairing and efficient power usage.
Battery performance is positioned as a key strength, with Xiaomi claiming up to nine hours of playback per earbud on a single charge, extending to a total of 38 hours when used with the charging case. The device is also rated at IP57 for dust and water resistance, although this specification has yet to be independently verified. For reference, Xiaomi’s earlier OpenWear Stereo carried an IP54 rating. The earbuds feature a semi-transparent design aesthetic and are available in four color options: white, black, gold, and purple.
A notable highlight of the Xiaomi Clip is its integration of real-time translation across 21 languages באמצעות Xiao AI, the company’s in-house voice assistant. This feature remains relatively uncommon in earbuds within the sub-$150 price bracket.
However, questions remain about how effectively the translation function will operate outside Xiaomi’s HyperOS ecosystem. While the earbuds support dual-device connectivity and are confirmed to work with Apple devices, users on non-Xiaomi platforms may not experience the full extent of Xiao AI’s capabilities.