Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro review: elevating the wireless earbuds game

In a world where wireless headphones are increasingly becoming a must-have gadget, Xiaomi has stepped up its game by unveiling the Buds 4 Pro at MWC 2023. With Hi-Res Audio Wireless, Active Noise Cancellation and Dimensional Audio, these headphones aim to appeal to a wide range of listeners, from casual users to audiophiles. They are Xiaomi’s answer to the Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

In this review I’ll take a closer look at the £240 / €240 Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro – check price and availability at mi.com (UK), mi.com (DE), mi.com (FR). I will explore its key features, design elements, overall performance, and compare these headphones to other alternatives.

Read on to find out if the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro is the right choice for your listening needs.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro review: Design, hardware, what’s in the box

Last year, I shared my thoughts on the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro, noting its lightweight design, ergonomic shape, and comfortable fit. Other key features included sound quality, noise cancellation, easy connection to two devices, and good battery life. Now, the Buds 4 Pro have made improvements in most of these areas, delivering a better overall experience.

look and feel

What is clear from the start is that Xiaomi has opted for a more refined and elegant design this time around. Out of the box, the Buds 4 Pro immediately grab your attention.

The retail package comes with the headphones, a few different sized ear tips, a charging case, a Type-C charging cable, and an instruction booklet. There are two color options to choose from, Space Black and Star Gold. Both lean towards sophistication rather than playfulness. My review unit was the last – Star Gold with silver grades.

The charging case, reminiscent of a space capsule, features a stylish two-tone design. The top has a sleek, glossy finish, while the bottom sports a matte texture. With dimensions of 59 x 47 x 27 millimeters, the case is slightly smaller than that of the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro.

As before, there is a small LED towards the middle of the case. This shows battery levels and charging progress. At the very bottom is a USB-C connector and next to it a barely visible pairing/reset button. You really have to look for it to see it.

When not in use, the buds are designed to be stored in the case. Powerful magnets hold them securely in an upright position, and the same magnet strength extends until the case closes. This ensures that there is no risk of accidental dropping of components.

The buds

The pair of buds feature a distinct flat, square stem, which departs from the traditional curved oval shape. This innovative design actually improves their grip, making them easier to handle.

I have found the buds to be exceptionally comfortable due to their soft-touch plastic tips and small size. Of course, choosing the right plastic earmold is crucial to improving your listening experience as well as noise cancellation.

I didn’t experience any discomfort or tension from wearing the buds for extended durations. As someone who often falls asleep to podcasts, they’re the perfect companion. I actually found them more comfortable for this purpose than the Buds 3T Pro, due to their shorter stems. The likelihood of them dislodging when in contact with a pillow or when tossing and turning regularly is reduced. This snug fit also makes them suitable for light physical activities.

Water resistance is rated IP54. Which means the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro are water resistant but not waterproof. So it goes all the way to splash protection for activities like running or biking in the rain.

Each bud houses three hidden microphones: one for voice pickup and the other two for noise cancellation. But more on that later.

The upper features a pinch control area that enables various functions. A firm press once will play/pause music or answer/end calls, while a short double press will skip to the next track or decline a call. A triple squeeze reverts to the previous track, and a long press toggles between noise cancellation and transparency modes. There’s no volume control, which isn’t ideal. You can trigger the commands on either bud.

The squeeze-like feature helps prevent accidental activations, but can be tricky to use initially. Located near the center of the stem, these controls produce a satisfying click when pressed. Once familiar, they work effectively, although responding to calls quickly can still be difficult due to their temperamental nature. It’s definitely something you improve on with repeated use.

Battery life

When it comes to battery life, the Buds 4 Pro don’t disappoint. Each earbud contains a 53mAh battery, while the case contains a 565mAh battery.

A single charge provides enough juice for approximately 9 hours of audio playback. The case extends this further by offering 3.7 full charges, totaling 38 hours of use – an impressive feat! The phone’s status bar still shows earphone battery status indicators, which is a quick way to check how much is left in the tank.

Such a battery capacity stands out from the high-end competitors. It’s also worth mentioning that the Buds 4 Pro offer versatile charging options, including USB-C wired and wireless methods. They support standard Qi charging, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of chargers. Which means you can do without cables and cords. All you need is a compatible QI charger.

Charging is also particularly fast. Simply place the headphones in the case for about 5 minutes and you can enjoy up to 3 hours of uninterrupted playback. This feature is especially useful in situations where you may have forgotten to charge them.

Technical specifications

Below is a technical comparison of Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and Buds 3T Pro from last year. As the table shows, there are improvements at all levels. The new buds are smaller, lighter, have longer battery life, better noise cancellation, dynamic drivers and more.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro review: configuration, features

Twinning

As soon as the case is opened, the earphones turn on automatically. When placed back in the case and the lid closed, they enter sleep mode and disconnect from all connected devices.

Like any similar product, an initial pairing process is required. However, it is both simple and quick.

To pair, press the button at the base of the case for two seconds when the lid is open. The LED light will flash white. Then, connect to the headphones via the Bluetooth settings of your smartphone, tablet or laptop. After the initial pairing, the headphones will connect automatically, eliminating the need to repeat the process.

The Bluetooth 5.3 connection is reliable, and the headphones usually connect without issue. They can also be linked to two devices at the same time, with seamless switching between them. This feature can be useful, for example, if you are listening to music or watching a movie on a laptop and a call comes through on your smartphone.

The headphones maintain a connection up to 10 meters away from your phone in open spaces without obstacles. However, in an apartment where the walls act as barriers, the sound may start to drop after about 8 meters. It all depends on the configuration of the surrounding area. One room further, you’re fine. Two rooms away with multiple wall barriers between you and the phone, they’ll start struggling.

If the connection is lost, the headphones enter passive connection mode for approximately 5 minutes. If they are still out of range after 10 minutes, they go into sleep mode.

Personalization

For iPhone users, the headphones have to be used without the accompanying smartphone app, which is a bit annoying. As you probably guessed, my device of choice is the Apple phone, so this review is based on that experience.

Android users can install the Xiaomi Earbuds app from the Google Play store, which simplifies the initial pairing process. The app allows for gesture customization on each earbud, in-ear detection control, voice detection and active noise cancellation. In addition, it has a “find the headphones” function in case they are misplaced.

But no matter what phone you have, you will be able to use the force sensor area on the buds. This comes pre-installed with default functions. The same goes for many other features.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro review: sound quality

When it comes to sound, the Buds 4 Pro feature dual 11mm magnet drivers and support for LDAC, SBC, and AAC streaming codecs. The Sony LDAC codec enables high-resolution audio streaming up to 990kbps and 96KHz/24-bit audio depth and above, on compatible Android OS smartphones as long as your phone is compatible. Otherwise, they will automatically switch to AAC.

Xiaomi claims its latest buds deliver studio-grade sound performance characterized by rich detail and minimal distortion. This pretty much matches my experience.

The buds offer a well-balanced sound profile, with high tones and crisp vocals. They also deliver substantial bass that doesn’t overpower other sounds, resulting in an enjoyable listening experience.

A noticeable improvement is the volume capability. In my review of the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro last year, I found this insufficient for noisy environments. However, the Buds 4 Pro have enough volume for listening to music or making phone calls in a noisy environment, such as a noisy commute. In addition, the sound quality remains consistent even at these high volumes.

One final feature worth mentioning is the optional head tracking capability. It detects your head position when you press play, then adjusts the soundstage when you turn your head. This creates an effect in which the sound becomes more pronounced in one ear and softer in the other. Unfortunately, it is only supported by recent Xiaomi phone models.

I haven’t had a chance to test this feature because it’s disabled by default. But the concept is to mimic a 360-degree sound experience, similar to what you might find in theaters or live concerts. As with other devices offering this kind of functionality, Dimensional Audio is still relatively new and in development.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro review: Noise cancellation

The earbuds handle noise cancellation pretty well with three microphones built into each earbud. Without the Xiaomi app, you can only use the default adaptive ANC mode. This monitors ambient noise in real time and automatically selects the correct noise cancellation mode (Light, Balanced and Deep).

Xiaomi says it blocks up to 48dB of noise and can reduce background noise by up to 99%. However, this “up to” figure will not be achieved in all situations. Noise cancellation is more effective for steady, low-pitched sounds and less effective for sudden, high-pitched sounds.

On a busy street, most noise will be canceled out, creating a relatively quiet environment. You’ll hear muffled engine noises and background noises, but turning up the volume can help you forget you’re outside.

In windy conditions, the buds don’t perform as well. That said, they have an AI-powered feature that reduces wind noise up to 32.4 km/h, which is good for light winds.

Transparency mode is another option. It effectively allows outside noise to filter through while you listen to audio or music, increasing your awareness of the surroundings. Additionally, an Enhance Voice mode is specially designed to accentuate human speech in the background.

Even more options can be found in the app. There you have the choice between six levels of noise cancellation and three levels of transparency.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro review: should you buy them?

The Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro are a valuable addition to the true wireless earphone market, catering to a variety of listeners with their rich sound, impressive noise cancellation and dimensional audio capabilities. Improved design, comfort and battery life make it an attractive choice over competitors such as Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Although the pinch controls might be a bit difficult initially, the overall performance and features of the earphones make them a strong contender in the wireless earphone arena.

However, the £240/€240 price tag may be somewhat intimidating for some users, especially those with an iPhone as they cannot access the Xiaomi Earbuds app. This product is mainly recommended for those who own Xiaomi smartphones, allowing them to benefit from advanced features such as dimensional audio and head tracking.

If you’re looking for a stylish, feature-rich pair of earphones with great sound quality and noise cancellation for your Android phone, and you’re ready to invest in them, the compact yet powerful Buds 4 Pro might be the right fit. for you . They’re probably one of the best options for those using compatible Xiaomi, Redmi, or Poco devices, especially if you can buy them at a discount.

Check price and availability at mi.com (UK), mi.com (DE), mi.com (FR). Xiaomi does not ship to the United States.