Nowadays, wireless audio transmission no longer surprises anyone. Bluetooth technology, invented and patented specifically for wireless headphones by Swedish inventor Niels Rydberk in 1989, was first introduced with devices in 1999 and has been constantly evolving for over 22 years. In December 2019, the format of wireless signal transmission was updated to version 5.2, and it includes low power consumption, as well as the ability to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. In our review, the Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3Pro headphones take the best of the new format.
Buds 3Pro are headphones with True Wireless Stereo Technology (TWS). This means complete freedom from wires. Each headphone has its own amplifier and wireless audio transmission. We can only wonder how far technology has come that it all fits into such a tiny package.
Like many TWS headphones, Buds 3Pro comes with a charging case. It looks like a pebble that fits completely in the closed palm of a man's hand. The top part opens and the headphones themselves are inserted there. If the headphones are inserted correctly, the procedure is very simple - the magnets in the case automatically draw the headphones into their own places, where they are immediately charged. According to the instructions, the headphones should last about 6 hours without recharging, and a fully charged case provides 4 charges of the headphones. When the headphones are fully discharged, keeping them in the case for 10 minutes charges them for 3 hours. All this is enough not to think about charging in real life at all. You just need to follow the following rules: after listening to music - put them back in the case, and only every few days you need to connect the case via USB-C to the charger. The charger itself is not in the box, it is assumed that if you have a phone, you also have a charger. But there is a short USB-C cable in the package. A full charge of the case takes 2.5 hours. In color there are two options: black headphones with a dark gray case, and white headphones with a white case.
We all have ears of different sizes, which is why there are three sizes of plugs included. Buds 3Pro fits tightly in your ears and won't fall out even when running - great news for those who practice sports. This construction in itself is a good protection against external noise, but the Redmi Buds 3Pro also has electronic noise cancellation. To activate it, just put your finger on the shiny surface of the headphones for a couple of seconds, and you will hear the confirmation sound of the mode change. High - noise cancelling mode is off. Low - noise cancelling is on. The strength of noise reduction is selected by the processor built into the headphones, automatically, depending on the background. According to the passport - the headphones reduce noise to 35 dB. According to experience - the noise of the air conditioner and the fan running at full power disappears completely. People's voices are reduced, but still audible. In the Chinese version, there are still options that amplify the voice around so you can talk to people without removing the headphones. But with our international version of Buds 3pro it was not possible to connect to the Chinese app. Perhaps in the near future, Xiaomi will release an international version of the app, and with a firmware update this feature will become available for the international version of the headphones.
We tested the headphones with the Xiaomi Mi 10 phone, and their "pairing" was very simple. The phone automatically caught the signal of the headphones and gave a picture on the screen with an invitation to connect the headphones. There were no problems connecting to other devices either: the Apple iPad and the Xiaomi Mi Box S set-top box. The procedure is simple, and the same for all this kind of headphones. You open the case, press for a few seconds on the button located on the case itself - the LED starts flashing - it means that the headphones are ready to search. Then in the source interface we turn on Bluetooth and select among the newly found devices Redmi Buds 3Pro.
As you might have guessed from the beginning of this article, these headphones can connect to multiple devices at the same time. Or to be more precise, at any given moment, they can be connected to two devices at once. Let's say you're watching a movie on an iPad or Xiaomi set-top box, and at that moment you get a phone call, you answer the phone, and the headphones will automatically pause the movie and switch the sound to the phone conversation. You can switch between any audio apps on your phone and another device. If you listen to music on your phone, turn on Netflix on your iPad, the music on your phone will automatically pause and the sound will switch from your phone to your iPad. It's very convenient!
But that's not all! The headphones know whether they are in your ears or not. So if you take even one earphone out of your ear during playback, playback will immediately stop. And it will resume as soon as you put the earphone back in your ear. Unbelievable! The headphones also respond to tapping with your finger. Two taps to pause, two taps to play, and three taps to play the next track.
And now let's talk about sound. Small size, wireless technology, low price. Everything points to the fact that it should not be a good sound. But no! You won't hear sand or harshness in the treble like many competing TWS headphones. And thanks to the tight in-ear fit of the headphones, they deliver powerful and deep bass. The tonal balance is correct, the sound is natural. The only complaints are about the sound resolution and clarity. Yes, compared to the expensive (and we are talking about really expensive headphones for a hundred or two thousand rubles), there is no such sound clarity, there is no such a feeling of air and space. But what do you want for such a price? The sound is not annoying, the instruments are sounding like the originals, the objects are holographic, the voices in the vocal compositions are recognizable. The headphones do not get overwhelmed in dynamic music scenes, metal, progressive - they are great. But their real strong point is sweet diva voice, female vocals the headphones manage to make even sweeter. Yes, we would like more openness, air, space, but it would be quite another price category.
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3Pro is a gadget in a good way. It is easy to charge, easy to use, it connects and switches between devices quickly, it does not fall out of your ears during sports. But most importantly, their sound is not annoying. This is a tiny pair of headphones that you always take with you.
For those who have read this article to the end - we have some good news. The cost of these headphones averages about $100. However, they will be priced at $49.99 from July 21 through July 25, but that's not all. During the same period, the seller's website will be offering a $10 off coupon. Don't miss the opportunity to buy them for $39.99 - that's a nice gift at least.
Text author: Oleg Mazur
Technical specifications Бренд: Xiaomi Модель: Redmi Buds 3 Pro Тип: TWS (True Wireless) Дизайн: In-Ear Bluetooth Version: 5.2 Working distance: 10 meters Battery Earphone capacity: 35 mAh (each) Case capacity: 470 mAh Battery life (ANC off): 6 hours (depends on playback conditions such as volume or file type) Total battery life (ANC off): 28 hours (depends on playback conditions such as volume or file type) Earphone charging time: 1 hour approx. Charging time for case: 2.5 hours approx. Charging mode: USB Type C Weight Each earphone: 4.9 g Earphones + case: 55 g Contents of the package: 2 x Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 Pro (left + right) 1 x Charging case 1 x Charging Cable 3 pairs of ear cushions 1 x User Manual
