TWS earphones are great for on-the-go listening, and the market seems to have embraced the more expensive audio solution quite well. The absence of wires also means the absence of the most fragile part of a wired earphone.
But there’s still one big reason why some people with the budget for an expensive TWS earphone still prefer a wired alternative: latency. If you’re editing a video or playing certain games, the slight delay in audio output can make things a lot more difficult. Wired earphones don’t suffer from that technological barrier.
That’s where wired earphones with a Type-C port come in. While most smartphones launched in the last few years lack a 3.5mm headphone jack, they still include a Type-C port and the hardware needed to send audio signals to wired earphones. And yes, they can deliver audio quality similar to TWS earphones at a much lower price, which can sometimes matter more than anything else.
The Xiaomi Type-C Earphones 1 wired earphone is one such option, priced at Rs 549 at the time of writing. So, where does it stand in terms of audio and durability compared to similarly priced USB-C earphones and slightly more expensive TWS devices? That’s what I’ll be explaining in this article.
I was impressed with the audio quality
I’ll start with my own perspective. I used the legendary Realme Buds 2 for over a year before switching to the Realme Buds Air 5. At that point, the TWS felt like a major upgrade in terms of audio over the Buds 2.
Now, this Xiaomi Type-C wired earphone matches the more expensive Buds Air 5 in this aspect. They sound slightly different, but I can’t confidently say that one is better than the other.
An alternative to the Xiaomi Type-C earphone would be the Realme Buds 3 (Type-C version), which is built around 9mm drivers. This is a downgrade from the 11.2mm drivers of the Buds 2. In comparison, the Xiaomi Type-C packs much larger 12.4mm drivers, matching my Realme Buds Air 5.
Build quality
The build quality is the least appealing aspect of this earphone. While it’s been perfectly fine after three months of regular use, with no visible damage or sign of wear, the joint between the Type-C connector and the standard rubber cable feels like a potential weak point. A braided cable, like the one on Realme Buds wired earphones, would have been appreciated.
But the design makes it stand out
While I can’t say for sure whether the rubber cable will withstand regular use for over a year, I do appreciate how it looks, feels, and fits in the ear. The rubber cables don’t tangle easily, and they don’t feel cheap either.
It comes with three different sizes of eartips and sits comfortably in your ears during long streaming or gaming sessions when you pick the right size. The design also looks somewhat similar to the Apple EarPods (USB-C).
All things considered, I recommend the Xiaomi Type-C wired earphone to anyone looking for a wired earphone that offers a surprisingly good listening experience under Rs 600, works with almost every device, and delivers zero latency.
