Completely wireless earphones were a thing before Apple rocked up with AirPods, but smartphone manufacturers have really jumped on board with the craze since.
Xiaomi AirDots are the latest wireless earbuds to take inspiration from Apple’s name, design and form factor. However, while Apple’s AirPods will run you £159/$159, AirDots will only cost the equivalent of £22/$29.
While Xiaomi – who is bringing its smartphones to the UK this week – is known for its cheap handsets, it’s highly unlikely AirDots will offer a comparable audio experience to its more illustrious rival.
AirDots do have Bluetooth 5.0 and silicone tips which should lead to a more secure fit. They also have the charging case, which could be used to replenish the buds on the go. The buds themselves have more of an ear-hugging design, rather than the toothbrush-head style AirPods.
Related: AirPods 2
Whether Xiaomi will launch the AirDots in the UK remains to be seen. Given the inexpensiveness of this device, it begs the question whether smartphone makers will begin bundling in wireless earphones with smartphones, instead of the regular wired buds.
The launch of AirDots follows similar products like the Huawei FreeBuds and FreeBuds 2 Pro, which are a much closer to AirPods in terms of design and fit. Huawei subsidiary Honor also launched the FlyPods and FlyPods Pro buds which also ape the AirPods right down to the wireless charging case.
Earlier this week, we learned Apple might be plotting advanced AirPods 2 buds with biometric capabilities. The company has reclassified its trademarks in order to identify the accessory as a wellness device. This means we might get a heart rate sensor, along with the rumoured ‘Hey Siri’ capabilities with AirPods 2.
Have you snapped up any of the AirPods clones? Have they impressed you with design or sound quality? Are you an AirPods loyalist? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
