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| A close-up of Xiaomi's 'Ear Clip-On Headphones'. |
Earlier this week, Xiaomi got the tech world buzzing with a cryptic teaser on Chinese social media. A single image, a vague promise of a “brand new form” – speculation ran wild. Folding true wireless earbuds? A neckband with a twist? Something with a screen? Well, the wait is over, and the reality is… a little more familiar.
As it turns out, Xiaomi’s mysterious audio product is a pair of clip-on open earbuds. Yes, the same design language we’ve already seen from the Anker Soundcore C50i and the Sony LinkBuds Clip – the latter of which you can still check the current price for on Amazon here. So while “brand new” might be a stretch for anyone following the audio market, Xiaomi’s take on the form factor does pack some genuinely interesting specs.
Officially dubbed the “Ear Clip-On Headphones,” the device is launching in China before the end of May. And if Xiaomi’s typical cadence holds, it will likely share the stage with two other highly anticipated products: the Xiaomi 17 Max smartphone and the Smart Band 10 Pro. The company hasn’t confirmed a joint launch event yet, but the timing feels more than coincidental.
What We Know About Xiaomi’s Clip-On Earbuds
Let’s get past the déjà vu and look at the features. For a product that weighs next to nothing, Xiaomi is packing a surprising amount of technology into these tiny clips.
- Ultra-light Build: Each earbud weighs just 5.5 grams. That’s lighter than most traditional in-ear buds and critical for a clip design that you’re supposed to forget you’re wearing.
- Audio Credentials: Audiophiles will note the support for LHDC 5.0 codec and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification. That suggests Xiaomi isn’t treating these as a gimmick – they want decent sound quality.
- Call Quality: A triple microphone array is onboard, which should help with voice pickup during windy or noisy conditions.
- Leakage Control: One of the biggest downsides of open earbuds is sound bleeding out and annoying people next to you. Xiaomi claims to have solved this with “reverse acoustic technology” that minimises sound leakage. We’ll need to test that claim, but it’s a smart addition.
Color Options and Global Availability
Xiaomi has shown off two colour finishes so far (you can see them in the teaser images above and below). They appear to be a soft matte black and a glossy pastel shade – though official names haven’t been released. More colourways could follow at launch.
Now for the question everyone outside China is asking: When will these go global? Xiaomi has remained completely silent on international availability. Given that clip-on earbuds are still a niche category in Western markets, the company may be waiting to gauge domestic sales first. Or, they could surprise us with a global launch alongside the Xiaomi 17 series later this year.
Are Clip-On Earbuds Worth the Hype?
If you’re unfamiliar with the form factor, clip-on open earbuds don’t go inside your ear canal. Instead, they gently clip onto the outer cartilage of your ear, leaving your ear canal completely open. That means:
✅ All-day comfort with no “plugged” sensation
✅ Total situational awareness – perfect for running, cycling, or office use
✅ No earwax buildup issues
❌ Less bass response than in-ear buds
❌ Can be finicky to position correctly
❌ Potential for sound leakage (though Xiaomi claims to mitigate this)
The Sony LinkBuds Clip have been the gold standard here, but they retail around $228 on Amazon. Xiaomi has a long history of undercutting competitors on price. If these Ear Clip-On Headphones launch at a fraction of that cost, they could become the go-to recommendation for curious first-timers.
Bottom Line
Xiaomi didn’t reinvent the wheel with this one. But they rarely need to. The company’s superpower is taking an existing product category – smartbands, robot vacuums, air purifiers – and delivering 90% of the premium experience for 50% of the price. If the Ear Clip-On Headphones follow that script, they’ll be a compelling alternative to Sony and Anker.
We’ll know more by the end of May when they launch in China. Stay tuned for hands-on impressions, pricing, and – hopefully – news of a global rollout.
Source(s): Xiaomi Weibo posts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
