Redmi AirDots 3 Pro vs Redmi AirDots 3: True Wireless Earbuds

Redmi AirDots 3 Pro vs Redmi AirDots 3

With the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro, the Xiaomi subsidiary introduced a new true wireless earbud a few weeks ago. The datasheet reads very well: Bluetooth 5.2, ANC, and 28 hours of battery life are the manufacturer’s promises.

In contrast to the Redmi AirDots 3, the manufacturer does without the aptX codec and provides ANC. But the differences are also obvious in terms of design and design.

Redmi AirDots 3 Pro Case Closeup

The Redmi AirDots 3 Pro, the slightly cheaper sibling, is now coming in the form of the Redmi AirDots 3 (without Pro). Visually, the two earbuds are completely different, and at first glance, you would not recognize that they belong to each other.

Redmi AirDots 3 Case Closeup

Here, you can find out whether the little earbud is stealing the show from the big one. Check out Redmi AirDots 3 Pro vs Redmi AirDots 3.

Pros and Cons

Redmi AirDots 3 ProRedmi AirDots 3
Sleek and stylish designGood price/performance ratio
Charging via USB-C & QIGreat wearing comfort
Good ANC & transparency modeaptX Adaptive and BT 5.2
No aptX and LDACPoor voice quality
Loose fit

General

Redmi AirDots 3 Pro Redmi AirDots 3
$CHECK PRICECHECK PRICE
BrandRedmi Redmi
TypeIn-EarIn-Ear
ColorsBlack, SilverBlue, Pink, White
Weight55g51g
ConnectivityWireless, BluetoothWireless, Bluetooth

Design

TypeIn-EarIn-Ear
WirelessYesYes
Driver TypeDynamicDynamic
Noise CancellingYesYes
Drivers9mm Hybrid: Dynamic & BA
Dimensions case25.4 x 20.3 x 21.3mm28 x 16 x 21mm
Foldable DesignNoNo

Redmi AirDots 3 Pro Earbuds

The Redmi AirDots 3 Pro packaging contains the earbuds in their case, a flat cable from USB-A to USB-C, and six additional attachments made of silicone (three pairs, each in different sizes).

Almost everything on and in the pack is made of silver, which looks classy without being too thick. The earphones are also available in black.

The charging case is made entirely of plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap in any way. Redmi has placed a small status LED on the front, which is difficult to see in bright sunlight. Below is the large button for resetting the Bluetooth connection. On the back, there is Redmi lettering and on the underside is the USB-C port, which looks very high-quality thanks to the silver border.

The built-in coil, which enables wireless charging via QI, is not recognizable at first glance. The outside is covered with shiny plastic that reminds me of frosted glass. Otherwise, the earphones are kept in the same shade of gray as the charging cradle. 

Redmi AirDots 3 Earbuds

Apart from the packaging, the two earbuds and their charging cradles are really completely different. While the Pro version relies on a flat charging case and very ergonomic headphones, the original version 2 is revitalized with the Redmi AirDots 3. The two new Redmi AirDots models have the USB Type-C charging port in common.

RELATED:  Tribit QuietPlus 78 vs JBL-E55BT: Entry-level ANC

Silver elements are not used here, but the Redmi AirDots 3 are delivered in three colors: pink, white, and (dark) blue.

The actual earbuds have hardly changed compared to the previous models. They are convenient and are still slightly reminiscent of a tablet at 2.8 x 1.8 x 1.3 cm (L x W x H). However, a proximity sensor has been added on the inside.

The predominant materials are, of course, plastic and a close-meshed synthetic fiber grille in front of the 5 mm loudspeaker output. The body of the headphones and charging station always share the selected matt color, while the touch surfaces on the earbuds are in a darker, glossy color. While Xiaomi bans the status LEDs of the earbuds, Redmi remains true to them. There is one in each earbud. The small contrast looks good, and the earbuds and the station are processed perfectly.

If you want to know the color of the earbuds, you can reinsure yourself using the packaging. This shines in the chosen color and has been given a new and simpler design as far as the print is concerned. However, nothing has changed in the basic form.

Features

Redmi AirDots 3 Case open

The Redmi AirDots 3 Pro is very portable thanks to the light and compact case. The earphones each weigh exactly five grams and take a bit of getting used to. Whether the comfort negatively affected?

The earphones to be relatively comfortable, even during longer sessions. They sit well in the ear and are not prone to excessive wobbling. Going for a walk and cycling, on the other hand, is not a problem – then the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro will also be bombproof. The attachments do not fit into the case and cannot be taken with you without any problems. The smaller attachments fit better and produce the best sound.

Basically, the earphones work with all models, but the connection type called Quick-Connect only works on models with MIUI. You can control the music and volume by tapping the outside of the earphones several times. The active noise cancellation and the transparency mode are much more exciting – holding any earbud for a long time activates these functions. 

The ANC only has problems with spontaneously occurring noises, for example, roller shutters closing in the neighborhood.

Redmi AirDots 3 Pro Case open

The Redmi and Xiaomi AirDots Youth Edition still apply to the Redmi AirDots 3: Thanks to their simple and small design, they sit perfectly in the ear canal. The earbuds hardly touch the ear and can be screwed in as desired. They should be suitable for all ear types; even small ears can handle the shape well. If the hold is not optimal, the AirDots 3 are perfect candidates for post-purchased plugs made of molded foam, which can improve wearing comfort and improve the sound. From a certain size, however, it becomes tight in the charging box. In terms of weight, meanwhile, you have no problems; the earbuds each weigh 4.5 grams, the station only 41 grams. You are also protected against splash water. Redmi provides the AirDots 3 with IPX4 protection, so they are protected against splash water, but you shouldn’t really splash around with the headphones.

RELATED:  SoundCore Liberty 4 NC vs SoundCore Liberty 4 Earbuds: Should You Upgrade

When it comes to pairing, Redmi follows Xiaomi and its predecessors. So the button inside the station has remained. This must be pressed to pair the earbuds for the first time. As long as the earbuds remain switched on, they will automatically connect to a known device. Here, too, the headphones can only be switched on and off via the station. Switching between the earbuds is uncomplicated, but when you insert the headphones into the station you cannot do without pausing playback. Unfortunately, Redmi is also based on Xiaomi in terms of control. There is no voice output, even signal tones are largely eliminated. The controls are also very spartan.

Unfortunately, Redmi is also based on Xiaomi in terms of control. There is no voice output; even signal tones are largely eliminated. 

  • Tap twice on the right: pause / play
  • Double tap on the left: Voice assistant
  • Tap L / R once, for a call: accept / hang up

Like the Xiaomi Air 2 Pro and its predecessors, the Redmi AirDots 3 relies on the Xiaomi app. If you want a more detailed description of the app, you can take a quick look at the Mi Air 2 Pro. For everyone else, it should say that this app is not necessary. Must download it as an. APK and is not available from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

In the app, the assignment of the double-tap function can be changed so that you can also jump one track further or back. The settings are retained even when the device is changed, a clear advantage of Redmi over Xiaomi.

Battery

Battery TypeLi-PoLi-Po
Battery LifeUp to 28 hoursUp to 5 Hours
Capacity35mAh43mAh
Charging Time2 hours1.5 hours
Charging PortUSB-CUSB-C
Case dimensions65 x 48 x 26mm65 x 42 x 32mm
Qi Wireless ChargingNoNo

Redmi AirDots 3 Pro Case

Xiaomi states around 28 hours of battery life, including the battery installed in the case. In my case, the earphones reach 80 percent to 100 percent volume for just under four hours of running time. The case fully charges the earphones in one hour and extends the runtime to around 20 hours. Overall, these are excellent values.

RELATED:  Technics EAH-AZ60 vs Technics EAH-AZ70W: Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling Headphones

Redmi AirDots 3 Case

A 600 mAh battery for the charging station is well chosen. If you look at the competition and the AirDots 3 Pro course, you are even well-positioned. On the other hand, the earbuds are slightly below average at 43 mAh but are well above the meager 35 mAh of the Pro version.

Nevertheless, you only get a little over 4 hours. At 70-80% volume, that’s still average. At 100% volume in continuous operation, you end up easily under the Pro version in about 3.5 hours, despite the larger battery.

Charging takes place just as quickly. The earbuds are fully charged within an hour, and the charging station typically takes 1.5 hours to charge fully. It then provides enough juice again for 5 full charges of both earbuds.

Sound Quality

In contrast to the Redmi AirDots 3, the Pro model does not support aptX. The basses are quite strong and are convincing. Deep kicks roll off very slowly and seem uncontrolled. Subjectively, the basses are still solid, especially with the price in mind.

Voices sometimes seem a bit tinny and out of round. The high-frequency ranges are cut very quickly – violins or saxophones sound cruel. The direct comparison with the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro has once again confirmed that it is worth spending more money on audio products.

The Redmi AirDots 3, two microphones per side generate an easily understandable but also very echoing voice. The interlocutor could understand me well, and of course, the other way around was also true. Judging by the AirDots 3 Pro, there seems to be neither an improvement nor a deterioration in quality.

However, not only the reverb is a nuisance, but also ambient noise. This is only transmitted in a slightly filtered form. So it would help if you went to the quietest possible place to make phone calls. The Pro version does a little better there. Both earbuds shine with their range, regardless of whether it is thick walls or a floor in between. Both variants have taken part in a distance of more than 20 meters to the host device.

Connectivity

BluetoothYes 5.2 vYes 5.2 v AptX
Multi-Device
Connection
NoNo
ConnectionWirelessWireless

Conclusion!

Overall, the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro are solid headphones at a good price. The Active Noise Canceling, which was awarded the prize, is a unique selling point that should make the everyday life of many users a little more relaxed. The transparency mode, which impresses with a surprisingly natural sound, is just as well implemented. The battery life should also be sufficient for almost all scenarios, and the compact case means that it can take the earbuds anywhere.

Overall, the music seems dull and too bass-heavy. The highs are very undifferentiated, and the mids are almost completely absent. Compared to other cheap headphones and earphones, the sound is not noticeably worse – but you shouldn’t expect miracles considering the price.

Redmi AirDots 3 has again delivered an excellent all-rounder, which may not appeal to hi-fi enthusiasts, but is sufficient for more than just entering the true wireless world. You accomplish the balancing act and not only replace all previous models but also trump them. The old earbuds are not all bad, but buying the older guard is only worthwhile if you can get them much cheaper. The headphones have to be forgiven for small weaknesses. Voice quality and battery performance are not among the best of their kind.

In return, Redmi can score with the sound, the general features, and clearly also with the wearing comfort.